A documented history of Umzi Wase Tiyopiya states that it dates far back prior to 1900. However, 1900 is the well remembered historical evolution of Amatopiya Movement under the control of Anglican Church. There empirical evidence that states that Umzi Wase Tiyopiya existed before 1900 is well documented in the book called “Abapicothi” boMzi Wase Tiyopiya (Loosely translated as “Analysts of Amatopiya Movement.”

There several assumptions that supports the above assertion. If one begins to define and explain Catholicism, one would understand that Catholicism simply means the way of life of African people the way they live, relate and support each other. This is what commonly known in nowadays the philosophy of Ubuntu, but from Biblical and theological understanding it implies how Christian live and relate to each other and that resembles the life of our Lord Jesus Christ whilst He was among ordinary people but performing extra ordinary things on earth.

The were several scholars of the concept of Catholicism in Southern Africa it is a well documented fact that in South Africa the great scholars and the founders of Catholicism (Ubu Tiyopiya) was James Matta Dwane. It must be remembered that Umzi Wase Tiyopiya was under the auspices of the Anglican Catholic Church. AmaTiyopiya or Catholicism in their provincial conferences which were held annually took several resolutions inter alia (i) They wanted to be separated and autonomous from the Anglican Church (ii) they also wanted to have their own Bishop. (iii) they also disapproved efforts undermining and destroying culture and their belief system. (iv). they wanted to worship freely without intimidation. It is on the basis of the supra resolutions that James Matta Dwane was commissioned to go overseas to find the church that is going to comply with the above spiritual and theological requirements. He was the Provincial President who was commissioned to go over seas to conduct research and investigate the philosophy of Catholicism and its application in real life. It is that rich history that guided the spiritual belief, the tradition, culture and the norms of African people especially in the Eastern Cape.

The history of Catholicism is well entrenched in the Eastern Cape especially in Grahamstown, King William’s Town, Port Elizabeth, Queenstown and East London. Umzi Wase Tiyopiya as an African Religion evolved since 1900; there were spiritual Fathers like Rev Kaiser Ngxwana. This Catholic believes under those forefathers was a united spiritual force to change the lives of people to dedicate themselves to live a Godly life. It must be mentioned that the solid foundation was not without turbulent and upheavals within the Tiyopiya Movement.

Those challenges and upheaval resulted to splinter groups with their primary objective was to split the church. It is said that the first split occurred during the early 1960’s and since then that crack that led to split of the church it occurred in subsequent years. The primary reason for the split is attributed to the fact that when the church start discussions on the episcopacy different splinter groupings emerged who support a particular candidate.