Africa and Christianity:
a historical overview
John H. Hanson
Indiana University
ASP Outreach Workshop
Summer 2012
• Definitions & comparative perspectives
• Examples
– Northeast Africa
– Atlantic world
– Recent history
Definitions
Religion
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Ideas and practices concerning societal relations with unseen powers
African indigenous religions
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Recognize Creator disengaged from the world and more accessible spiritual
forces that can become manifest in ‘hosts’ (objects/persons)
Expressed through rituals, spirit possessions and other activities
Managed by specialists engaging powers for healing, protection, prediction,
rain-making and other religious/social benefits
Christianity and Islam
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Recognize a Creator intervening in the world & judging humans at End Times
with occasional roles for angels, jinn and other spiritual beings
Expressed through weekly rituals, celebrations tied to a religious calendar
and other activities
Managed by specialists knowledgeable of sacred texts; some specialists can
access unseen powers for religious/social benefits
Ratio of Christians/Muslims in Africa (2010)
http://pewforum.org/executive-summary-islam-and-christianity-in-sub-saharan-africa.aspx
Islam’s expansion in Africa
Map (left): http://www.exittoafrica.com/media/images/maps/ma_1990_islam.gif
Map (upper right): http://www.unf.edu/.../Arabconquests.jpg
Map (lower right): http://www.brown.edu/...Islamicworld1500.htm
Christianity’s expansion in Africa
Initial expansion in northern Africa
-Decline with rise of Islam
-Except in northeast Africa
Proselytism at coast with Euro. trade
-Complicated by slave trading
Proselytism in sub-Saharan Africa
during last two hundred years
-Mission churches
-African independent churches
-Pentecostal/charismatic churches
Map: http://exploringafrica.matrix.msu.edu/students/curriculum/m14/activity4.php
Northeast Africa
Frumentius of Tyre (d. c383 CE) becomes 1st Bishop of Aksum
Map (large): http://www2.div.ed.ac.uk/courses/Animated_Maps/divinity_map/ad250.html
Image (far right): http://webstories.co.nz/focus/ethiopia/ark3.html
Christianity expands in Monastic era (c750-c1100) and Zagwe
(c1100-1270) & Restored Solomonic (1270-1974) dynasties
“Nine saints”
Lalibela and Hailie Selassie
Tewahedo Orthodox Church today
Videos for Christianity in Northeast Africa
• Christianity: A History; Dark Continents [27:30-35:00]
– Documentary
–
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbGw6IE4i-o
• Lost Kingdoms of Africa: Ethiopia
– Documentary
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQfhWnPeG8g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfvEZPWAGqM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkEvbZZ1FuU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hbZNMzXIas
• Wonders of the African World, Part 4: Holy Lands
– Documentary
–
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgGLnxGcjWU
Atlantic world
Portuguese voyages in 15th century
British, Danish, Dutch, French along coast from 16th century
Kongo
Catholic missionaries in 1491
(Image: Capuchin drawing, c1740)
“Your Highness should know how our Kingdom is being lost in so
many ways …. [M]erchants are taking away our natives, because
the thieves and men of bad conscience grab them … and get them
to be sold …. That is why we beg of Your Highness to help and
assist us in this matter, commanding your factors that they should
not send here either merchants or wares, because it is our will that
in these Kingdoms there should not be any trade of slaves nor outlet
for them….” 1526 letter from King Alfonso I (Kongo kingdom)
Dona Beatriz (d. 1706): Kongoloese Christian saint
Brass pectoral & crucifix
of Saint Anthony of Padua
(18th century Kongo)
The Gold Coast
Jan Valckenburgh & his partner
at São de Mina (fort built in 1482)
Videos for Atlantic world
• Christianity: A History; Dark Continents [19:30-27:30]
– Documentary
–
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbGw6IE4i-o
• Racism: A History [46:55-51:00]
– Documentary
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efI6T8lovqY
• Wonders of the African World, Part 3: Slave Kingdoms
– Documentary
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgGLnxGcjWU
Recent history
19th century developments
David Livingstone (1813 - 1873)
Cecil Rhodes (1853 – 1902)
20th century expansion
Christians in Africa, by number and percentage of population, over time
http://www.pewforum.org/Christian/Evangelical-Protestant-Churches/OverviewPentecostalism-in-Africa.aspx
Recent history of Christianity in Africa: themes
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Missionaries conveying the message
Africans accepting and interpreting the message
Africans seeking healing and prophesy
Africans spreading the message
Africans asserting power and autonomy in churches
Development of new spiritual movements
Videos for Recent history of Christianity in Africa
• Africa: A Voyage of Discovery: Part Five: Bible and the Gun
– Documentary
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOMpZLPBxXk
• Christianity: A History; Dark Continents [35:00 – 48:00]
– Documentary
–
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbGw6IE4i-o
• Christian revival in Nigeria
– News report: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRaw4MVQWlI