Labour & Christianity in the Mission: African Workers in Tanganyika and Zanzibar, 1864-1926

The study explores how Africans engaged with missions as workers, not just beneficiaries, and how missionaries tried to control African labor. It focuses on the Anglican Universities Mission to Central Africa in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and shows how missionaries supported and undermined the livelihood trajectories of Africans. The study adds a critical dimension to our understanding of missions' function and socio-economic impact and the history of Christianity in Africa.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 15 October 2021
Publisher: James Currey

The extensive and multifaceted exploration of Africans' engagement with missions, extending beyond their mere reception of humanitarian philanthropy, reveals a hitherto underappreciated dimension. It delves into the crucial role that missions played as hubs of labor, with missionaries being among the earliest Europeans to exert control over African labor. The roles of African mission workers extended far beyond their religious and educational responsibilities, as they actively engaged in various forms of building and domestic work, often involuntarily. By examining the Anglican Universities Mission to Central Africa (UMCA) in Tanganyika and Zanzibar during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Michelle Liebst sheds light on how missionaries both facilitated and hindered the livelihood trajectories of Africans. This innovative study of missions' role in society adds a critical dimension to our understanding of their functions, socio-economic impact, and the history of Christianity in Africa.

The significance of this research lies in its revelation of the evolving nature of relations between missionaries, who self-identified as workers, and the African mission workers, including teachers and priests, whom missionaries referred to as helpers. These shifting dynamics reflect broader political transformations that occurred throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries. By delving into the intricate interplay between missionaries and African mission workers, this study provides valuable insights into the complex dynamics of power, authority, and cultural exchange that shaped the missionary-African relationship.

Moreover, the study's focus on the UMCA sheds light on the specific context in which these interactions unfolded. The late 19th and early 20th centuries witnessed a period of significant change and development in Central Africa, marked by the colonization efforts of European powers and the growth of missionary organizations. The UMCA, as one of the largest and most influential missionary organizations in the region, played a pivotal role in shaping the religious, educational, and social landscape of Tanganyika and Zanzibar. Through its activities, the UMCA both supported and undermined the livelihoods of Africans, contributing to the broader socio-economic transformations of the region.

In conclusion, the study of Africans' engagement with missions, as workers rather than beneficiaries, offers a rich and nuanced perspective on the history and impact of Christianity in Africa. By exploring the roles of African mission workers and the changing dynamics between missionaries and their African counterparts, this research contributes to our understanding of the complex and multifaceted relationship between religion, labor, and social change in the African context.

Weight: 492g
Dimension: 163 x 240 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781847012753