POLL | Do you agree with Nathi Mankayi that God doesn’t answer prayers when praying in a different language?

18 August 2023 - 13:25
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Musician Nathi Mankayi is in the spotlight for his comments regarding prayer.
Musician Nathi Mankayi is in the spotlight for his comments regarding prayer.
Image: Instagram/ Nathi Mankayi

Musician Nathi Mankayi’s comment suggesting God doesn’t answer black people’s prayers when praying in English instead of vernacular has caused a stir on social media.  

The singer was speaking on a podcast with radio presenter David Mashabela. 

Mankayi said he believed African people’s struggles do not only emanate from systematic oppression, but failure to prune their own blessings.

He argued languages can be seen as a gift from God and should be embraced to show gratitude to God.  

“As a black person, you pray in English, how do you think God is going to answer your prayers? It is not that God does not understand English, but He gave you your own language.

“I believe we should go before God with what he gifted us and not with other people’s gifts. Our suffering as black people comes from the issue of us going before God with other people’s blessings and not what he has given us. Success comes from us embracing what God has gifted a person with,” Mankayi said.

He believes when a person prays in a language that is not their mother tongue the prayer is less powerful.

His comments caused controversy on social media. 



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