The Arathi, a term meaning "prophets", are a
Christian
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words '' Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρ ...
religious movement founded in 1926 in
Kenya
)
, national_anthem = " Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"()
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, capital = Nairobi
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, largest_city = Nairobi
, ...
.
[Francis Kimani Githieya, "The Formation and Development of the Arathi," ''The Freedom of the Spirit: African Indigenous Churches in Kenya'' (Oxford University Press US, 1997), 123.] Along with the
African Orthodox Church, Arathi was founded by the
Agikuyu
The Kikuyu (also ''Agĩkũyũ/Gĩkũyũ'') are a Bantu ethnic group native to Central Kenya. At a population of 8,148,668 as of 2019, they account for 17.13% of the total population of Kenya, making them Kenya's largest ethnic group.
The te ...
in the wake of Kenya's civil unrest during the 1920.
Joseph Ng'ang'a and Musa Thuo are among the sect's most notable
prophet
In religion, a prophet or prophetess is an individual who is regarded as being in contact with a divine being and is said to speak on behalf of that being, serving as an intermediary with humanity by delivering messages or teachings from the s ...
s.
Arathi was outlawed in 1934, when colonial officials prohibited Arathi meetings.
[Norman Etherington, ''Missions and Empire'' (Oxford University Press, 2005), 233.]
Baptism
Baptism (from grc-x-koine, βάπτισμα, váptisma) is a form of ritual purification—a characteristic of many religions throughout time and geography. In Christianity, it is a Christian sacrament of initiation and adoption, almost inv ...
has remained a central part of the Arathi tradition since its founding, and is still practiced today. It is viewed as a symbol of the beginning of a new life, and followers receive a new name after their baptism.
[Francis Kimani Githieya, "The Formation and Development of the Arathi," ''The Freedom of the Spirit: African Indigenous Churches in Kenya'' (Oxford University Press US, 1997), 124.]
References
Christian denominations in Kenya
Christian organizations established in 1926
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