Quaker worship in Kenya is taking on a very different sound than what has been traditionally practiced by the faith’s members in the United States.
While Friends at the Friends Church of Cheptulu, western Kenya, sing hymns and play musical instruments as they dance and clap their hands, their American counterparts practise a more restrained worship, in which quiet waiting for God’s guidance is emphasised.
Quakerism, founded in 17th-century England by George Fox, stresses an individual’s inner spiritual guidance through the Inner Light, which leads to a personal connection with Christ.
The religious society, with an estimated 400,000 members worldwide, has its largest contingent on the African continent, where at least half of all Friends are thought to live. Kenya has the biggest Quaker population in the country.
American evangelists brought the faith to western Kenya in 1902, where they established schools and hospitals in addition to spreading the word of God. These churches have incorporated modern instruments and faster tunes into their services as a means of attracting a younger audience.
Older members of the Cheptulu congregation remember a time when hymns were slow, and many young people were going to other churches.
Modern worship styles have allowed the young to come back, said senior pastor Kennedy Shiverenje, while older generations are being re-energised. In addition to worship changes, pastoral training has become a priority for the fast-growing religion. The Friends Theological College in Kaimosi, which offers courses both on campus and online, has more than 400 students.
Well-educated ministers are vital to spreading the Quaker message and to promoting peace throughout the African region, said Robert Wafula, principal of the institution. Some older members feel that the new emphasis on fundraising threatens the Friends’ traditional commitment to pacifism.
Researchers at the theological college are chronicling the history of the local Quaker community in order to learn about its evolution and safeguard its spiritual legacy.
