Mwita Akiri the founding bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Tarime in Africa, will be visiting the Dallas diocese from Oct 20 through November 10. The Tarime diocese is west of Serengeti, east of Lake Victoria and is one of the smallest but fastest growing in Tanzania. Akiri was elected Bishop of Tarime in 2010. Prior to the election, he served as the national General Secretary/Provincial Secretary of the Anglican Church of Tanzania for about ten years. 

Akiri was ordained in 1985 after theological training at St Philip’s Theological College in Tanzania. He earned a BA degree in theological studies at Trinity College in Bristol, England. Later he graduated with a Master of Theology degree and a PhD in African Mission History from Edinburgh University in Scotland.

His key academic interest is in the area of the historical engagement of the Western world with African political, religious, social and cultural heritage in the 19^th century and early 20^th century and how this aided the growth of Christianity. He has published a book chapter and online articles, and is preparing new manuscripts for publication. 

Akiri is a former catechist/lay minister who now leads his diocese in evangelism, church planting, discipleship and community development. His ministries include making evangelism available to area youth.

Current project include raising money to build a school for girls in his diocese that will help curb the rates of early marriage and poverty. He has purchased the land for the school but is currently trying to raise $250,000 for construction and classroom supplies.

During his visit, Akiri is scheduled to visit St. Mark’s in Irving on Oct. 23, at Good Shepherd in Dallas on Oct. 30, and at the diocesan convention November 5.

Akiri is a Visiting Lecturer of Mission and African History at Wycliffe College, University of Toronto since 2007. 

He is married to Mukami with whom they have two daughters – Mugure, 22, and Mbayo,16.