Samuel Bilewu Oshoffa | |
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| Born | (1909-10-11)11 October 1909 |
| Died | 10 September 1985(1985-09-10) (aged 75) Lagos, Nigeria |
| Resting place | Imeko,Ogun State, Nigeria 7°29′00″N 2°53′00″E |
| Occupation | Pastor |
| Known for | Founder of theCelestial Church of Christ |
| Spouse(s) | Felicia Yaman and 13[1] |
Samuel Bilewu Joseph Oshoffa[2] (October 11, 1909 – September 10, 1985) was the founder of theCelestial Church of Christ, aPentecostal church in theAladura movement.[3] He founded the church in 1947 inPorto-Novo inFrench Dahomey, now modernBenin.[4] Oshoffa said that he founded the church in response to a "divine order" toevangelize, which was issued to him by anangel of God.
Samuel Bilewu Joseph Oshoffa (Ojú kìí ṣe ọfà) was born on October 11, 1909, in theWest African city ofPorto-Novo, then capital of thecolony ofFrench Dahomey (now the country ofBenin), into aYoruba family of mixed religion. His father Joseph Oshoffa was a formerMuslim who converted toMethodism. Joseph Oshoffa was acarpenter, which Oshoffa viewed as portentous given thatJoseph of Arimathea was also said to be a carpenter. His mother Alake Iyafo was fromImeko Afon in Nigeria and followedAfrican traditional religions; she objected to conventionalChristianity. Alake Iyafo left the family when Oshoffa was three months old to join her husband inNigeria.
Oshoffa was working in theebony trade in 1947 when he claimed that he was instructed by an angel to found a new church. He said that he became lost and had to live off the land for three months before finding his way back to his timber camp, and claimed to have been endowed with the gifts ofdivine healing and prophecy.[5]
An earlymiracle which his followers attribute to Oshoffa was theresurrection of his nephew. As a result, his sister Elizabeth became the first convert. The nephew became the first prophet of the new church. Oshoffa's followers believe he performed more resurrections.
Oshoffa's first wife Felicia Yaman was involved in the launch of the new church. Followers considered her aprophet.
The church expanded in Benin between 1947 and 1951. In 1976, Oshoffa moved his operations due to a conflict with the government of Benin and a looming arrest. In Nigeria, his followers credited him with curing a "mad" woman. Oshoffa held a public meeting inYaba, Lagos where he proclaimed his prophecy. In the same year he again claimed a resurrection.[4]
The new church grew rapidly, and it gained followers across West Africa and the world. The church was estimated to have several million followers in 1998.[6] In Nigeria, Oshoffa was sold a large piece of land after the owner was assisted by a "holy man's" intervention in a dream with a legal dispute. The new church faced initial opposition from the Nigerian authorities, but was officially recognised in 1958. He took on two partners for the church,Alexander Abiodun Adebayo Bada and Samuel Ajanlekoko.
Oshoffa was killed in an automobile accident on 10 September 1985; no one in his vehicle survived. He is buried in the main church of the Celestial Church of Christ, calledCelestial City by followers, in his mother's home region of Imeko Afon in theOgun State state of Nigeria.[7] He was survived by 34 wives and 150 children.[8]
Oshoffa had been the sole authority of the Celestial Church of Christ; this made for a contested succession after his death.[9] After some confusion, church trustees choseAlexander Abiodun Adebayo Bada as Oshoffa's successor.[10]
In 2009 theCelestial Church of Christ celebrated the 100-year anniversary of Oshoffa's birth with a music festival and award ceremony in Benin.[11]
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