How Krishna Consciousness came to Africa

Preaching in Africa started in 1971, when His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada first sent his disciples to Africa to preach. Shortly after he himself visited there:

"Srila Prabhupada" began encouraging me to preach directly to the African people. "This is our real business in Africa," he said. So we organized a program at the University of Nairobi, placed an ad in the newspaper, printed and displayed some posters, and distributed handbills. The night of Srila Prabhupada's lecture, the auditorium was so crowded with African students that people had to stand outside to look through the doors and windows. At the end of Srila Prabhupada's speech the students cheered. Then we had kirtana, showed a film, and distributed prasada. As a result of this engagement, we received a lot of favorable publicity.

The next program Prabhupada instituted was preaching to the general public. The first event was held in a hall situated in a rather shabby area of town. We went there one evening and just opened the doors and started chanting. Pretty soon the hall filled up with many curiosity seekers right off the street. There was a full house when Srila Prabhupada walked in, effulgent in his bright, silken robes. He quickly passed among the curious people, got up on stage and started chanting Hare Krishna. Then he spoke about the meaning of human life. He said that the real aim of human life is to understand that we are not this body but pure spirit soul, and that our duty is to serve the Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna. Most of the people could not understand what Srila Prabhupada said, since they spoke only Swahili, but they all enjoyed themselves nevertheless. They were all smiles, as they danced, chanted and clapped. A few days later, Prabhupada departed for India, having fully inspired us to carry on the preaching work in Africa.

Srila Prabhupada returned to Nairobi in January, 1972, to preside at the World Hare Krishna Festival held at the Nairobi city stadium. The British Broadcasting Company made a film of the festival and also interviewed Srila Prabhupada, who publicly initiated the first Kenyan devotee. This time Srila Prabhupada stayed in our new temple, a spacious house we had purchased in a residential area not far from the downtown commercial section of Nairobi."

(from: "How the Hare Krishna Movement Came to Africa", published in the Back to Godhead Magazine by Brahmananda Swami in 1975)
 

HH Holiness Mahavishnu Swami continues and expands the preaching

His Holiness Mahavishnu Swami regularly visits East and Central African countries previously visited by devotees - Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya. He is the first person to expand the preaching to DR Congo, Rwanda and Ethiopia. He also occasionally goes to West and South Africa.

The East African Festival Tour

BBT Africa

Mahavishnu Swami has recently established the first African BBT (Bhaktivedanta Book Trust), for the printing of Srila Prabhupada's books in African languages. Presently the Bhagavad Gita is beng translated into Lingala, which is spoken in 9 different African countries.

The BBT was founded in 1972 by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, for the purpose of publishing ancient Vaisnava texts and books on the philosophy of Bhakti Yoga. For this purpose it has translated ancient texts into more than 60 languages. The BBT has centres in Europe, America, Asia and Australia, but was not established on the continent of Africa yet. In the year 2009 HH Mahavishnu Swami finally established the first African BBT in Tanzania with the express purpose to translate books into African languages, print and distribute them.

Kisumu Orphanage

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Please note that the information for this article was compiled by one of his disciples and is awaiting correction/revision from Maharaja.