William Wadé Harris

William Wade Harris ( * 1850? † 1929) was a Liberian evangelist and prophet, who was regarded as the "Black Elijah" of West Africa.

He was the founder of the churches of the Harris - movement or Harristenkirche (English Harrist Church, French Église Harriste ) in the French colony of Côte d'Ivoire, which has later also spread over Liberia, Ghana and France. He created a cult that blends Christian elements with traditional rites.

Harris was one of the people living in Liberia Grebo. He reported that to him during a Gefängnisaufhenthalts the archangel Gabriel had appeared and had announced that he had been chosen to be a prophet of God. After his release he went about as an itinerant preacher, healer and exorcist, and came on the Ivory Coast to Ghana. Several thousand people could be converted by him.

Name variants for the movement

Nkabah or Church of the Twelve Apostles, Harrist Church, Église harriste, Harrismus, Harris Movement churches, Harris - motion