06 May 2025, 15:30 - 06 May 2025, 17:00 Faculty of Divinity, West Road, Cambridge

In 1960, American evangelist Billy Graham toured nine African countries preaching the Gospel to
around 600,000 people during a revival tour nicknamed ‘Safari for Souls’. Aiming at local Christian churches and forging strong alliances with missionaries on the ground, the revival tour stood firmly in the tradition of the US missionary enterprise of the 19th century.

However, Billy Graham’s 'Safari for Souls' was much more than just a traditional evangelistic campaign: it reflected postcolonial realities, demonstrated US geopolitical interests, and was shaped by increasing global campaigns and conversations about racial justice. Closely monitored by the US State Department, underpinned by a strong anti-Communism, and powerfully displaying Western modernity, the ‘Safari for Souls’ was a manifestation of America’s Spiritual Cold War abroad.

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