Missionaries and West African Nationalism

Abstract

T HE NATIONALIST MOVEMENT in Africa was a product of pleas by Africans for equality. Nationalism was basically a secondary aspiration until Africans were convinced that equality with Europeans was not going to be achieved. The basic characteristic of so-called African nationalist movements was concept of equality. Ever-pervasive, concept of equality was one of reasons for problems encountered by early independent African states of late 1950s and 1960s of African nationalism. The results of missionary activities in Africa were paradoxical. In propagating gospel, although Europeans paved way for their political domination and imposition of their culture, African nationalism turned out to be a consequence. Sithole believed that the church has only been a blind instrument in whole process of African nationalism.l Virgil E. Robinson credited nationalism with being antithesis of Christian activities in Africa.2 Not only were missions antithetical to nationalism, but their activities bore dual results: they united and divided. Nationalism expanded and reduced loyalties in Africa. It reduced tribal or ethnic alliances. Bonds of nationalism became nucleus of much ethnic antagonism.3 European missionaries in Africa were symbol of economic uplift, private enterprise, technology, Christian values, Western schools, hospitals and churches.4 Nevertheless, Christian mission, one of largest supporters of European rule, unwittingly began process of decolonization. Specifically, Christian missionaries attempted, in many parts Of West Africa, to replace and supplement African traditional religions. The substitute was a universal religion which encompassed and attempted to merge all ethnic groups in West Africa. Without a doubt, this heightened communication on continent, but it also pitted ethnic groups against one another in a new kind of strife.5 The church was one of few vocal forums of rebellion until beginning of African printing presses of late nineteenth century.6 One of missionaries' initial maneuvers was to introduce a common European language into different native language areas. As this occurred, problem of language barriers began to decline. (The common language was