The Holy Spirit Has Nigeria in Its Grip

Nigeria’s Pentecostal pastors have brought their angels and devils into the halls of power.

(STR / AFP / Getty Images)

In Lagos, the word of God comes shrink-wrapped. Typically it arrives as a slim, plastic-encased DVD or a colorful softcover booklet con-taining biblical instruction, recorded sermons, and educational melodramas. These cheap packages are produced by the thousands of Pentecostal churches that dot the city and sold alongside sweet snacks and fizzy drinks by roadside hawkers. […]

Sorry, but this article is available to subscribers only. Please log in or become a subscriber.