Maputo, Mozambique | 31 May 2026
The Interreligious Association for Peace and Development (IAPD) Africa hosted its 6th Africa Spiritual Day at The Revelation Spiritual Home in Maputo, Mozambique, under the leadership of His Spiritual Royal Majesty (HSRM), Imboni Dr uZwi-Lezwe Radebe. The event attracted thousands of participants, both in person and online.
Held under the theme, “Family Values: A Blueprint for Interfaith Cooperation,” the programme featured prominent speakers, including Bishop Maria Mucamba Mahota, District Bishop of Mozambique for the Methodist Church of Southern Africa; Rev. Mica Amanlaman, Regional Director of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU); Bishop Rodrigues Dambo, President of IAPD Mozambique; Dr Isilda Maria Zandanela; and keynote speaker HSRM Imboni Dr uZwi-Lezwe Radebe.
Africa Spiritual Day is a flagship initiative of IAPD Africa aimed at uniting Africans across diverse spiritual and religious traditions. The event serves as a platform to celebrate Africa’s rich spiritual diversity, promote peaceful coexistence, and address critical social challenges through spiritual and religious perspectives.
The origins of Africa Spiritual Day can be traced to the appointment of the Chairman of IAPD Africa. At the time, the founder of IAPD, Dr Hak Ja Han Moon, encouraged the establishment of an initiative that would showcase Africa’s diversity and spiritual heritage. This vision ultimately led to the conception of Africa Spiritual Day.
Addressing the theme of the event, speakers underscored the vital role of family values in fostering interfaith cooperation, social cohesion, and sustainable peace.
“Family is the first school of every human being. Before a child enters a classroom, before they encounter the world, they are first educated at home. They learn through what they see, what they hear, what they experience, and what they witness within the family structure. That is why family is not merely important; family is the building block of society itself,” said HSRM Imboni Dr uZwi-Lezwe Radebe.
HSRM further emphasised that many Africans come from wounded backgrounds and that social, political, and economic interventions alone are insufficient to address the challenges facing families and communities.
“If we want healed communities, we must heal the spirit first. If we want lasting marriages, we must prepare people spiritually before we prepare them socially. Because when the spirit is nurtured, the family becomes strong. When the family is strong, society becomes stable. And when society is stable, humanity itself begins to heal,” he said.
Speaking on the importance of faith within the family unit, Bishop Maria Mucamba Mahota noted that societies that become disconnected from their spiritual foundations often struggle to sustain healthy family structures.
“If we want a changed society, let us begin with our families. When we lose God in our families, we lose the foundation of everything else,” she said.
The 6th Africa Spiritual Day reaffirmed IAPD Africa’s commitment to promoting interfaith dialogue, strengthening family values, and fostering unity among Africa’s diverse spiritual and religious communities.
The event concluded on a high note with the Secretary General of IAPD Africa, Mr Bhekinhlanhla Sibisi, announcing the organisation’s upcoming programmes and initiatives across the continent.
