The contribution of Daniel William Alexander to the birth and growth of Eastern Orthodoxy in East Africa

Eastern Christianity has existed in Africa since the first century. Many centuries later, the Orthodox Church was implanted in certain sub-Saharan African countries through the agency of Eastern Orthodox immigrants from Europe and Russia. East Africa owes its vibrant Orthodox Christianity to the early twentieth century Afro-American liberation movement led by Marcus Garvey. The leaders of the religious branch of the movement were Patriarch George Alexander McGuire and South African Archbishop (later Patriarch) Daniel William Alexander, both of the African Orthodox Church. These two men collaborated with two leading East Africans who became Greek Orthodox bishops in 1973: Ugandan Christophorous Spartas Sebbanja Mukasa of Nilopolis (1899-1982) and Kenyan George Arthur Gatungu Gathuna of Nitria (1905-1987).