Going to War: Spiritual Encounters and Pentecostals’ Drive for Exposure in Contemporary Zanzibar

Abstract

The humid Friday afternoon is turning to evening and a group of Christian migrant workers gather for their weekly intercession and deliverance (maombi na maombezi ) service. While the church slowly fills up, one congregant after another starts praying. Taking up the arms of prayer ( silaha za maombi ) in order to fight the evil powers ( nguvu za giza ) seen to be ruling over the Zanzibar archipelago, they are going to war. In the hours that follow, afflicted people are delivered from (evil) spirits and forceful intersession prayers invoke the protective power of Jesus—not only to safeguard the members of the church but also to shield Tanzanian society and the nation. In general terms, the prayer service represents a growing feature of contemporary African Christianity, namely, the commitment to fight evil through modes of spiritual warfare