Pepperdine University Leads Global Conversation on Religious Liberty at Historic International Religious Freedom Summit in Africa
A significant milestone in the global effort to advance religious freedom, dignitaries and leaders from across the globe gathered to attend the inaugural International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit Africa, held in Nairobi, Kenya, from June 16, to 18, 2025. Organized by Pepperdine University and the Religious Freedom Institute (RFI), and hosted by the Global Peace Foundation, the three-day event featured discussions ranging from legal innovation and interreligious collaboration to the essential role of African values in shaping a future grounded in peace, dignity, and shared humanity.
Developed with a shared mission to safeguard religious freedom around the world, the summit's theme, "Africa Together: A Continental Call to Religious Freedom," underscored the urgent need for unity across the African continent. Due to its rapidly growing population and recent rise in religiously-motivated acts of terror, the continent has become a critical area of focus for the international religious freedom community.
Honorable Justice Philomena Mbete Mwilu
Chief Justice Martha Koome of Kenya set the tone for the gathering in a powerful opening address delivered on her behalf by the Honorable Justice Philomena Mbete Mwilu, third deputy chief justice and vice president of the Supreme Court of Kenya. She emphasized the urgency of developing a collective response to the growing cases of religious persecution, discrimination, and extremism on the continent.
“We must adopt a united stance, one that upholds religious freedom not only as a legal right but also as a cornerstone of Africa’s democratic and evolving institutions,” said Koome. “Let this summit be remembered as a turning point, a moment when Africa stood up, not merely in defense of freedom of religion or belief but in pursuit of a richer, deeper peace grounded in dignity, justice, and the recognition of our shared humanity.”
The event was led by a distinguished group, including Katrina Lantos Swett, cochair of the IRF Summit; Ambassador Sam Brownback, cochair of the IRF Summit; Bola “Mama” Obasanjo, cochair of IRF Summit Africa and former first lady of Nigeria; and Martha Koome, chief justice and president of the Supreme Court of Kenya. Institutional leadership included Pepperdine president Jim Gash (JD '93); Danny DeWalt, senior vice president for global impact and chief of staff at Pepperdine; David Trimble, president of the RFI; and Paul Murray, international vice president for religious freedom initiatives at the Global Peace Foundation.
Danny DeWalt (far left), Jim Gash (center), and others posing at IRF Summit
Throughout the summit, attendees participated in plenary sessions and panel discussions centering on the complex challenges surrounding religious freedom and government regulation in Africa. The sessions explored the summit’s central purpose—how African values shape the continent’s approach to religious liberty and how faith leaders serve as vital moral voices in that process. Attendees also investigated emerging judicial innovations and legal strategies, underscoring the need for greater collaboration and continental unity in advancing religious freedom. Additionally, participants heard emotional survivor testimonies that provided powerful, personal accounts of persecution and brought them face to face with the lived experiences of those targeted for their beliefs.
For Pepperdine and RFI, the summit was a powerful demonstration of shared purpose. Shared during an interview at the IRF Summit, Gash explained, “This collaboration brought together two institutions united by a deep commitment to protecting religious liberty—a leading academic university and the foremost institute in religious freedom—to form a truly impactful partnership.”
Trimble echoed the sentiment, saying, “I sense in a real way we were called to work together to advance this mission.”
Following the summit, DeWalt also reflected on the historic nature of the gathering and praised Africa’s leaders for prioritizing this humanitarian effort.
“Religious freedom is the first of all freedoms, and Africa is coming together to find solutions to this growing human rights problem,” said DeWalt. “It is inspiring to witness so many African nations stepping up to secure justice for people of all faiths.”