Africa Religious Peace Academy Unites Leaders for Interfaith Harmony

Johannesburg, Aug 26 (PTI) More than 300 religious and community leaders convened for the Africa Religious Peace Academy in a Sikh community-led initiative to promote interfaith harmony and foster peace across the continent. The event, held in Sandton on Sunday evening, bore the theme “Bridging Beliefs: Advancing Peace Through Interfaith Harmony in Africa.” Organizers hailed this inaugural event as a potential cornerstone for cultivating peace and collaborative spirituality throughout Africa.

The academy was organized in conjunction by the Gurdwara Sahib Johannesburg, the Sikh Council of Africa, Heavenly Culture World Peace Restoration of Light (HWPL), and Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha. It united leaders of Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, and African Traditional Religions. Dr. Namane Dickson Masemola, South African Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, emphasized South Africa’s constitutional recognition of all religions, instituted in 1996.

“Religious leaders are pivotal in peace-building, acting as trusted mediators and mentors to mobilize communities,” Masemola noted. “They play a crucial role in fostering social cohesion through interfaith dialogue and collaboration.”

Harbinder Singh Sethi, founder of Johannesburg’s lone gurdwara, remarked on the shared essence of all religions despite differing rituals. “As children of the Divine, we are called to serve, uplift, and protect one another,” Sethi said. “In the face of global challenges, conflict, inequality, and climate crises, we must rise above division and work collectively for the common good.”

Moulana Ebrahim Bham, Secretary General of the Council of Muslim Theologians of South Africa, asserted that peace must be grounded in justice to flourish. “South Africa faces many challenges, yet interfaith conflict is not one of them, something we continue to uphold,” Bham stated.

Beom Jun Park of HWPL highlighted the successful partnership with the Sikh Council of Africa, demonstrating that unity across faiths is viable. Since its establishment a decade ago, HWPL has gathered more than 1,200 leaders from over 30 faiths.