Trump inauguration: Why Pastor W.F Kumuyi, Nathaniel Bassey involve for Trump 2025 inauguration

Two prominent Nigerian pastors take part for events wey mark di inauguration of Donald Trump on Monday.

Dem invite Pastor William F. Kumuyi to di swearing-in ceremony though e no fit to attend afta dem change di venue sake of harsh weather.

Instead e spend time for a prayer service for di incoming president, as well as meeting political groups.

Invitation of Kumuyi to di inauguration dey unusual. Although Trump break tradition by inviting world leaders from kontris wey include China, Italy and Argentina.

No African leader dey di guest list.

Outside of di official schedule, di well-known Nigerian gospel minister, Nathaniel Bassey, perform for di ‘US Presidential Inaugural Prayer Breakfast’ on Monday morning.

Di non-political, faith-based event bin hold ahead of di swearing-in ceremony, though e no dey part of di official celebrations, and di president-elect no attend.

As a former maths professor, Pastor William F. Kumuyi na di founder of Deeper Life Bible Church and di convener of di worldwide evangelistic ministry, di Global Crusade With Kumuyi.

For statement, di Global Crusade claim say di Deeper Life church na di third largest for di world, wit 120,000 attendees evri week.

Afta e travel go Washington DC, Kumuyi post for im X say im meet Congressmen from di powerful conservative youth group Turning Point USA to discuss how dem fit ‘partner togeda for global evangelism’.

On Sunday, e deliva a prayer for di ‘Inauguration Praise & Prayer convocation’ wey US pastor Jim Garlow and Tony Perkins from di Family Research Council, a US evangelical organisation host.

Nathaniel Bassey na Nigerian singer, pastor, trumpeter, music producer and gospel songwriter from Akwa Ibom State, Southern Nigeria.

E don get global recognition through im music and worship program “Hallelujah Challenge” on social media, wit almost four million followers on Instagram.

Di musician say e bin start im online praise and prayer sessions for 2017 to connect Christians worldwide.

Although Bassey refer to imself as a pastor, e dey most widely recognised as a gospel artist.

E also be youth pastor and music minister for di Redeemed Christian Church of God in Lagos, Nigeria.

Bassey na di only African artist wey perform for di Prayer Breakfast event in honour of Trump and Vance.

For a statement from di Global Crusade ministry, Kumuyi say im dey participate for inauguration-related festivities to “celebrate a return to religious freedom for America and support for oda nations to combat religious persecution”.

Trump dey popular wit evangelical Christian voters for di US and don promise to uphold Christian values.

For 2019, during im first presidential term, Trump bin host di first meeting of foreign ministers wey focus solely on religious freedom. For 2020 Executive Order, e write say “religious freedom for all pipo worldwide na foreign policy priority of di United States”.

Dion Forster, Professor of Public Theology for di Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, say both Trump and Kumuyi go benefit from Kumuyi invitation to di inauguration.

E say Kumuyi fit demonstrate, “I am a friend of di most powerful man for di world.”

For im part Trump and im team fit use Kumuyi popularity to gain power and influence for Africa and keep oda actors like Russia and China out.

“Di genius – and I hate to use dat word – of di Trump political machine na say dey really sabi how to work outside di traditional structures of national politics,” e say.

“Wia Joe Biden for don set up connections wit ambassadors, senior business leaders, Trump na di kain guy wey say ‘wia power lie outside of dose structures? And how I fit bring dose kinds of pipo closer to me?'”

Caleb Okereke, founder and editor of Minority Africa, agree say di backing of popular pastors like Kumuyi and Bassey fit help Trump gain popular support on di African continent.

Okereke believe say shared political views fit unite US conservatives and African evangelists.

“E get di marrying of global conservative ideals so I tink say Pastor Kumuyi and Pastor Nathaniel Bassey na only a small representation of wetin I tink say na huge alignment between US politics and politics for di continent,” e say.

“I see dem as a signifier of sometin wey dey more much more entrenched, wey be di agenda of aligning for di hatred of LGBTQ+ populations.”

Howeva e believe say e get two beliefs for Africa wen e come to Trump.

E point to di US president as e refer to African nations as “shithole kontris” and restrict immigration from several states for di continent, including Nigeria, as part of a controversial travel ban during im first term.

“I dey amazed at how much gender, sexuality almost blind evribodi to wateva dem dey tok,” Okereke tok.