Simon Kimbangu
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Simon Kimbangu (c1887 to 1951) was a Congolese religious leader noted as the founder of Kimbanguism. His followers consider him to be a prophet.
Son of a traditional religious leader, he became a Baptist in 1915, and worked as a catechist for several years before beginning his own ministry in early 1921. It was claimed that he had cured the sick and his ministry developed a large following, causing suspicion amongst the Belgian authorities.
In September 1921 he was arrested and charged with sedition. Convicted, he was sentenced to death. However, his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment with 120 lashes and he died in prison in 1951.
During his thirty years of imprisonment, he continued to be regarded as a spiritual leader, despite being denied contact with his followers, and also became a symbol of Congolese nationalism.
External links
- [Bethel University site]
- [Encyclopedia Britannica]
- [An African Biographical Dictionary: Simon Kimbangu]
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