The Influence of Evangelical Movements on African Family Values

On Friday, May 16, 2025, a week-long conference titled “The Pan-African Conference on Family Values” took place in Nairobi, Kenya. This event was organized by Family Watch International, a U.S.-based Christian conservative group led by Sharon Slater, known for its anti-choice and anti-LGBTQ+ stance. This organization is active in lobbying at the United Nations and globally to promote their agenda against gender and sexual rights.

This was not the first such conference in East Africa, with a previous meeting held in Uganda from May 9-11, 2025, which also featured Family Watch International. East Africa has become a focal point for U.S. evangelical conservatives, raising questions about their motivations. The conferences claim to focus on "traditional African family values," yet it is questionable why an American organization assumes the authority to dictate African family values. Following the Nairobi conference, the delegates issued a statement proclaiming to adopt “The Nairobi Declaration on Family Values.”

Funded Misinformation

One of the primary concerns is the source of funding for these conferences. They are heavily financed by far-right evangelical groups from the U.S. and Europe. The local African participants, including the Kenya Christian Professionals Forum and the Kenyan Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, appear to be symbolic in an agenda that seeks to redefine African values through a Western, Eurocentric religious perspective. This approach mirrors the tactics used by colonial missionaries, who historically imposed foreign values on African societies.

The declaration's assertion that it represents various sectors such as governments, civil society, academia, and religious bodies lacks evidence. The participants are predominantly known conservatives from countries like Uganda, Kenya, and South Africa, notorious for their anti-rights rhetoric. This misinformation strategy attempts to falsely portray widespread African governmental and public support for their agenda.

Foreign Ownership of African Family Values

The declaration’s aim to “Promote and Protect Family Values in Challenging Times” primarily advocates for the “natural family” concept. It is peculiar that Western organizations lead discussions on African family values. These modern imperialists seek to impose a Western-centric family model, which defines a family as a nuclear unit of parents and children. In contrast, African family structures are diverse and often include extended family units, where children are raised communally by relatives like grandparents, aunts, and siblings, especially in rural areas.

It is naïve to suggest a singular definition of family for African societies, disregarding the complexity and diversity of African family traditions. The failure to recognize these nuances illustrates the non-Pan-African nature of the conference.

The Misuse of Pan-Africanism

A genuine Pan-African family conference would involve traditional leaders, elders, and spiritual figures, who are the true custodians of African culture and values. Their exclusion highlights a continuation of colonial legacies. The term “Pan-African” is misused to mislead and attract those who value its historical meaning, even though the ideals promoted by the conference are far from Pan-Africanism.

While authentic African human rights groups focus on addressing colonial laws and legacies, these modern imperialists perpetuate colonialism through divisive language designed to incite moral panic.

The Threat of Erasure

Activists in Kenya monitoring Family Watch International’s activities argue that their agenda poses a grave threat to erasing Africa's rich diversity of family structures. The conference’s definition of “un-African” echoes the colonial missionaries who disparaged African spiritualities in favor of Christian values.

The term “values” becomes meaningless when tied exclusively to Christianity, ignoring true African realities. By using attractive terms like “Pan-Africa” and “African values,” they create division and distraction, allowing critical issues to go unnoticed and unaddressed. These tactics divert attention while the exploitation of African lands and resources continues unabated.

This critique is part of ongoing efforts by organizations like the Southern Africa Litigation Center to combat hate speech and misinformation. The campaign emphasizes the importance of truth and accountability in the face of divisive and harmful agendas.