Neo-Pentecostalism and entrepreneurialism in the African context: a ‘wicked problem’ perspective

Research at the interface of religion and entrepreneurship is experiencing a renewed interest in both progress and criticism. The presence of significant conflicts, tensions, and paradoxes in religion and entrepreneurship makes this area of research valuable to the subject of entrepreneurship as a source of meaningful diversity in beliefs. Failure to address these principles and concerns leaves entrepreneurship researchers with a deficient and perhaps weakened comprehension of entrepreneurship. The intersection of religion and entrepreneurship, when utilised effectively to bridge social divides, provides valuable and unconventional perspectives on how entrepreneurs work to innovate organisations and society. However, as the economy declined in many African countries during the previous two decades, numerous neo-Pentecostal congregations increased in number in the Global South. Many prominent religious leaders were paradoxically enriching themselves in regions plagued by poverty by engaging in entrepreneurial activities financed by the contributions of the congregants. This research aims to address challenges related to entrepreneurial behaviours in African neo-Pentecostalism using the wicked problem and religious logics theory. Initial findings indicate that most neo-Pentecostal leaders are self-centered and greedy opportunists who exploit the vulnerable, rather than being focused on taking care of them.