The American Episcopal Evangelical (A.M.E.) Zion Church owes its foundation in Ghana to Bishop J. Bryan Small, who started work first at Keta in 1898. The consequences of norm conflicts are likely to manifest beyond educational pursuit. Important among these, all in Lagos, were the Baptist Academy in 1855, the C.M.S. The Missionary Factor in Ghana's Development, pp.11 &135 categorically asserted that economic and social changes were brought about by the total effect of the various projects initiated by the. The Ghana Education Decentralization Project (GEDP), launched in 2010 and ended in 2012, has increased the influence of local authorities over management . However, accustomed to monogamy, few European missionaries were open to such arguments. As an institution introduced by agents with radically different values, the Christian religion damaged the culture and traditional beliefs of the people of West Africa. Some progressive Europeans, like the first principal of Achimota College, Rev. Then share it on your favourite social media platform for the benefit of others you care about. The Basel Mission, as a result of this phenomenal expansion trained many local personnel to man the new stations. The first school in Nigeria was started by the Methodist missionaries at Badagry in 1842. Joseph Dunwell. They need YOU. Longman Nigeria Plc., 1994, Boahen, A.A. et al Tropics in West Africa History. student life The practice of inflicting multiple wounds on the bodies of so-called spirit babies now belongs to history. The Committee for Women's Work was responsible for the education of native girls. Another important German missionary was Wilhelm Johannson, better known by the English version of his name, William Johnson, who is revered in the history of the CMS in West Africa. %PDF-1.7 % Missionaries were no doubt also aware that Africans came to associate European technological achievement with Western education (Bassey 1991:45) and therefore offered Western education as a means to attract Africans of this belief and then convert them. House, 1967. Foremost in the contribution of the early Christian missionaries to the development of Ghana is their efforts to bring Western education to Ghanaians. Listen as we explore missions, theology, and practice to help senders and goers alike. CONTRIBUTION OF CHRISTIANITY TO WEST AFRICA. Vol. Indeed, the quality of the education could be so poor that the colonial governments complained, as in the case of the Nigerian government, which complained that the secondary school graduates provided by the missions were illiterate and ignorant and therefore poorly suited to fill the lower levels of the administration (Ayandele 1966:294-5). It was however in the coastal territories filled with mulattos and other European trading communities that Christianity won some of its early success. Hastings, Adrian. The Roman Catholic Sisters provided medical care in the Upper and Northern Regions of the country before the government started to provide hospitals and clinics in the regional and district headquarters. At the end of the eighteenth century, the Evangelical Revival began to bring to Africa an influx of missionaries whose laoburs would produce the first fruits of an enduring Christian presence in Sub-Sahara Africa. CUP Archive, 1979. The expansion of the missionary movement into Africa was part of the growing conception of Christian responsibility for the regeneration of African peoples. The Committee for Women's Work was responsible for the education of native girls. If you need assistance with writing your essay, our professional essay writing service is here to help! These Christian converts considered themselves to be holier than their traditional rulers and elders. The constant tensions between traditionalists and Christian converts often erupted into all-out conflicts. This is the famous Presbyterian Teacher Training College founded in 1848 at Akropong-Akwapim. ]v#5%{,%Y{iKsZ|Cm7NismGmg_zxKYh?>bQ?ni8G.wx:qAm$ eb!^Kr$,.9Qq^|1. English The Christian Connector is a great resource for Christians and aspiring ministry leaders and missionaries to apply for scholarships. From the second half of the eighteenth century, a fervent wave of evangelical spirit developed in the United Kingdom, Europe and the New World which inspired men and women with the missionary fervour to found religious societies whose members would go out to Africa and the other lands. 1. Required fields are marked *. They include Sierra Leone 1900-1933; Ghana 1903; Cape Verde 1904-1910; and St Vincent 1907-1912. What would have happened if missionaries had not insisted on monogamy? document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The colonial Eritrean government ensured that native Eritreans received poor education by permitting them to only attend school up to the fourth grade (Miran 2002:127). As churches of the Volta Region begin reproducing, ABWE wants to reach out to Ghanas unreached people groups in its eight other regions. The Presbyterians, also, opened hospitals in several parts of the country, including the one at Agogo in Asante-Akyem. This hymn sums up the reasons why the Christian missionaries came to Africa and other parts of the world. Their educational activities helped spread literacy and vocational skills training among Ghanaians. In 1892, the Church Missionary Society opened the Iyi Enu Hospital in Onitsha which is today a leading hospital in Anambra state. This thesis discusses and assesses contribution of Christian Missionaries to education in Meru from 1908 to 1963. Groundless fears that the converts would become contaminated with paganism led some of the Christian missionaries, notably the Presbyterians, to separate the Christians from the rest of the township. A permanent station was established in Lagos in 1868, soon followed by others at Lokoja, Abeokuta and Ibadan. Being ignorant of the significance of certain institutions and practices of the people of West Africa, and occasionally being misled by their over-zealous followings into wrongly interpreting the peoples heritage, the missionaries compelled pupils in their schools and docile adult converts to shun their own ancestral practices. The three models of Secondary education in Ghana since colonial times are the Mfantsipim School founded by the Church (mission) in 1876, Achimota School in 1927 established by the British Colonial government For instance, in Nigeria, one of the first groups of missionaries to introduce organised medical services were the Roman Catholics. Moreover, mission education formed a poor foundation for future educational conditions in the former colonies. Schools were deemed important. They preferred to hold onto polygamy, even at the cost of illiteracy. education was an important means for mission evangelization. For instance, the Basel Mission established the first teacher training college in Ghana. The next major Christian missionaries to go out to Sierra Leone were the Roman Catholics. The training college later became part of Achimota College. First, missions saw education foremost as a means of conversion (Ayandele 1966: 286; Bassey 1991: 36; Berman 1974:527; Foster 1965:85; Sheffield 1973:11). Through hard work and persuasion she succeeded in stopping the practice among the people of killing twins. His work, however, did not extend much beyond Cape Coast and the neighbouring area. The contents of this tutorial will serve as a guide for a suitable essay on the below WAEC/WASSCE History past question. The first missionaries to come to Ghana were the Roman Catholic missionaries in the 15th century and the Anglican missionaries. Until almost the end of the colonial period education was still largely in the hands of the churches. past questions Babalola, E. O. Christianity in West Africa. There were no Bibles in local languages, likewise grammar books were scant, so the missionaries had to spend time learning local languages, and translated the Bible and wrote series of grammar books. Often drumming and the harmless songs and dances of the people were condemned. On the opposite side, the coming of the Christian missionaries brought in its wake certain negative developments like disregard for African culture and rebellion against traditional authority. The Methodists founded the Boys High School in 1874, and another high school for girls six years later. Soon after, in 1835 they moved up to Akropong on the hills in Akuapem, where the pioneer missionary the Rev. hbbd```b``vd d"e ] DrI`5 d"(/ Thus, despite what the images of suffering African children on websites such as that of Compassion Canada might lead one to believe, it is time for Africans to educate their own, without any interference. In Ghana, for instance, they persuaded their converts to reject polygamy and human sacrifice. For this reason, missionaries believed they were doing their students a favour by discouraging traditional practices and promoting Western ones. The latter, non-academic form of education provided by the missions has stimulated much interest among scholars, who are particularly interested in the failure of many of these schools and the hypocritical government support for the schools, seeing as the import of cheap goods from the mother countries caused many vocational school graduates, such as seamstresses, to be unemployed (Ayandele 1966:296; Foster 1965:134). Missionaries travelled through dense evergreen forests, crossed rivers and climbed mountains to bring the Gospel to as many Ghanaians as they could. Unsurprisingly, the level of education increased as one moved closer to the missionaries. The kingdom of God in Africa: A short history of African Christianity. Today almost all of the population is Presbyterian, although the ancestral royal cult and many spirit cults still flourish. Upon completing his degree, Father Burke received his first assignment abroad: Ghana, the first Black sub-Saharan country in Africa to gain independence from a colonial power. For example, they preached against human sacrifice. Therefore, whether through their rigid educational polices or lack thereof, colonial governments contributed to the poor education, though there is no denying that missionaries also contributed to the quality of education to a great extent. Education (2002), the latest committee to work on education reforms in Ghana, recommended a critical review and approach to making teacher education relevant to the devel-opment of the country. Johannes Zimmermann wrote a grammar of the Ga language and translated the entire Bible and a Bible history into Ga. Then in 1874, the Rev. One of their scholarships is a drawing for $2,500. Grammar School for Boys in 1859, St Gregorys College opened by the Catholics in 1876, Methodist Boys High School 1878 and Methodist Girls High School 1879. Establishment of Christian Churches In Nigeria. Again, the Wesleyan missionaries established Mfantsipim School in Cape Coast in 1876. Notable among these were cocoa and coffee. Series CLR. 2236624), The beginning of Africanisation : the dawn of the missionary motive in Gold Coast education, Early colonial and missionary records from West Africa, West Indies material in the archives of the USPG, 1710-1950. By 1885, the church had spread further inland, thanks to Father Joseph Lutz who started work around Onitsha in 1886 and spread the gospel in many parts of the present day Imo and Anambra States. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2004. The original letters from abroad cover West Africa from 1899 to 1933. Your email address will not be published. They did a lot to impact the social and economic lives of Africans. primarily purposed to outline the contributions of religion and education to national development in Ghana. This Western education imparted to the Ameru by the Church of Scotland Missionaries, Consolata . Establishment of Christian Churches In The Gambia. Agricultural school graduates did not compete with European industries or European farmers, as they mainly grew crops that could not be grown in European climates. The Scottish Missionary Society had been working in Calabar, Nigeria, also a British colony adjacent to the Gold Coast and it was from the Calabar Presbyterian Church in Nigeria that a missionary was sent to take charge of the Presbyterian work in the Gold Coast after the deportations. If your specific country is not listed, please select the UK version of the site, as this is best suited to international visitors. Ekechi, Felix K. Colonialism and Christianity in West Africa: The Igbo Case, 19001915. The Journal of African History 12, no. In the Gambia, as happened in other territories, the Christian missionaries did not confine their work to the spread of the Gospel alone. These new movements considered such ventures to be their contribution to Europes reparation for centuries of exploitation of Africans, reparation for the centuries of exploitation which the Trans Atlantic slave trade had caused to African society. His work, however, did not extend much beyond Cape Coast and the neighbouring area. Meanwhile, the Scottish missionary, Mary Slessor, had established a reputation in the Cross River area as a nurse. Another valuable contribution of the Christian missionaries in West Africa was the development of literature in the local vernaculars, this included the translation of the Bible into some of the important local languages. Crampton, Edmund Patrick Thurman. Christianity reborn: the global expansion of evangelicalism in the twentieth century. The copies of letters received, 1890-1927, mention the plan from 1914 to gain control of future Ashanti Chiefs using education. The city of Akuropong capital of the Akan state of Akuapem in Ghana, has known the Christian presence during the last 186 years, initially centered on the Basel Mission, then on the Free Church of Scotland, and now on the Presbyterian Church of Ghana. Contribution of Christian Missionaries in Ghana, Reasons Why Christian Missionaries Came to Africa, Discontinuation of Outmoded Cultural Practices, Negative Effects of Missionary Activities, Negative Impact on Traditional Authorities, Limited Support for The Production of Local Food Crops. This item is part of a JSTOR Collection. The Christian missionaries of different missionary societies made a tremendous contribution to education in South Africa. Purchase a license below to view the full collection. Isichei, Elizabeth. Hope Waddell started pioneering work, in 1846, in Calabar. John G. Christaller (described as the Father of Twi Literature) produced a Twi grammar and dictionary, a collection of Twi proverbs, a Twi translation of the Bible as well as prayers and hymns. Christian converts were indoctrinated to frown upon the use of indigenous first names in favour of Christian ones. All rights reserved. Their records from World War One show their distance from the war and yet that it did affect . Clarke, Peter Bernard. This was a bitter pill for the Basel Mission to swallow after 19 years of devoted service in the mission field in the Gold Coast but they were not dismayed when they considered that in education and agriculture and artisan training and in the development of commerce, and medical services and concern for social welfare of the people, the name Basel by the time of expulsion of the mission from the country, had become a treasured word in the minds of the people. Perhaps the greatest service of the missionaries was the promotion of western education and the development of vernacular literature. WAEC Instruction in the Colonial School and the Wesleyan Mission schools at Cape Coast Castle was in English despite the fact that Fanti was the language of the native people. We must not lose sight of the fact that the colonial government in Ghana and elsewhere in Africa relied on the activities of the missionaries to help them achieve the objectives of colonial rule. An attempt to respond to this question informs the underlying interest for this paper, namely, to explore the extent to which these institutions, especially . Human Zoos: Untold History of Suppression, The Legend of King Ulu (Ancient Thai Folklore), The Kingdom of Saud of The Arabs (Saudi Arabia), The Wesley Brothers of Oxford University (1700s), Razia Sultan of Medieval India (786 Years Ago), The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade (The Revelation), Education in Africa: The Impact of Colonialism, Why The Legendary Geneva Bible was Banned. Founded in 1875 by St. Arnold Janssen, we number more than 6,000 missionaries. Support earthquake relief and outreach efforts, biblical foundation for the next generation of believers. The foreign exchange earnings helped to develop Ghanas infrastructure. Another reason why the Europeans came to spread the Christian religion in Ghana was to pave their own way into eternal glory. The result is that today, many Africans are alienated from their authentic ways of life. Disclaimer: This is an example of a student written essay.Click here for sample essays written by our professional writers. Among other missionary hospitals of long standing and reputation are those run by the Methodists at Wenkyi in the Brong-Ahafo Region, and by the Seventh Day Adventists at Kwahu Atibie in the Eastern Region. Website design and development by Americaneagle.com, Inc, Society of the Divine Word- Western Province, Society of the Divine Word- Southern Province. One reason why the Christian missionaries came to Ghana and the rest of Africa was to convert the people to the Christian faith. Then lets begin straightaway. Hugh Goldie and William Anderson. Your email address will not be published. They were replaced in Sierra Leone by the Holy Ghost Fathers in 1864, who made converts in large numbers not only among the pagans but also among the members of the then competing Christian churches. The education and skill development of the people is the highest, most potent agent of national development that the Church imparts to its output of students, scholars, and professionals who perform various precious roles in the various sectors of the national economy for national development,' he stated. In an ironic twist, the more Africans became versed in the Bible, the more they began to challenge missionaries. Box 6000, Techny, IL 60082-6000. personal development Andreas Riis, assisted by a team of West Indian evangelists, laid the foundations of the Basel Missionary Church in the country. Mission societies often expanded into territories before colonial powers did, and providing education only cost them a little more. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in the name of Father Burke can be made for the care of elderly and infirm missionaries and sent to The Rector, Divine Word Residence, 1901 Waukegan Road, P.O. The restrictions intensified until in the second week of 1917, when all German missionaries were rounded up, brought to Accra and deportations began on December 16. So why did the European missionaries come to Ghana and other parts of Africa? We use cookies to improve your experience on our website. For several years they paid attention to slave trade rather than evangelization and Christianization of the people of West-Africa. The home page of Compassion Canada is that of a stereotypical Northern charity: showing pictures of suffering children alternating with those of post-intervention, happy children. Let's look in-depth into these scholarships. His immigrant Irish-born parents instilled faith and a firm work ethic in their sons. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1995. The missionary impact on education would have far-reaching consequences, as their creation of a weak basis of education would slow down the political and educational development of many former colonies in Africa. They include Sierra Leone 1900-1933; Ghana 1903; Cape Verde 1904-1910; and St Vincent 1907-1912. As happened in other territories, the Christian missionaries did not confine their work to the spread of the gospel alone. It was not until 1909 that the government opened a teacher training college and a technical school in Accra. Buchi Emecheta He was followed, three years afterwards, by the Rev. Wed love to get to know you and discuss how God is calling you. In many instances, they made their converts rebel against traditional rulers and other spiritual leaders. But despite the work of Portuguese missionaries based on the island of Sao Tome and later of Spanish missionaries in Benin, it was not until the nineteenth century that the Christian religion was firmly established in Nigeria. In 1827 it grew into Fourah Bay College. Learn how your comment data is processed. A.G. Frazer, did much to encourage the promotion of indigenous culture, but by and large the colonial authorities contributed to dwindling a good deal of our cultural heritage. The activities of the early Christian missionaries negatively affected the development of African traditional political institutions. They worked to write the bible, dictionaries and textbooks in such Ghanaian Languages as Ewe, Fanti, Ga and Twi. In the days of Portuguese contacts with Nigeria, Catholic priests had established missionary stations in Benin and the neighbourhood. Although the aim of the traders was to practice commerce 2 (1983): 116-143. The missionaries also greatly improved the health services. Without denying that prior to the introduction of Christianity in West Africa the people had developed their own crafts, one must admit that it was Christian missionaries who introduced modern forms of crafts such as carpentry and masonry. The first Europeans arrived at the West-African Coasts at the end of the fifteenth century. The positive contribution of Christian missionaries in Ghana can be felt in such areas as education, local language development, stoppage of outmoded cultural practices, agriculture and commerce. In spite of all this, with the advent of the First World War in 1914 in the Kwaku District there were 21 congregations with a total of over 2500 members. Another missionary whose memory is revered in Nigeria was Mary Slessor, she arrived in the country in 1876, and for many years worked assiduously as a missionary nurse. They often attributed natural ailments to supernatural causes and resorted to mystic cults to appease the unknown spirit, before applying medicine to the sick person.
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