The Nigerian pastors who went to US for Trump inauguration
Two prominent Nigerian clerics participated in events surrounding the inauguration of US President Donald Trump on Monday.
Pastors William Kumuyi and Nathaniel Bassey’s involvement highlighted the connection between Christian evangelicalism and the incoming US administration.
According to an analyst, Trump could leverage his appeal among some African religious Christians to enhance his influence through alternative channels beyond traditional ones.
Pastor Kumuyi received an invitation to Trump’s swearing-in ceremony but could not attend after the event was moved indoors due to harsh weather conditions. Instead, he attended a prayer service for the incoming president and met with political groups.
His invitation to the inauguration was notable, as Trump invited world leaders from countries like China, Italy, and Argentina but did not include any African heads of state.
Separately, Nathaniel Bassey, a renowned Nigerian gospel artist, performed at the US Presidential Inaugural Prayer Breakfast on Monday morning. This non-political, faith-based event was held before the swearing-in ceremony and was not part of the official celebrations, with the president-elect absent.
Pastor Kumuyi, a former mathematics professor and founder of Deeper Life Bible Church, is known for his global evangelistic ministry, the Global Crusade With Kumuyi, which reportedly has 120,000 weekly attendees. In Washington, DC, he met with congressmen from Turning Point USA to discuss partnerships for global evangelism. On Sunday, he prayed at the Inauguration Praise & Prayer Convocation hosted by US pastors Jim Garlow and Tony Perkins from the Family Research Council.
Nathaniel Bassey, hailing from Akwa Ibom state in southern Nigeria, is a gospel singer, pastor, trumpeter, music producer, and songwriter. He gained global recognition through his music and the Hallelujah Challenge on social media, amassing nearly four million Instagram followers. Bassey, a youth pastor and music minister at the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Lagos, was the only African artist to perform at the Prayer Breakfast in honor of Trump and Vance.
The Global Crusade ministry stated that Pastor Kumuyi participated in inauguration-related events to celebrate the return of religious freedom in America and support efforts to combat religious persecution globally. Trump’s popularity among evangelical Christian voters stems from his promises to uphold Christian values. He emphasized religious freedom during his presidency, hosting a meeting focused on this issue in 2019 and declaring it a foreign policy priority in 2020.
Dion Forster, a professor of public theology at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, suggested that both Trump and Pastor Kumuyi benefit from the latter’s participation in the inauguration. For Trump, engaging with popular figures like Kumuyi helps gain influence outside traditional political structures, whereas Kumuyi’s involvement elevates his standing by associating with a powerful figure.
Caleb Okereke, founder and editor of Minority Africa, noted that the support of influential religious figures like Kumuyi and Bassey could bolster Trump’s popularity in Africa. Okereke highlighted the alignment between US conservatives and African evangelists on conservative ideals, particularly their stance against LGBTQ+ populations. However, he pointed out the contradiction in Africa’s favorable view of Trump despite his derogatory remarks about African nations and restrictive immigration policies affecting the continent.