Pentecostalism and Current Development in West Africa: Reimagining the Pentecostal Landscape, Politics, and Vision

A growing body of literature on African Pentecostals in sub-Saharan Africa is highlighted in this article, highlighting a more defined contribution of African Pentecostals to the development landscape. Until recently, the African Pentecostal development landscape recorded little visibility at the national level, on the assumption that their experience only highlights cultural and theological relevance. However, this emerging visibility has identified, as a conceptual category, an imaginary social space with practical ramification. Based on a critical analytical review of literature, this article examines the shift from traditional Pentecostal theology to a more focused attention on the social transformation created by a post-colonial discourse on development in Africa. We argue that there is an imaginary social space occupied by Pentecostal theology, providing it, not just a voice of influence as a social movement, but a reconstructive identity of power in development that also integrates into political spheres. The cases of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Nigeria, and the Church of Pentecost, Ghana, exemplify this. Their social space has distinctive expressions that link a constructive integral aspect of Pentecostal theology to contribute to their social responsibility. This article suggests that such an understanding is better explained when considering African Pentecostal progression in this imaginary social space. We recommend that African Pentecostals and the development sector create awareness of this space through a dialogical approach.