Fr. Ken Amadi

Rev. Ken Amadi is Director of Church Life Africa and Assistant Professor of Theology at the Augustine Institute. A priest of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Nigeria, he is completing a Ph.D. in liturgical studies at the University of Notre Dame.

Fr. Amadi’s research focuses on sacramental theology, ritual studies, African Christian imagination, and global Catholicism, with particular attention to how local expressions of worship enrich the Church’s liturgical tradition. His dissertation explores the emerging ritual of thanksgiving in Nigeria as a unique expression of the African Christian imagination. 

A scholar-practitioner, he co-founded Church Life Africa to advance lay theological formation across the continent. Through this work, he helps lead the Augustine Institute’s outreach for the New Evangelization in Africa. He is developing the Theology for Service Leadership program to equip lay leaders for mission and human development. 

Suggested Interview Questions

1. What is Church Life Africa, and how did this partnership with the Augustine Institute come to be?
2. Why is investing in the formation of lay Catholics so critical for the future of the Church in Africa?
3. Africa is one of the fastest-growing regions of the Catholic Church—what does that mean for the universal Church?
4. In what ways is the Augustine Institute helping Church Life Africa to fill gaps in catechesis and formation?
5. What signs of hope do you see in the Church in Africa, and how can Catholics around the world support this mission?
6. What’s next for Church Life Africa?