God is everywhere present in the Great Lakes Region of Africa in the countries of Burundi, DR Congo, Rwanda and Uganda. Life for political elites and ordinary citizens revolves around places of worship. God’s presence envelops and embodies both time and space. Long before the arrival of Christian and Islamic missionaries, God was manifest in this region, expressed in a variety of symbols and mediums, including artistic and musical forms. No one in power, in eons past or now, has ignored God’s presence. Rulers may have rebelled at certain points, but were obliged, eventually, to recognize God’s sovereignty. God’s presence has been, is now, and will in future be felt in this region.
How does a realization of this presence influence the politics and policies of those serving in government? The answer must be lodged within and must be integral to the accepted concepts of governance.