Quakers in the World (Africa): Unity in diversity

Ian Kirk-Smith and Trish Carn conclude the series ‘Quakers in the World’ with a look at Quakerism in Africa

by Ian Kirk-Smith and Trish Carn 27th April 2012

‘Our peace work is our evangelism’ is one of the explanations that Friends in the Congo give when people ask why they work on peace and conflict resolution.

Violence has been a ‘defining narrative’ in a number of African countries and Quakers have made, and continue to make, a significant contribution in the area. A number of Friends from the Congo and Rwanda are among the hundreds of African Quakers in attendance at the Sixth World Conference of Friends at Kabarak University in Kenya, organized by the Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC). Their experience of working for peace is shared by many African Friends at Kabarak.