From Indigenisation to Perversion: A Socio-Ethical Discourse on Televangelism in Cameroon and Nigeria.

The article examines the transformation of televangelism—defined as the use of electronic media for evangelization—from its American origins to its indigenized forms in Cameroon and Nigeria, focusing on the socio-ethical issues arising from this process. It identifies four main perversions of televangelism in these countries: tele-exorcism, fake miracles, dramatization of preaching, and dissemination of post-truths, which have contributed to negative stereotypes about neo-Pentecostal movements. The study highlights concerns over media ethics and calls for stricter regulation of religious broadcasting and capacity-building programs to train televangelists in ethical media practices. It also discusses the paradoxical effects of existing media bans and social media platform interventions on curbing unethical televangelism. The article suggests further research to explore televangelists' responses to criticism and the broader African context of televangelism.