Christian Missionary Activities in West Africa – SS2 Nigerian History Lesson Note (Third Term)

Christian missionary activity in West Africa began with Portuguese contact in the 15th century and grew strongly in the 19th century, after the slave trade ended. Missionary societies and African missionaries preached, built schools and hospitals, taught skills and translated the Bible. Their work changed religion, education, society and politics in the region.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. State why early Christian missions in West Africa had limited success.
2. Name the main missionary societies and African missionaries who worked in West Africa.
3. Describe the main activities of the missionaries.
4. List the challenges the missionaries faced.
5. Explain the impact of missionary activities and the growth of independent African churches.

How did Christianity first reach West Africa?

Christianity first came to West Africa in the 15th century when Portuguese explorers arrived. These early attempts to spread Christianity had limited success for several reasons:

• The Portuguese were more interested in trade than spreading religion
• Many missionaries died from tropical diseases
• Language barriers made communication difficult
• Local religious beliefs were strong and well-established
• The connection between Christianity and the slave trade created distrust

The slave trade period

During the slave trade (16th to 19th centuries):

• Some European traders built small churches on the coast
• A few African leaders and traders were baptised
• Christianity was mainly limited to coastal trading posts
• Most people in the interior had no contact with Christianity
• The slave trade damaged the Christian message of love and equality

What was the Great Century of Missions (19th century)?

End of the slave trade

Two important changes in the early 19th century helped missionary work:

1. Britain (1807) and other European countries made the slave trade illegal
2. A new religious movement called the “Evangelical Revival” encouraged Christians to send missionaries to Africa

Major missionary societies

Several missionary organisations began working in West Africa:

• Church Missionary Society (CMS): Started work in Sierra Leone in 1804
• Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society: Began work in the Gambia and Gold Coast (Ghana)
• Basel Mission: Worked in the Gold Coast from 1828
• Scottish Mission: Also worked in the Gold Coast
• Society of African Missions (SMA): Catholic missionaries who worked in many areas
• Holy Ghost Fathers: Catholic order working in Senegal and other French areas
• Southern Baptist Convention: American missionaries who worked in Nigeria

Freed slave settlements

An important development was the creation of settlements for freed slaves:

• Freetown in Sierra Leone (1787): Britain settled freed slaves here
• Libreville in Gabon: France settled freed slaves here
• Monrovia in Liberia: American freed slaves settled here

These settlements became important bases for spreading Christianity because:

• The freed slaves were already Christians or open to Christianity
• They could be trained as missionaries
• They often knew African languages and cultures
• They could survive in the climate better than Europeans

African missionaries

Many important early missionaries in West Africa were Africans:

• Samuel Ajayi Crowther: A Yoruba man who was captured into slavery, freed, educated in Sierra Leone, and became the first African Anglican bishop in 1864
• Thomas Birch Freeman: Son of an African father and English mother who worked in the Gold Coast
• James Johnson: Sierra Leonean who worked in Nigeria
• Philip Quaque: First African ordained by the Church of England

These African missionaries were very important because they:

• Could communicate better with local people
• Understood African cultures and traditions
• Survived better in the tropical climate
• Showed Africans could be Christian leaders

What methods and activities did the missionaries use?

Preaching and evangelism

The primary goal of missionaries was to convert people to Christianity:

• They held public preaching services
• They visited villages and homes
• They taught Bible stories and Christian teachings
• They used translators to communicate
• Later, they trained local converts to become evangelists

Education

Education became one of the most important missionary activities:

• They built primary schools to teach reading, writing, and arithmetic
• They created secondary schools for higher education
• They trained teachers
• They translated the Bible and created textbooks
• They taught in both European languages and local languages
• They sent promising students abroad for further education

Famous missionary schools included:

• Fourah Bay College in Sierra Leone (1827)
• Methodist Boys’ High School in Lagos
• Hope Waddell Training Institute in Calabar
• Presbyterian Training College at Akropong

Medical work

Medical care was another important missionary activity:

• They built hospitals and clinics
• They treated common diseases and injuries
• They trained local medical assistants
• They introduced modern medicine to many areas
• They fought against diseases like malaria, yellow fever, and leprosy

Technical training

Many missions taught practical skills:

• Carpentry and building
• Printing and bookbinding
• Agriculture and gardening
• Sewing and cooking
• Blacksmithing and mechanical repairs

Translation work

Missionaries made significant contributions to language development:

• They created writing systems for languages that had never been written before
• They translated the Bible into many West African languages
• They created dictionaries and grammar books
• They printed books, newspapers, and educational materials
• They preserved oral histories and traditions in writing

What challenges did the missionaries face?

Health problems

One of the biggest challenges was disease:

• Many missionaries died from malaria, yellow fever, and other tropical diseases
• West Africa was called the “white man’s grave” because so many Europeans died there
• Some mission stations lost all their workers to disease
• Medicines were limited and often ineffective
• Poor living conditions made health problems worse

Cultural misunderstandings

Missionaries often did not understand local cultures:

• They sometimes mistook cultural practices for religious ones
• They often viewed African traditions as “primitive” or “evil”
• They did not always respect local authorities and customs
• They sometimes tried to change too many things too quickly
• They often confused Christianity with European culture

Opposition

Missionaries faced opposition from different groups:

• Traditional religious leaders who saw their influence threatened
• European traders who thought Christianity disrupted trade
• Colonial officials who worried about missionary influence
• Muslim communities who had their own faith
• Some local rulers who saw missionaries as a threat to their power

Difficult living conditions

Life was hard for missionaries in many ways:

• Poor housing and sanitation
• Limited food options
• Isolation and loneliness
• Difficult transportation
• Extreme weather conditions
• Separation from family and friends

What was the impact of missionary activities?

Religious changes

The most direct impact was religious:

• Many West Africans converted to Christianity
• Christian communities were established in most areas
• African church leaders emerged
• New forms of Christianity developed that combined African traditions with Christian beliefs
• Religious divisions were created in some communities

Educational impact

Education had far-reaching effects:

• Literacy spread in many areas
• A new educated elite emerged
• Western knowledge and ideas were introduced
• People gained skills for new types of jobs
• Women gained educational opportunities
• Future political leaders were educated in mission schools

Social and cultural impact

Missionaries influenced society in many ways:

• New ideas about family and marriage were introduced
• Western clothing, housing, and customs spread
• Traditional practices were sometimes weakened
• New social classes developed
• Some harmful practices were reduced or eliminated
• New tensions emerged between Christians and non-Christians

Political impact

Missionary work had political consequences:

• Educated Christians became leaders in independence movements
• Missionary reports influenced European attitudes toward Africa
• Some missionaries advocated for African rights
• Others supported colonialism as “civilising”
• Missionaries sometimes served as intermediaries between Africans and colonial authorities

How did Africans respond to Christianity?

Acceptance

Many Africans welcomed Christianity for various reasons:

• Spiritual appeal of Christian teachings
• Access to education and medical care
• Protection from slave traders
• New economic opportunities
• Desire for social change
• Interest in European technology and knowledge

Adaptation

Many Africans adapted Christianity to fit their own needs:

• They kept some traditional practices alongside Christianity
• They emphasised aspects of Christianity that resonated with African values
• They formed independent African churches
• They developed their own interpretations of the Bible
• They used Christianity to resist colonial control

Resistance

Some Africans resisted Christianity:

• They protected traditional religious practices
• They questioned missionaries’ motivations
• They rejected the connection between Christianity and colonialism
• They challenged European cultural dominance
• They formed movements to preserve African identity

How did African churches develop?

Mission churches

Initially, churches were controlled by European missions:

• European missionaries held leadership positions
• Church practices followed European models
• Funding came from Europe
• Decision-making happened in Europe
• African Christians had limited authority

African leadership

Gradually, African leaders gained more authority:

• Ordained African ministers took over churches
• African catechists and evangelists spread Christianity
• Local church councils were formed
• African bishops and church officials were appointed
• Churches became less dependent on European leadership

Independent churches

Many Africans formed their own independent churches:

• The Native Baptist Church in Nigeria (1888)
• The United Native African Church (1891)
• The African Methodist Episcopal Church in West Africa
• The Church of the Lord (Aladura) in Nigeria
• The Cherubim and Seraphim Society in Nigeria

These churches were created for several reasons:

• Desire for African leadership
• Frustration with European control
• Interest in incorporating African cultural elements
• Response to racism in mission churches
• Different interpretations of Christian teachings

What is the legacy of Christian missions in West Africa?

Religious legacy

Christianity became one of the major religions in West Africa:

• Many denominations are now established across the region
• Christianity continues to grow in many areas
• African theologians have developed unique perspectives
• Christianity is now rooted in African life and is no longer only an imported religion
• Christian organisations play important roles in society

Educational legacy

Mission schools laid the foundation for modern education:

• Many former mission schools still exist today
• Educational systems were often based on missionary models
• Reading and writing became valued skills
• The idea of formal education became established
• Educational opportunities expanded over time

Medical legacy

Mission hospitals pioneered modern healthcare:

• Many mission hospitals continue to operate
• Medical training programmes were established
• Public health awareness increased
• Traditional and modern medicine began to interact
• Healthcare became more accessible in some areas

Cultural legacy

Missionaries influenced culture in lasting ways:

• European languages became widely used
• Literacy changed how knowledge was preserved and shared
• Christian values influenced laws and social norms
• Traditional and Christian practices blended in new ways
• New art forms emerged that combined African and Christian elements

Evaluation

1. Give three reasons why early Portuguese attempts to spread Christianity had limited success.
2. Why were freed slave settlements useful bases for spreading Christianity?
3. Name four African missionaries and state one fact about each.
4. List four activities of the missionaries, other than preaching.
5. Give three reasons why Africans formed independent churches.

Assignment

1. Describe the challenges faced by Christian missionaries in West Africa.
2. Explain the educational impact of missionary activities in West Africa.