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Christian Missionaries in West Africa. Missionaries were soldiers of Christ who came from different countries to spread the word of God.

They came in groups i.e. Moravian mission and the society for propagation of the gospel but their work failed in the 18th C; the ones that succeeded were those that campaigned against slave trade i.e.

Wesleyan. Missionary society, the Basel missionary society from Switzerland, the united Presbyterian church of Scotland.

Why did the missionaries come to West Africa?

They came to spread Christianity
They came to stop slave trade
They wanted to indirectly explore areas of economic importance for their countries
To establish legitimate trade
To get ways on how West Africa would be colonized
The success of the first missionary groups encouraged other missionaries to come
They wanted to civilize the people of West Africa who were considered barbaric
They wanted to control the spread of Islam
They wanted to spread European culture as opposed to traditional practices i.e. sacrifice of human beings, killing of twins.
To provide good settlement of freed slaves in west Africa
Some missionaries came to adventure i.e. to see the dark continent
Some came to establish hospitals to check on the killer tropical. diseases like malaria, sleeping sickness etc
To remove the guilty consciousness of European participation in slave trade hence wanted to cleanse themselves.
Some missionaries were sent to complete the work of early missionaries who died before completing their work.

Missionary activities / work in West Africa.

They taught Christianity
They promoted education i.e. set up primary and secondary schools and colleges
They built hospitals to treat diseases –
They engaged in trade and set up trading companies.
They engaged in agriculture and introduced new crops
They stopped barbaric practices like human sacrifice especially in Asante.
They introduced new architecture e.g. brick laying, stone houses
They undertook the study of languages and committed African languages to writing
They preached against slave trade and slavery as evil 0. They introduced plantation agriculture to change the economy
They encouraged colonization of West Africa i.e. did ground work
The/built roads hence improved transport and communication
Introduced printing press to print and distribute religion and grammar books

Problems faced by the missionaries in West Africa

1 Tropical diseases e.g. malaria, sleeping sickness threatened them
The harsh tropical climate
They were few in number hence lacked enough manpower
Inadequate supply of resources e.g. food, drugs
Poor transport and communication system in West Africa
There was a problem of language barrier
Hostile tribes in some place made their work difficult
Competition and antagonism among themselves
Wild animals in the area they passed e.g. lions, Leopards etc.
The vegetation and drainage of West Africa which could not allow smooth crossing i.e. swamps, rivers etc.
Hostile leaders that could not allow them carryout their work in their areas.
Inter-tribal wars existed in West Africa i.e. Asante – Fante wars.
The first missionaries were not welcomed in some parts because of the early engagement in slave trade.
Stiff competition and rivalry from slave traders who never wanted the abolition
Establishment of missionary stations sometimes created conflicts and resentment among the people who lost land to the mission
Moslems opposed Christian missionaries in West Africa
Conflicts between Europeans and African clergy i.e. Samuel Ajayi Crowther
The strong belief in African culture i.e. Asante with the Golden stool
Their home countries were very far and could not get what they needed in time.

The results / Importance / effects of missionary activities in West Africa.

Many Africans were converted to Christianity.
Led to development of agriculture
They encouraged legitimate trade in West Africa
They introduced new architecture i.e. brick laying, iron roofing
Bad practices were stopped i.e. sacrifice of twins
They introduced formal education
Led to reduction in inter-tribal conflicts and wars
They set up medical centres i.e. hospitals, dispensaries
This education led to the rise of African Nationalism
Missionaries divided the Africans due to their different religions.
Led to European colonization of West Africa
Slave trade was stopped in West Africa
They translated the scriptures into local languages
They introduced new crops and food varieties in West Africa
They introduced new languages in West Africa e.g .English, French
Led to employment of Africans i.e. in missionary schools, churches, companies
Africans adopted European way of life i.e. dressing, marriage

Bishop samuel ajayi crowther his career:

He was born in around 1806 in the village of Oshoguni in Yoruba land and was the first Bishop in West Africa.
Unfortunately during the Yoruba civil war of 1821 – 29, this village was raided and young Ajayi was taken as a slave.
Ajayi Crowther was sold to the Portuguese slave traders and was together with other to be shipped across the Atlantic to the new world.
Fortunately, the slave ship was captured by the British ant-slave troops and taken to Sierra Leone where Ajayi was freed which marked a turning point in his life.
In Freetown, Ajayi’s intelligence attracted the attention of missionaries who sent him to school where he was able to read the Bible.
On 11th /Dec/1825, Ajayi was baptized with names Samuel Ajayi Crowther
After his baptism, he was sent to Britain where he attended a x parish school at Islington in 1826 and came back in 1827.
When he came back, he joined the fourah bay College where he again excelled highly and became a tutor in the very college.
In 1841, Ajayi and Bishop J.F Schom represented the missionary arm of the Niger expedition
He was later sent to England again after his good missionary work in the Niger region and ordained a priest.
He founded missions in Onitsha, missionary work in 1864 he was ordained a bishop. He was the first African Bishop in West Africa.
He also made a missionary journey to Abeokuta where he converted many people and also met his mother and sister in Abeokuta whom, he converted to Christianity.
He was later appointed the leader of the C.M.S for the Niger mission
Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther died in 1891 frustrated by the white missionaries

The importance / roles of Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther in the history of West Africa.

He was the first African to become a bishop i.e. from Ex-slave to Bishop.
He founded missionary Centres i.e in Onitsha, Niger in 1854, Gbebe in 1857.
He promoted local languages i.e. he wrote Yoruba Grammar and Yoruba English dictionary.
He also translated the bible into African local languages
Ajayi also promoted literacy through emphasis on schools and through him a number of schools were built.
He established many hospitals and health Centres hence improved people’s standard of living.
He broke away from the C.M.S and formed the united Native church and fought the European discrimination in their churches.
He spread Christianity and converted many people in West Africa.
He taught morals and the love for one another among Africans.
He promoted trade and encouraged the establishment of trading Centres.
He changed the barbaric African cultures and traditional practices and sacrifices i.e. the killing of the twins
He taught against slave trade and encouraged legitimate trade.
He taught against the activities of European colonialists i.e. preached against oppression, exploitation.

Problems faced by Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther during his career in West Africa

Poor transport from one place to another.
Civil wars and inter-tribal wars made his work difficult.
African traditionalists challenged them.
Lacked manpower and Ajayi almost worked alone
Influence of Islam in some places hence difficult to preach in such places.
He was discriminated by the Europeans
It was hard to change African cultures.
Illiteracy among Africans who could not read and write
Bad weather conditions in some periods
Rivalry for converts with other missionary groups from France, America.
The policy of colonial government of denying Africans and Creoles from preaching
Close supervision from the European which made him uncomfortable
Lacked funds to finance his activities in West Africa.
Hostility from some African rulers who wanted to continue with slave trade

The career and importance of bishop Joseph Shanahan.

He was born in 1871 in the village of Glankeen in Ireland
He was the first catholic Bishop in Nigeria,
He joined the Holy Ghost fathers when he was 12 years and ordained a priest in 1900 after which he volunteered for the missionary service in southern Nigeria.
After the death of father Lejune in 1905, father Shanahan was appointed prefect apostolic of the lower Nigeria mission.
Shanahan became the first vicar apostolic general from Tirland in the north to Calabar in the south and from Onitsha to Ogoja missionary work in southern Nigeria.
The vicariate of Shanahnan was turned into a diocese on the 6th June 1920 by Rome hence needed a bishop.
Shanahan was therefore consecrated as a Bishop of southern Nigeria in 1920 in maynooth Ireland
He therefore became the pioneer Bishop who loved Africans hence his remembrance
He greatly spread Christianity in southern Nigeria
He established a school almost in every area he preached the gospel
He opened a teacher training college in Igba in 1913 to train manpower
He founded the native clergy i.e. created the first seminary in Eastern Nigeria.
He transformed African traditional culture.
Moved from village to village teaching them the Western culture
On 8th December 1930, he produced and ordained the first Ibo father John Cross Anyugu who became the first Bishop of Enugu Catholic diocese.
He also founded the congregation of the holy rosary sisters in 1923
The great Bishop died on Christmas day in 1931 eleven years after he had left Nigeria.

The scramble and partition of west Africa.

Scramble means struggle whereas partition means dividing. Therefore it was the struggle for colonies by European countries in the 19th C and later diving them among them selves

Causes of the European scramble and partition of West Africa

The Europeans wanted raw materials for their industries
The desire for market for their goods which could eerily be got in West Africa
They wanted to invest the surplus capital in West Africa.
The need to get employment for the unemployed Europeans
The need for prestige i.e. the more colonies a country had, the more respected it was.
The pressure from the traders who wanted their home government to take over areas they operated.
Strategic reasons controlling West Africa meant controlling trade.
The need to stop slave trade led to scramble and partition.
The need to spread European civilization culture.
The Berlin conference of 1884 – 85 encouraged the scramble and partition.
The rise of Nationalism in Europe, America where Britain lost some colonies hence rushed to Africa for colonies.
The Franco-Prussian war where France forced here to rush for colonies to show that she was still strong.
The need to settle the excess population in Africa led to the scramble and partition
The Missionary activities and need for their protection led to the scramble and partition.
The Darwin’s theory of evolution also led to the scramble and partition
The British occupation of Egypt in 1882 encouraged the French to rush for colonies in West Africa
The discovery of minerals in south Africa i.e. Diamonds in 1867 and Gold in 1885
The Anglo-Germany rivalries in West Africa led to the scramble and partition

Methods used by the European powers establishment of colonial rule.

They used treaties i.e. the British signed treaties with Yoruba chiefs.
Through chartered companies (traders) that operated in West Africa i.e. the royal Niger company under George Charles Goldie’s.
Through missionaries was preached love for one another encouraged African to sign treaties.
Through explorers who explored all areas of West Africa and gave reports.
Europeans also used gifts to win African leaders.
They also used the policy of divide and rule to win Africans
The use of gun display at the boarders of an African state which made African leaders fear i.e. the British used on of King Prempe I of Asante.
Through the construction of roads, railways which made the transportation of troops easy to trouble some areas.
Europeans also used collaborators who were mainly chiefs or kings i.e. chief Tieba of Sikaso collaborated with the French, Fante with the British.
Through the use of force i.e. Asante Mandika
They also used European settlers who came and settled in West Africa
Through the use of dear and trickery i.e. promising Africans things but could not be fulfilled.

Effects of the scramble and partition of West Africa.

West Africa states lost their independence
Led to peace and stability as it reduced intertribal wars
It led to the rise of modern states
Led to the collapse of kingdoms and empires like Oyo, Asante
African traditional politics ended and leaders lost their positions
Led to the spread of Christianity in West Africa.
Led to the introduction of European cultures to replace African traditional cultures i.e. dressing, language
Led to depopulation of West Africa due to loss of lives during wars.
Led to the end of slave trade in West Africa.
Led to the drawing of boarders and respect of territorial boundaries.
Led to increase in trade through companies which out competed Africans.
Led to the development of transport and communication network
Led to the introduction of western education i.e. schools were set up.
Hospitals were established in West Africa to treat diseases.
New crops were introduced i.e. cocoa, coffee etc.
Extensive agriculture was introduced in West Africa.
Led to loss of land by the Africans.
Many European settlers came to West Africa hence increasing population.
Led to the exploitation of African resources in West Africa.
Many processing industries developed e.g. cocoa industries in Ghana.
Africans were forced to work on European farms.
Exploitative taxes were introduced in West Africa. .
Led to development of new towns and urban Centres e.g. Accra, Dakar etc.
Led to introduction of the new currency in West Africa.