<P> African - initiated churches are found across Africa; they are particularly well - documented in southern Africa and West Africa . Pauw suggests that at least 36 per cent of the population of Africa belong to an African - initiated church . </P> <P> During the colonial period, many black converts to Christianity were unable fully to reconcile their beliefs with the teachings of their church leaders, and split from their parent churches . The reasons for these splits were usually either: </P> <Ul> <Li> Political--an effort to escape white control </Li> <Li> Historical--many of the parent churches, particularly those from a Protestant tradition, had themselves emerged from a process of schism and synthesis </Li> <Li> Cultural--the result of trying to accommodate Christian belief within an African world view </Li> </Ul> <Li> Political--an effort to escape white control </Li>

Which is the largest african independent church in south africa