Catholic Church in Umakua of Tanzania, from 1890s-1970s

Abstract

This paper investigated the methods used by Roman Catholic Missionaries in christianisation of the Makua of Masasi Tanzania from 1890s to1970s. This study was prompted by the understanding that the Makua were deeply engaged in their traditional religion as demonstrated by their cultural practices. In spreading Christianity to Makua people, the Benedictine missionaries had to deploy variety of strategies and techniques to win the Makua people. The main objective of this paper was to examine the methods missionaries used to manipulate the Makua into Christianity and to demonstrate how the Makua people responded to the Benedictine missionary pressure. Finally, to examine the way Christianity contributed to the transformation of Makua society and the endurance of Makua traditional religion. This study employed historical materialism theory developed by Karl Marx in 1818-1883 in order to inform the dynamics of the Makua society. The theory was deemed convenient because it captures society as a social formation in which all human activities are treated as an interconnected single whole. Religion is treated as an ideological product of human struggle to transform their lives. Historical research methodology was employed in order to generate evidence on the past through review of documents, interviews with people contemporary to the events and some oral histories. These data collection methods deployed different instruments to capture data from different historical sources both primary and secondary sources. Qualitative research approach was applied in data collection and analysis leading to the production of this historical narrative. The findings revealed that, the Catholic evangelization approach among the Makua was that of a carrot and stick system. There were positive incentives such as provision of education and health services which were employed to facilitate the spread of Christianity to the Makua. The paper concludes that, despite Makua cherishing their .......... : -