Sisters Celebrate Relief Society Anniversary in West Africa

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In November of 1978, the first Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was established in West Africa.  On that day Sister Fidelia Obinna was set apart as the first Relief Society President in West Africa.  Over the course of the following 44 years the Relief Society has flourished in the countries that comprise the Africa West Area of the Church.  As the Church celebrates the 181^st anniversary of the Relief Society, sisters in Ghana, Nigeria, Cote d’ Ivoire, Togo, Benin, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Gambia, and Mali, honoured those who had so diligently served and contributed to the growth of the Church in West Africa.

The sisters celebrated in a uniquely African way, through humanitarian service projects and by focusing on the traditional African values held by the Relief Society sisters.  From a combined service project with a Muslim women’s group in Gambia, to a band led procession to the Relief Society celebration in Sierra Leone, the sisters shared there love for each other and their communities.

In Cotonou, Benin Republic, the sisters held a multi-stake meeting to celebrate the Relief Society Anniversary that was attended by Africa West Area President S. Gifford Nielsen. Some met together as Stakes, and others celebrated the anniversary with their ward families, but all celebrated with the joy that comes from living the Relief Society motto, Charity Never Faileth.