Johane Maranke

Who is Johane Maranke?

John or Johane Maranke was a Zimbabwean Christian leader, prophet, and founder of the African Apostolic Church of John Maranke.

He was born Muchabaya Momberume near Bondwe Mountain in the Maranke Tribal Trustland of Southern Rhodesia and took the name Johane from John the Baptist and Maranke from the tribal name, of the Maranke Reserve. He was educated as a Methodist. In 1932, when Maranke was 20, he returned from journeys in the bush announcing a series of visions and encounters with Jesus Christ, calling him to be a Holy Spirit guided itinerant preacher and establish a new African church. In his visions he was also admonished that he should baptize people and observe the [Saturday] Sabbath. He founded the largest independent church in Central Africa. The main gathering of the church occurred at Pentecost, at Maranke's village, lasting for seventeen days, and ending with communion.

On his death his sons, Abero Maranke, Makebo Maranke, and Judah Maranke took over leadership of the church.