Essays in Anarchism and Religion

Mutuality, resistance and egalitarianism^59

Léopoldville. Upon the emergence of the choir members’ door-to-
door proselytism in the city, soon enough the Belgian authori-
ties were tipped off by the Baptist missionaries concerning the
dangers involved in their activities. A complaint filed in the local
police station concerning an alleged robbery on behalf of one of
these students/preachers gave the Belgian authorities the pretext
to arrest Toko and the group of dozens of followers. As they were
arrested, several other dozen followers voluntarily turned them-
selves in to the authorities, in order to remain closer to their lead-
er. The police then conducted interrogatories to identify and build
the case for a subsequent deportation. Every single interrogation
followed the same script as this dialogue held by the interrogating
official and 18-year-old G. Pierre:

Q.- Do you understand that you have been arrested for carrying

the insignia of the Kibokolo choir?

R.- Yes, because I am a member of that choir led by Simão

Gonçalves Toko.

Q.- Were you aware that that sect was forbidden?

R.- Yes I was.

Q.- Why then did you continue to be a part of that illegal move-

ment, despite the interdiction?

R.- Because it is about the will of God, to which I must submit

myself.

Q.- So one could say you follow firstly Toko’s orders, and then

those of the Government, is that right?

R.- Yes, that is correct.

Q.- Are you willing to give up on the Kibokolo choir movement?

R- I am arrested, but I will never give up.

(Archives Ministère des Affaires Étrangères Bruxelles)^31

As becomes clear, the arrested Tokoists would not recognize an
authority that did not stem from Toko or God, and were willing
to pay the price, suffering prison and deportation. And in fact, as
Tokoists in Luanda recall, not only were these hundreds of sing-
ers arrested and expelled, but up to thousands of zombo volun-
tarily turned themselves in to the Belgian authorities, subjected