The Fifohazana Revival on the great island of Madagascar is the focus of this month’s journal. One of the earliest indigenous Christian movements in Africa, the Fifohazana—or “Awakening” in Malagasy—is an independent, self-governing and self-sustaining renewal movement with a two-fold mission of outreach to traditional religionists and of revival within the established churches. Women play an extraordinary role as they make up eight out of ten of the movement’s evangelists or “shepherds.” The Fifohazana originated in 1894 and has continued to this day, under the leadership of four nationally recognized leaders. This issue features the stories of three of the revival leaders, the founder, Rainisoalambo*, and two women, Ravelonjanahary, and Volahavana Germaine (Nenilava).
Michèle Miller Sigg (Thu,) studied this question.