The Focolare spirituality began its journey in the south of the Sahara in the early 1960s.

There are communities of the Movement in all the regions: in the Horn of Africa, in the Sahel, in the Great Lakes, and in central and southern Africa.

When talking about Africa, it is necessary to start always with the fact that there never was just one African history. It is a continent of more than a billion people and more than fifty countries. There are many different African histories.

But if I look at the big issues, the trends of the last decade, since the death of Chiara, I tend to think of the social transformations that are taking place. Africa is rapidly urbanizing, and the growth of cities has had major consequences on many aspects of the cultural, social, political and economic life. The relocation of houses closer to forests and natural parks is also generating conflicts between animals and humans!

The members of the Focolare – who belong to various Christian denominations, or are Muslims or followers of traditional religions – live the spirituality of unity in their daily life, as individuals and as communities. This spirit continues to touch the lives of many.

I cannot but evoke here the living memory of Chiara, also through her name which is given to little girls in our communities. In Africa, the respected elders of the family may be dead, but they live on through the succeeding generations.

The members of the Movement share with the Church the joys and sufferings, struggles, challenges and triumphs of the people of God who are ‘journeying.’ In recent years, by digging deeper into issues in their specific contexts, they have tried to give their contribution, together with many others, through their toil, efforts, work, and daily commitments.

Some are involved in the political scenario, in the dynamics of development aid, and in governance; a growing number of young people are getting engaged in a growing and vibrant civil society, with a resurgence of regional cooperation along with the complex issues of world geopolitics.

Another ingredient was added to this mix: digital disruption. We are experiencing a remarkable change in the way we live cultural practices that traditionally have deep roots: ‘celebrations of life’ such as funerals and births; or even ‘rites of passage’ such as weddings and initiation ceremonies. Africans are called upon to negotiate their social existence between urban and rural life, continental and transcontinental distances, with relationships and loyalties being challenged.

It is in this context that the School of Inculturation, launched by Chiara in Nairobi, Kenya, in 1993, is at the service of evangelization through dialogue with African cultures from the perspective of the spirituality of unity. In recent years, various themes have been studied in depth, and procedures are underway so that this ‘Center of Inculturation’ would become an ‘Inculturation University College,’ accredited by the Sophia University Institute. A goal that we look forward to with impatience.

According to experts, by 2050, one in every four persons on earth will be African. So, there are huge youth populations: their many aspirations and expectations create considerable tensions.

During these years, initiatives have sprung up within the Movement, in partnership with various organizations, to empower young people to become positive change-makers through various training programs, with the aim of empowering young African leaders to face the challenges of their communities, and thus, shape the future of their continent.

The Ecoforleaders project, a School for Advanced Training towards a Leadership of Communion, in Congo.

The Economy of Communion project, which offers a meaningful space and fruitful cultural dialogue with many young university students at the Catholic University of Buea in Cameroon.

The Together for a New Africa project which, for almost 10 years, has been involving young people from more than 15 countries. This is to name but a few.

The Focolare communities live in fast-growing cities ̶ crossroads of different cultures, religions, ethnic groups and civilizations ̶ places where people build new identities, and where new languages, symbols and paradigms are born.

Yet people long for a true ‘encounter,’ social cohesion, they need unity, which can be possible through dialogue between different communities.

In their daily commitment, members of the Movement seek to unite with many others to share a common imagination and dreams of universal fraternity.

In South Africa, xenophobia against migrants is rampant, so communities are joining forces to bring their contribution to promoting peaceful coexistence. In Kenya, an awareness-raising campaign, ‘Be proud of your country, the tribe is not a weapon,’ calls on communities to be peacemakers at a time of electoral tensions. The challenge of negative ethnicity is tackled from many sides, and experiences of brotherhood arise.

Africa is a continent of contradictions, alongside great engines of change. There are heavy challenges. The digital divide has exacerbated existing poverty. Thank God, the human cost of the coronavirus pandemic was less catastrophic than expected, yet its economic impact has undermined much of the growth, and now, there is the impact of the war in Ukraine.

The various expressions of the Church, including the ecclesial movements, play the role of the ‘Good Samaritan’ on a daily basis in an attempt to respond to the needs of others by standing on the side of the poor and dealing with some of their hardships on a daily basis. Sometimes, they succeed in giving people hope; other times, they fail miserably. Either way, they remain on the road with everyone, even in their fragility. Hundreds of people have received assistance through social work.

In recent years, social welfare structures in some countries have been suspended for various reasons, but in others, they have been opened or consolidated.

Looking at the lights and shadows of the last decade, in our efforts to live for fraternity, we are encouraged by the words of Mother Teresa of Calcutta: “We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.”

Lili Mugombozi