The upcoming Pan-African Conference on Family Values, set to take place on May 17th, 2025, at Nairobi’s BOMA Hotel, has sparked widespread outrage and disbelief on social media, not because of the topic, but because of who’s speaking.
Despite the event branding itself as “Pan-African,” not a single listed speaker is African.
The conference, which promises to explore how to promote and protect family values in challenging times, has been criticised for its entirely Western and predominantly white lineup.
The speakers include American and European figures associated with right-wing, conservative Christian advocacy organisations, such as the Family Research Council (USA), Living Hope Ministries, and Ordo Iuris (Poland).
All have a long history of exporting anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-reproductive rights ideologies to the Global South.
Online Backlash on Nairobi Family Values Conference
Within hours of the poster being shared online, Kenyans and Africans across the continent voiced concern and mockery.
“And it’s in Kenya, not London? This is hectic,” a user tweeted.
To show disbelief and frustration at the fact that a supposedly African-centred event is being hosted in Kenya yet features an all-foreign lineup of speakers.
“A Pan-African conference with no Africans? You mean neo-colonialism is now rebranded as family values?” one user tweeted.
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“White men flying in to tell us about our families? The irony is suffocating,” another user posted on X.
Who’s Behind the Pan-African Event?
While the event is hosted under the banner of the African Centre for Policy and Family (ACPF), critics are questioning the authenticity of its “African” leadership.
Additionally, noting that the ideological and financial roots appear to trace back to American evangelical and European ultra-conservative institutions.
Critics argue that the conference is a clear example of ideological colonialism, where Western actors frame themselves as protectors of African values while pushing a specific conservative agenda that may not reflect the diversity of African family structures or priorities.
This controversy comes amid a broader global conversation about the rise of foreign-funded conservative movements across Africa.
As the backlash grows, many are calling for a redefinition of what it means to hold a Pan-African conference.
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With only a few days left before the event, it remains to be seen whether the organisers will respond to the criticism, diversify the speaker lineup, or double down on their current course.
About ACPF
The Africa Christian Professionals Forum (ACPF) is a membership-based organisation that unites Christian professionals from various African countries, all committed to promoting and safeguarding family values.
Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, ACPF collaborates closely with stakeholders and partners to provide professional and technical support aimed at influencing the development of a legal and social environment that upholds these values across the continent and beyond.
ACPF serves as a Pan-African platform dedicated to protecting and promoting family values at the continental level and beyond.
The organisation has since expanded its reach, establishing country chapters in 17 African nations and forming partnerships with various organisations that share its mission.
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