Redefining Nigeria's Fallen Televangelist TB Joshua

TB Joshua, an influential African televangelist, passed away in 2021 at the age of 57. He gained a following worldwide by claiming to perform miracles such as curing blindness and HIV. However, a recent investigation by the BBC has uncovered over a decade of allegations of rape and torture by Joshua within his compound in Lagos. Despite the allegations, Joshua accumulated great wealth during his career, owning a fleet of cars and traveling by private jet. His humble beginnings involved being raised by a Muslim uncle after his Christian father passed away. Joshua made claims such as being in his mother's womb for 15 months and experiencing a three-day trance where he was called to serve God. He began the Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN) with only eight members, and it rose to prominence in the late 1990s alongside other "miracle" programs on Nigerian TV. Tens of thousands of followers from Nigeria and around the world would attend his services in Lagos, seeking healing and listening to Joshua's prophecies. Joshua also embarked on ministry tours to various African countries, the UK, US, and South America. In 2014, during the West African Ebola outbreak, the Lagos state government turned to Joshua to help control the disease's spread. However, he was accused of falsely claiming his "anointing water" could cure Ebola. Joshua's ministry faced controversy when a stampede over his anointing water led to four deaths, and one of his church buildings collapsed in Lagos, claiming the lives of at least 116 people. Despite having a large following, Joshua was ostracized by Christian associations and fellow pastors who saw him as an impostor and accused him of infiltrating Christianity with occult practices. Critics also questioned his claims of predicting events such as the death of Michael Jackson and the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 in 2014. Despite the controversy, Joshua had prominent followers like South African politician Julius Malema, former Malawian President Joyce Banda, late Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, and the late former Ghanaian President John Atta Mills. Joshua's career flourished when he started preaching on Emmanuel TV, a television station operated by SCOAN. The station not only broadcasted his sermons but also shared testimonies from individuals claiming their lives were transformed by his ministry, including stories of financial prosperity and miraculous healings. Joshua was known for his charity work and received the Order of the Federal Republic, one of the highest honors in Nigeria, from the country's former president. Following his death, mourners from around the world gathered in Lagos for his burial, and his wife, Evelyn Joshua, took over as the head of SCOAN. However, with the recent allegations and controversies surrounding Joshua, his legacy now faces significant challenges.