By Dr Noel Maturlu
African descendants—both in Africa and across the diaspora—are believed to exhibit higher levels of religiosity compared to many other communities. In sub-Saharan Africa, for example, over 95% of the population identifies with a religious group, and daily prayer and regular attendance at religious services are common. The Pew (2014) report projects that this trend is also evident in the diaspora. African communities in regions like the UK, Europe, Latin America, and Australia maintain strong religious practices, often reflected in higher church attendance and active participation in religious life. In the U.S., 79% of African Americans consider religion very important in their lives, compared to 49% of whites and 59% of Latinos.
However, despite their high religiosity, Afro-descendants, both in Africa and the diaspora, face disproportionately high levels of poverty compared to other communities. For example, according to a World Bank (2019) report, in sub-Saharan Africa, around 41% of the population lives in extreme poverty, with projections suggesting that nearly 90% of the world’s poor will reside in Africa by 2030. In the UK, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) highlights that 40% of Black African and 30% of Black Caribbean households live in poverty, compared to 19% of white British households. In the U.S., African Americans face a poverty rate of 19.5%, more than double that of whites.
The legacy of slavery, colonialism, imperialism, and, to some extent, racism and apartheid are often seen as the main causes of this struggle. While these factors have undoubtedly played a significant role, they do not tell the whole story.
Historically, African descendants—symbolised by ancient Egypt, Ethiopia and Cush—were once among the most prosperous people in the world. Up until about 2,000 years ago, Africa was a global leader in both economic and military power. However, this prosperity was intertwined with traditional spiritual practices that, regrettably, led to the mistreatment of ethnic minorities, particularly the Jews. Ironically, the histories of African descendants and the Jewish people are closely linked in Christian theology. During Africa’s height of prosperity, the Jews were enduring severe hardships, suffering from famine and civil unrest. Many sought refuge in Africa, hoping for safety, but instead faced harsh labor and restricted freedoms under their hosts.
This angered God, who -in Isaiah chapters 19 and 20 – vowed to denigrate Africans, predicting that they would be sold into slavery. Over the centuries, Africa’s decline was marked by this divine decree, culminating in the transatlantic slave trade, where Africans were forcibly sold into slavery across the globe.
Adversity, while challenging, often creates fertile ground for spiritual growth, fostering a deepened hunger for spirituality and expanding the capacity to embrace it. This is what I call Differential Spiritual Receptivity. Although the institution of slavery brought immense suffering, it also introduced a profound and transformative blessing. During their enslavement, African descendants were introduced to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and many embraced the Christian faith, finding salvation in Jesus Christ. In this sense, slavery was not solely a form of punishment; it also served as a means of spiritual transformation.
Just as God delivered the Israelites from bondage in Egypt through Moses, He – as decreed in Isaiah 19:19-25- also worked through influential figures such as William Wilberforce, Martin Luther King Jr., and Nelson Mandela to bring an end to slavery, colonialism, and imperialism. Through these efforts, God facilitated the liberation and upliftment of African descendants. Today, these communities are often among the most spiritually oriented in the world, with vibrant religious life flourishing both in Africa and throughout the diaspora.
Faith has been instrumental in improving the lives of African descendants. Churches and other religious institutions, such as mosques, temples, and synagogues, have filled gaps in health, welfare, education, and economic opportunities—areas often neglected by oppressive systems. However, despite the significant role faith has played, much suffering remains. Like the Israelites who wandered in the desert for 40 years before reaching the Promised Land, African descendants have yet to experience the blessings that God promised fully. Although extreme forms of oppression like slavery, imperialism, and colonialism have ended, the scars of these traumas persist, particularly in the form of ongoing racism and the psychological wounds left by centuries of slavery.
There you have it. There is nothing wrong with the kind God of Africa, but the issue lies in the kind of God that Africans worship. While God remains able, constant, and caring, many African descendants have not developed a secure, trusting relationship with Him. This connection is often entangled with remnants of colonial influences, ancestral idol worship, and misunderstandings of God’s true nature.
Historically, African prosperity crumbled because it was not built on a solid foundation rooted in a secure relationship with the God of love. True spiritual and material bliss requires more than ritualistic worship; it calls for a deep, transformative relationship founded on love, trust, and alignment with divine principles. Until this secure attachment is formed, African descendants will continue to struggle to reach their full potential for flourishing. The challenge is not with the loving God but in realigning worship to reflect His true essence and purpose.
For African descendants to enjoy true prosperity, the lingering “slavery mentality” must be replaced with a “prosperity mentality”. Just as the Israelites could not inherit the Promised Land while holding onto a slavery mindset, African descendants cannot achieve great prosperity with a similar mindset.
Therefore, much of my book, Love and Bliss, explores the best model to help African descendants embrace their God-promised, blissful lives by drawing on their unique history, spirituality, and culture. Years of study—spanning spiritual, religious, philosophical, and psychological models—have culminated in the LOVE model of bliss.
Bliss refers to a life of optimal well-being where individuals experience a balance of physical, economic, social, mental, and spiritual dimensions. It encompasses thriving in positive experiences and growing through challenges, integrating both positive and negative aspects of life for lasting fulfilment. Importantly, bliss arises from cultivating the four core virtues: Linkedness, Opulence, Valory, and Equanimity—collectively known as LOVE. Linkedness fosters a deep sense of belonging and connection with God, others, and all creation. Opulence embodies material wealth and a secure sense of provision, contentment, and achievement, rooted in the belief that God is the ultimate source of all resources. Valory brings a profound sense of meaning, vitality, and engagement with life, driven by a purpose aligned with God’s will. Equanimity cultivates peace, joy, and resilience, allowing individuals to navigate life’s challenges with grace.
The LOVE model is not a new formula—rather, it is a proven one, deeply rooted in the teachings of Christ, the Torah, and the Bible, and acknowledged by great philosophers and positive psychology scholars. The “prosperity mentality” that God instilled in the Israelites through the Torah is mirrored in the LOVE model of bliss.
The Differential Bliss Receptivity theory offers a beacon of hope, particularly for African communities. It suggests that those who face emotional distress, social disadvantage, or other challenges are uniquely positioned to experience profound benefits from divine love. For African descendants, this means that the hardships they have endured as individuals and as a community have not only deepened their capacity to receive God’s love but also enabled them to gain more from it.
This preparation for a life of bliss does not come solely through miracles, prayer, tithing, or offerings. It requires the application of sound divine principles. In the wilderness, the Jews needed miraculous sustenance, but to prosper in the Promised Land, they had to follow the divine economic laws in the Torah. Similarly, African descendants have depended on prophetic, miraculous deliverance from spiritual forces and sustenance due to the lack of support from discriminatory institutions. Now, the time has come for us to internalise and apply the LOVE model.
The divine formula for economic prosperity rests on three core components: natural resources (capital), people (manpower), and divine instructions (laws). Natural resources, like land and its potential, must be harnessed and transformed into material wealth through economic machinery—enterprise, innovation, and governance. Yet, this machinery requires a vital fuel: LOVE virtues, which include compassion, care, diligence, integrity, and wisdom. These virtues are nurtured and sustained by developing a secure relationship with God, ensuring that the translation of resources into prosperity is not reliant on human effort alone.
What makes divine formula unique is the role of bespoke instructions. Unlike generic principles, God’s laws are tailored to each group’s specific circumstances and environments. This bespoke nature is vital due to the inherent biological, psychological, historical, or socio-cultural differences among people, including their personalities, interests, cultures, and experiences. This individualised guidance allows for a flourishing society that is both prosperous and aligned with God’s will.
Building a society and economy rooted in obedience to God’s principles, rather than adopting systems from those outside of His covenant, is essential. In this way, Africans must construct their economic framework according to God’s instructions, ensuring their prosperity aligns with divine principles rather than inherited colonial or ungodly practices.
The journey to the Promised Land doesn’t begin in church pulpits, political arenas, or corporate boardrooms—it starts in the heart through a secure, personal relationship with the God of LOVE.
The greatest wave of prosperity for future generations will begin by embedding LOVE in our children. The infamous Willie Lynch letter showed how a slavery mentality was passed down through generations. Similarly, instilling a flourishing mentality in African descendants must start with the younger generation—beginning in our homes, around the family dinner table.
Love and Bliss is meant to help all people, particularly African descendants, understand and apply the LOVE bliss model. Grounded in historical wisdom, scientific rigour, and philosophical and spiritual values, the LOVE model provides a sustainable and inclusive path to a joyful and fulfilled life for many generations to come, starting with one person at a time.
