Na so e be, my people! For Kenya, dem dey celebrate beta tin wey dem dey call ‘Black Messiah’!

This one na serious matter as congregation from Legion Maria gather for Christmas, wear white like say dem dey prepare to shine for light. Dem dey pray for small room wey dey lit with candle, dey honor Mama Maria, the woman wey co-found the church.

One man wey call himself prophet, wey name na Stephen Benson Nundu, unshackle joy as e carry photo of Baba Simeo Melchior, the so-called ‘Black Messiah’ come make everybody feel am. E stand dey smile for camera, as if e don see heaven full.

Nundu no gree hold back for him speech: “Today na great day, because Virgin Mary don born King Jesus for the world of black people,” him talk as e dey beam with smiles.

Legion Maria no be ordinary church; e don dey exist since 1966, but dem trace root go back to 1938 when one mystic woman come give message say Jesus go come as black man. Na who go fit argue with dat? You hear am? Fada Simeo Melchior wey dem dey call Baba Simeo, don dey lead dem spiritual journey since.

Dis religious movement no dey shy. dem dey claim say millions of followers dey waka with dem across eight African countries including Sudan and DRC. Timothy Lucas Abawao, wey be di deputy for di church, gree talk to AFP during di celebration. Him come clear am say dis team no be cult!

“No be cult o! Cult dey believe in leader, but we dey believe in Jesus Christ and God,” him yarn as him dey sip cool drink. E no gree make dem mix am up.

Abawao voice strong as him talk say: “Baba Messiah come for Africans. Him be Jesus, but in black form,” him explain. “Him come take di colour of di Black man so we fit understand am well well and take salvation.”

You fit reason say Legion Maria no dey alone for dis kind matter. For South Africa, na so dem dey hail Isaiah Shembe wey rise up to form Nazareth Baptist Church, he don gather plenty followers since 1913. He don die since 1935, but the work wey him still dey carry go strong.

For former Belgian Congo, Kimbangu na another case as him dey carry miracle from 1921. Dem put am for prison until 1951, but e don leave book wey no go ever close.

Nigerian Brotherhood of the Cross and Star still dey preach about their founder, Olumba Olumba Obu, wey dem see as di Holy Spirit. Wetin come fit show say na only white dem dey gree follow? You see as dem dey pick di story? Dis kin thing dey hot for Africa!

Odhiambo Ayanga wey be member of Legion Maria talk am well as e dey stress say God no get shade: “As He come for di white, He come for di black too.” Him say di matter dey scatter places, and na why e fit be say for Africa, God go take black form. No be lie!

As dem dey toast to Baba Simeo Melchior and di message of hope, na just to show say belief dey different way and we all dey find our own salvation. Na di African way wey dey shine, my people.