MISSIONARY ACTIVITIES IN CENTRAL AFRICA.

DAVID LIVINGSTONE.
EARLY LIFE.
• David Livingstone was born in 1813 at Blantyre in Scotland.
• His parents were poor and could not meet his education requirements.
• Thus, Livingstone began working in a cotton factory at the age of 10 while attending night
school.
• He then studied medicine at Glasgow University and graduated as a medical doctor.

Thereafter, living stone joined the London Missionary society. (L.M.S).

PRELIMAINARYWORKS IN AFRICA.
• In December 1840, Livingstone was sent by the L.M.S to Africa as a missionary.
• He joined Robert Moffat at Kuruman in 1841.
• From Kuruman, Livingstone moved northwards and established a mission station at
Mabotsa.
• Livingstone then married Mary Moffat in 1843.
• From there, he established another mission station at Kolobeng in 1847.
• He moved northwards and reached lake Ngami and Linyanti in 1849 and 1951 respectively.
• Livingstone made friends with king Sebitwane of Kololo.
• He then developed interest in exploration and become a missionary explorer.
• His interest was to know more about the interior of Central Africa.
• He went back South Africa and sent his family to England.

LIVINGSTONE‟S AIM IN AFRICA

Livingstone‟s aim in central Africa were:
• To open the interior of Central Africa to other missionaries and explorers.
• To fight against slave trade in order to replace it with legitimate trade in goods.
• To encourage other missionaries to spread Christianity and western civilization to Africa.
• To end fear, poverty, superstition, ignorance and warfare that widespread in Central Africa.
• To write books and draw maps about Central Africa for the benefit of the Europeans.

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LIVINGSTONE‟S JOURNEYS.
• To achieve his aims, Livingstone made three journeys into the interior of central Africa.

First journey. (1852-1856)

• Livingstone‟s aim in this journey was to find a possible route for missionaries and traders.
• He set off South Africa and reached Linyanti in 1853.
• Sekeletu gave him 27 men as guides, porters and servants.
• He travelled up the Zambezi up to the Atlantic coast where he reached Luanda in 1854.
• Livingstone the returned to Linyanti in 1855 and moved down the Zambezi.
• He saw the Victoria Falls in 1855 and named the falls after the Queen Victoria.
• From there, he followed the Zambezi up to Quelimane and returned to England in 1857.
SECOND JOURNEY

• Livingstone‟s second journey in central Africa is also called the Zambezi expedition.
• His aim in this journey was to find out how navigable the Zambezi river was and how out
means for stopping the slave trade.
• The journey was sponsored by the British government.
• Livingstone stated from the east coast and followed the Zambezi river upwards.
• This journey was a failure because the Zambezi was not navigable due to the cobra Bassa
rapids.
• Also, his wife died at Shupanga his steamship broke down.
• However, Livingstone‟s party moved up the Shire River to the Murchison rapids.
• He explored the shrine highlands in 1859 and saw Lake Chirwa.
• Livingstone saw lake Nyasa and found a lot of slaves trading activities in the region.
• In 1860 Livingstone went to Bulozi to return his Kololo men.
• Thereafter, he was called back to Britain in 1863.

THIRD JOURNEY
• The third journey was sponsored by the Royal Geographic Society.
• His aim in this journey was to find the sources of the Nile and Congo rivers and further expose
the evils of the Slave Trade.
• The journey started from Zanzibar in 1866 via the Ruvuma river westwards.

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• He passed through Lake Nyasa and crossed the Luangwa River.
• From there, he went northwards to Lake Tanganyika but his medicine box was stolen.
• Livingstone then found Chambeshi River and explored Lake Bangweulu Lake Mweru.
• He crossed the lake and found the Lualaba river but was too ill to explore it.
• In 1871, he went to Ujiji on the eastern shores of Lake Tanganyika where he met Henry Morton
Stanley.
• Stanley gave him some medicine and together they explored the lake.
• Livingstone refused to go back to England as advised by Stanley.
• Instead, he moved southwards and reached the marshy areas of Lake Bangweulu.
• Livingstone became seriously ill and died at Chitambo village in Lala country in 1873.
• His intestines and heart buried at Chitambo near serenge.
• His faithful servants Chuma, Susi and Jacob carried his body to the coast.
• He was buried at west Minister Abby in London.

Fig 07. (Map showing David Livingstones’ Journeys)

LIVINGSTONE‟S ACHIEVEMENTS AND RESULTS OF HIS WORK.

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 • Livingstone opened up the Central African interior to missionaries and traders.
• He made the evils of slave trade known to the outside world and contributed to its abolition.
• He also laid a foundation for Christian missionaries to establish mission stations in Central
Africa so as to spread Christianity.
• The missionaries also built schools and hospitals and taught domestic skills and handicrafts
in Africa.
• His speeches, writings and maps provided valuable information to the Europeans about the
people of Africa, their customs, traditions and beliefs.
• Livingstone‟s work paved a way for the European colonization of Africa.
• He was the first white man to see the Victoria Falls, Cobra Bassa rapids, Murchison rapids,
Shire highlands, lakes Nyasa, Mweru, Bangweulu and many other geographical features.

THE WORK AND ACTIVITIES OF MISSIONARY SOCIETIES IN CENTRAL

AFRICA.
AIMS
• To fight against slave trade and introduce legitimate trade in goods such as manufactured
goods.
• To spread Christianity and teach the word of God to Africans.
• To introduce western education in Africa and build schools so as to teach people how and
write.
• To build hospitals and clinics in Africa and teach Africans better methods of health and
hygiene.
• To purify Africans and help to stop tribal wars and cruel customs.
THE LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY
• The London missionary society (L.M.S) was one of the earliest missionary societies to
open a mission in central Africa.
• In 1859, Robert Moffat set up a mission station at Linyati in Matabeleland.
• Robert Moffat was accompanied by Thomas Morgan, William Sykes and his son John
Smith Moffat.
• Charles Helm opened another mission station at Hope Foundation in 1870.

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 • Both missions failed because the Ndebele were reluctant to accept Christianity, which
condemned some of their traditional practices.
• Livingstone‟s friendship with Sebitwane enabled James Helmore and Rodger Price to
move to Linyanti in 1859 with three African servants.
• They tried to open a mission at Linyanti but failed because Sekeletu mishandled the
kingdom.
• Rodger Price moved to Ujiji in 1877 and opened a station on the shores of Lake
Tanganyika.
• The Ujiji, the L.M.S extended its work to north – eastern Zambia among the Lungu and
the mambwe.
• Fwambo mission which was set up in 1884 became a center for missionary work.
THE PARIS EVANGELICAL MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
• The Paris Evangelical Missionary society (P.E.M.S) in central Africa did most of its work
in western Zambia.
• Led by François collard, the mission started working in Bulozi in 1886 under Lewanika‟s
permission.
• Coillard previously spent most of his life on missionary work in Bulozi.
• A number of member of the royal family were converted to Christianity.
• Lewanika‟s son Litia was converted in 1891.
• The P.E.M.S built schools, hospitals and clinics and translated the Bible into Silozi
language.
• Collard became a personal friend and advisor to Lewanika and this ensured the smooth
running of his missionary activities.
• Coillard advised and helped King Lewanika to obtain British Protection in 1890.
• The P.E.M.S also established Mabumbu and Senenga missions in 1898.
• They extended their services to other places.

THE UNIVERSITIES MISSIONS TO CENTRAL AFRICA (UMCA)

• The universities Mission to central Africa (U.M.C.A) was formed in England as a direct
response to Livingstone‟s appeals and speeches after his journey.
• The mission started working in central Africa at Magomero in Nyasaland in 1861.

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 • The mission was led by Bishop Charles Mackenzie.
• Most of them died of malaria and some survivors went back to the south.
• The Magomero mission failed due to malaria and Yao slave raiding and trading activities
in the area.
• Bishop Mackenzie and a number of his colleagues died of malaria.
• Bishop Tozer succeeded Bishop Mackenzie and transferred the mission to Zanzibar in
1863.
• The mission worked among the Arabs and the freed slaves.
• By 1873, a cathedral was built at a former slave market in east Africa.
• A number of mission stations were built in the area towards Lake Nyasa.
• In 1885, a station was set up at Likoma Island on Lake Nyasa by Chauncey Maples and
William Johnston.
• From Likoma Island, the first Africa priest emerged.
• The mission spread Christianity, opened schools and carried on medical work.
• They contributed to the end of tribal wars and the slave trade.
• The U.M.C.A extended their work to Northern Rhodesia and built a number of stations
there.
THE FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND (LIVINGSTONE MISSION)
• The free church of Scotland mission was set up in Central Africa under Livingstone‟s name
and therefore became known as the Livingstone mission.
• The mission sent Dr. Robert Laws to form a mission in Malawi in memory of Dr. David
Livingstone.
• He established a mission at Cape Maclear in 1875 and built a school there.
• The mission was not successful due to slave trading activities in the area.
• Hence, it was moved to Bandawe among the Tonga in 1881, where it became successful.
• The mission managed to persuade the Ngoni to cancel a raid against the Tonga.
• In 1886 Adam Koyi successfully persuaded the Mombera to allow the mission work among
Mombera‟s Ngoni.
• Mission stations were opened in Chief Chikusi and mombera areas. The Ngoni also
became keen students.

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 • In 1894, the mission moved northwards to Kondwe, which later became known as
Livinstonia.
• Livinstonia mission station was a great success.
• A training center for evangelists, teachers, skilled craftsmen and medical assistants was
opened.
• It became a famous institution providing education to Africans in Central Africa.
The activities of the Livinstonia mission were extended to northern Zambia at Mwenzo in
1894.
• Chitambo and Lubwa missions were also opened in 1895.
• David Kaunda worked at Luwa mission.
The results of work of the free church of Scotland were:
• The pacification of Mombera‟s Ngoni and the conversion of the Ngoni to Christianity.
• The introduction of academic and vocational education in Central Africa.
• The mission worked hard to replace slave trade with legitimate commodity trade.

THE CATHOLIC MISSION.

There were two main groups of Roman Catholic Missionaries.

❖ THE JESUIT FATHERS.

• The Jesuits arrived in Matabeleland in 1878.
• Lobengula did not allow them to preach among his subject.
• In 1884, Lobengula gave the Jesuits permission to carry out their work at Empandeni.
• They extended their work to Mashonaland n built Chishawasha mission near Harare in 1892.
• Another group moved northwards towards the Zambezi valley under father Depelchin.
• They visited Lewanika but failed to get permission to work in Bulozi.
• Hence. They decided to move to chief Mweemba‟s area and established a mission there.
• Unhealthy conditions and death of some prominent members forced them to abandon the
station.
• In 1902, Jesuits under Father Moreau open a station Chikuni in Chief Monze‟s area.
• It was at Chikuni that Jesuits started first formal schooling in central Africa.
❖ THE WHITE FATHERS
• The white fathers were led by Father Bishop DuPont who later became a bishop.

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• They began working in northern Zambia among the Mambwe in 1891.
• Their progress was very slow due to Arab and Bemba raids on the Mambwes.
• The white fathers then moved to Bembaland but the reigning Chitimukulu Sampa opposed
them.
• DuPont obtained permission from the lesser chiefs like chief Makasa to start working in his
area.
• The white fathers built Kayambi mission in 1895.
• In 1897, DuPont built Chilubula mission in chief Mwamba‟s area.
• The white fathers introduced education in their stations and built schools, clinics, hospitals
and craft centers.
• They fought Arab, Bemba and Lunda slave traders and interpreted the Bibile into local
languages such as Bemba.

THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

• The mission attempted to work in Bulozi in 1882.
• Fredrick Arnot spearheaded the work of the mission in Bulozi.
• No progress was recorded in the area and so, Arnot went to work in Angola.
• The united Presbyterian Church also set up a mission station in Msiri area among the Yeke
people.
• The mission then moved to lake Bandawe area and began working in the area after Msiri„s
death.
• A mission station was established there near Lake Bangweulu in 1894.

RESULTS OF MISSIONARY WORK IN CENTRAL AFRICA.

• Missionaries campaigned against slave trade and this contributed to it abolition.
• They introduced legitimate trade in goods such as cloth, beads and other European
manufactured goods.
• The pacified warlike tribes that were raiding their neighbor: for example the Ngoni of
Mombera.
• Missionaries converted many Africans people to Christianity and made them change
their lives.

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 • They introduced western education in Africa, built schools, taught people how to and
write and trained people as skilled craftsmen.
• The missionaries built hospitals and clinics and introduced Africans to better methods
of health and hygiene.

The missionaries also developed a written form of African languages and produced books
which they translated into those languages.
New crop and western farming methods such as the use of corporation and fertilizers were
also introduced in Africa.
• The missionaries acted as protectors in some cases by assuming political control and
helped to bring about colonization.

SOME INFLUENTIAL MISSIONARIES IN CENTRAL AFRICA A.

DR ROBERT LAWS.
• Robert Laws was a Christian missionary of the Free Church of Scotland in Malawi.
• He established a station at Cape Maclear in 1875 and built a school there.
• Robert Laws also led the missionaries to set up a station at Bandawein 1881.
• He was a very practical man, a preacher, teacher surgeon, carpenter, painter, boat builder
and engineer.
• Robert Laws had good personal ability and organizational skills and believed in teaching
practical skills.
• He led the missionaries for 52 years and played big role in uniting the Malawi branches of
the Presbyterian Church to form the Presbyterian church of central Africa.
• Due to his efforts the Free Church of Scotland was successful in Malawi.
• He also contributed to the pacification of the Ngoni to stop raiding other tribes.

FRANCOIS COILLARD.
• Francois Coillard was a Christian missionary of Paris Evangelical Missionary Society.
• He worked for some time in Lesotho and learnt Sesotho language.
• Coillard worked in Zimbabwe at chivi but failed to establish a mission station there.
• He decided to establish a mission station among the Lozi in western province Zambia.

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 • Lewanika gave him permission to work in Bulozi.
• He built a mission station at Sefula near Lealui in 1887.
• Other missions were later opened at Mabumbu and Senanga in 1898.
• He became a personal friend and advisor to Lewanika.
• Due to his efforts, a number of members of the Lozi family were converted to Christianity
including Lewanika‟s son Litia. Collard advised and helped Lewanika to obtain British
protection in 1890.
• He also convinced widely Lewanika and his people to reduce the power of witch doctors
and to stop raids on surrounding tribes.
• He helped to spread Christianity widely and built many churches, clinics and schools in
Bulozi.

BISHOP TOZER

• Bishop Tozer came as a missionary under the universities mission to Central Africa in
Malawi.
• He worked with Bishop Mackenzie, leader of the U.M.C.A missionaries at Magomero.
• Bishop Tozer took over the leadership of U.M.C.A after Mackenzie death.
• He worked among the freed slaves in Zanzibar and built a cathedral at a former slave
market in east Africa.
• Thus, he contributed to the ending of slave trade in Africa.
He also contributed to the spread of Christianity and built a number of churches, schools and
hospitals in the Nyasa and Indian Ocean coast.

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