Describe the activities of missionaries in South Africa.

1.     Missionaries in South Africa included Philip, Kemp, Moffat etc.

2.     They came in different societies e.g. London Missionary Society

3.     P.E.M (Parish Evangelical Mission), The moravians missioners (etc).

4.     They operated in different areas i.e. LMS among the Xhosa and Khoikhoi, Moravian missionaries among the Khoikhoi and the free church of Scotland in Natal.

5.     The Dutch reformed church operated only among the Dutch settlers.

6.     Missionaries advocated for equality, liberty and freedom for Africans.

7.     In 1811, they advocated for the circuit court and in 1828 the 50th ordinance was passed.

8.     They, fought against racial segregation.

9.     The Dutch reformed church, however, advocated for racial segregation and white superiority.     

10.  They fought for emancipation or releasing of slaves in 1834.

11.  Later, they participated in imperialism by aiding colonization activities of the whites.

 

       How were the Africans affected?

1.     Missionaries divided Africans into camps i.e. the educated and the non educated, the Christians and the pagans (etc).

2.     They undermined African culture.

3.     Africans became educated.

4.     Bantu languages were put into writing.

5.     Africans were converted to Christianity.

6.     Loss of independence by Africans.

7.     Africans adopted the European culture e.g. in dressing.

8.     Led to emergency of African independent churches.

9.     They led to political disunity among the African since traditional chiefs were no longer strongly feared or respected

10.  Many Africans refused to fight for their chiefs.

12.  Christians destroyed African superstitions.

13.  Christians eradicated slave trade and slavery.

14.  Their medical services improved African standard of living.

15.  They improved on transport and communication.

16.  Their new farming methods improved agricultural yields.

17.  Africans civil rights were restored.

18.  The Xhosa regained their lost land.

19.  They encouraged the Barolortg to declare their independent from Meshoeshoe undermining traditional authority.

20.  Africans acquired new skills in carpentry, shoe making (etc).

21.  Racial segregation was discouraged.

22.  Some missionaries intermarried with Africans encouraging mixed marriages.

23.  Missionaries worsened the Anglo-Boer relationship.     

 

The Dutch Reformed Church

1.     This was the official church of the Dutch settlers and the earliest Christian church in South Africa.

2.     By 1806 when the British took over the cape, the church was very strong.

3.     All Boers had to belong to this church.

4.     It was the only church in South Africa that never supported non-whites i.e. the natives.

5.     They converted and baptized members.

6.     } They built schools where the Dutch received education.

7.     They provided general education to the settlers where reading writing and arithmetic was taught.

8.     They preached basing of the Calvinist principle of the Old Testament which stated that God cursed Africans.

9.     They believed that they were saved and others doomed.

10.  They promoted the belief that the whites were superior to the Africans.

11.  They encouraged the persecution of the natives by the whites.

12.  They encouraged white hostility towards Africans and to them it was normal to kill Africans.

13.  They believed that God had sent them to preserve white civilization

14.  It was the cultural engine of the Dutch and would once a year they made a pilgrimage to Swellendam and Great Reinet for communion.

15.  They encouraged trade among themselves especially during Holy Communion.

16.  Their arrogance led to other churches.

17.  They encouraged Boer isolation greed and pride contributing to the great trek.

18.  They encouraged the viewing of South Africa as their Canaan i.e. the Promised Land.

19.  By 1857, the Dutch reformed church was having separate racial congregation.

 

 (1) How were the following affected by the activities of the Dutch Reformed Church

(a)  Africans.        (b)  Whites.

 

INDEPENDENT CHURCHES

(The role-played by independent churches).

These are churches which broke away from the European led

1.     churches.

2.     Three types existed i.e. Ethiopianism, Zionism and Messianic.

3.     The Mesianic church was led by Isaiah Shembe the Zulu Messiah.

4.     Nathanile Tile led the Natal church.

5.     They criticized the white Man's exploitation.

6.     They preached against racial discrimination.

7.     Encouraged Africans to build pure African societies without foreign pollution.

8.     Made Africans aware of the White Man's lack of charity and consideration, towards Africans.

9.     They expressed hostility against colonialism using the Bible and churches.

10.  They built day schools for the Africans and by Africans i.e.managed by Africans.

11.  They gave a platform to Nationalists to decampaign colonialism.

12.  Laid the foundation for future Nationalists e.g. Bishop Tutu Desmond.

13.  They demonstrated that Africans were capable of managing their Affairs.

14.  Influenced African rebellions e.g. the Bambatha and Nama-Herero.

15.  Most of them were outwardly religions but inwardly political and gave Africans a sense of self worth.

16.  They preached that Africa belonged to Africans.

17.  They opposed the apartheid policy and sent African delegates out of South Africa to campaign for African rights.

 

What Led To The Rise Of Independent Churches In South Africa

1.       These were organisations that broke aWay from missionary led churches and were formed independently by the Africans.

2.       These were divided into different churches e.g. Ethiopian church, the Zionist and Messianic.

3.       These churches -were formed as a reaction against political segregation of the Africans in South Africa and racism.

4.       They were formed because of conflicts between Africans and the missionaries over church leadership.

5.       There was lack of consideration between the white missionaries and the black Africans.

6.       Besides, conversion to Christianity was too long a process which forced Africans to form their own churches.

7.       Disrespect of African culture by the white missionaries, forced Africans to form independent  churches.

8.       The need to use special churches to fight European colonialism also gave rise to independent churches.

9.       The spirit of Ethiopianism also influenced the rise of independent churches.

10.     The defeat of Italians by Ethiopians at Adowa and some Africans interpreted the Bible and they said that it has also foretold the mushrooming of such churches.

11.     The belief that Jesus was not sent for blacks who thus had to wait for a black Jesus.

12.     Role-played by Isaiah Tshembe and Nathanile Tile.

 

Role of The Following In Furthering Missionary Activities In South Africa

 

A.  Dr. John Philip

1.     He was one of the outstanding missionaries who did a lot in spreading Christianity in South  African.

2.     He was sent by the London Missionary Society from Scotland.

3.     By 1819 he had operated among the Griquas, Khoikhoi and Bantu.

4.     He was a champion of African rights and condemned Boers hostility against Africans.

5.     He lobbied Humanitarians to help Africans.

6.     He lobbied humanitarian from Europe especially U. K to force change in South Africa.

7.     Philip was the architect of the passing of the 50th ordinance and the establishment of the circuit courts.

8.     He persuaded Africans to buy land and look for better employment away from the Boers.

9.     He convinced the British cape government to pass the apprentice laws.

10.  He criticized the whites grabbing of Xhosa's land during the Kaffir wars.

11.  He championed efforts to return the land that the British and Boers had stolen from the Xhosa around R. Kei and R. Keiskama.

12.  He always updated the British government about the evils visited on the Africans by whites.

13.  He championed African education.

14.  He was very critical of traditional practices like initiation.

 

B.  VAN DER KEMP

1.     He was the earliest missionary to arrive in South Africa.

2.     He reached South Africa in 1779 as an agent of the London Missionary Society.

3.     He concentrated among the Khoikhoi and Xhosa.

4.     He believed in the equality of all races and even married a coloured, mothered by a slave.

5.     Though Dutch he was very close to the blacks and associated very much with them. His pro-

6.     African attitude fetched him the enmity from the Boers.

7.     Early settlers accused him of encouraging laziness and idleness among Africans.

8.     The truth however, was that Kemp encouraged hard work among Africans especially in the field of Agriculture.

9.     He championed the raising of the African standards of living.

10.  He imparted skills in building, carpentry, brick making reading and writing to boost African welfare.

11.  He westernized the cape through spreading Christianity even beyond its vicinity.

12.  He was a critic of male dominance and encouraged women emancipation.

13.  His station at Bethelsdrot became a political headquarter to help Africans during wars against the whites.

14.  He built schools for Africans.

15.  He was the most popular among Africans partly because he dressed like the Khoikhoi and walked on foot.

16.  At Bethelsdrot Kemp and James Reed drew most of the charges against the Boers that were presented in the circuit courts.

17.  He also advocated for the establishment of the circuit courts.

18.  He even established a dispensary at Betheldrot.

19.  He criticized African traditional values.

20.  He was an advocate for Christian rights and freedoms.

 

Role Of Christian Churches In The Fight Against Apartheid Before 1970

1.     There was a diversity of attitudes from the various Christian groups in South Africa.

2.     The Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) officially supported the apartheid policies.

3.     The DRC strongly was against the allowing of Africans to vote with the whites.

4.     The DRC members were also part of the Afrikaner bond, which was so supportive of apartheid.

5.     Even some African members of the DRC approved of the earthly segregation though in heaven all were to l3e one.

6.     The Methodist churph however strongly was against apartheid.

7.     Methodist church members refused to refer to apartheid in their operations.

8.     In 1964 the Methodists elected Mokitimi a leading apartheid critic as their president

9.     Even in DRC some moderates there attacked the DRC alliance with the apartheid regime.

10.  The Anglican churches were also opposed to apartheid Anti apartheid churches agreed to form a joint council combining Africans and Europeans to fight apartheid.

11.  This council attacked the segregation in the job market.

12.  The council also attacked the apartheid in Education especially after 1954 when missionaries were removed from education.

13.  The Adams College, a missionary school refused to operate under the new laws of apartheid.

14.  Some clergy like Bishop Reeves and Michael Scott strongly critici2^4 tr^ apartheid government.

15.  The African church leaders protested and even formed separate independent churches

16.  Bishop Reeves even mobilized-funds for ANC

17.  Later however, the executive committee of the Christian council refused to support ANC

18.  Some clergy however, like Bishop Desmond Tutu of the Anglican Church of Natal continued with their anti apartheid crusade.

 

Ref. Qns.

(a)   How were the Africans affected by the anti apartheid activities of the churches?

(b)   What problems were faced by missionaries in their evangelical   work?

(c)   Describe the activities of the Dutch reformed church and the African independent churches in South African history.

(d)   Describe the activities of Dr John Philip and Van Der Kemp.