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• Ideas and practices concerning societal relations with unseen powers

African indigenous religions• 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• 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.gifMap (upper right): http://www.unf.edu/.../Arabconquests.jpgMap (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– 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

Portuguese voyages in 15th centuryBritish, Danish, Dutch, French along coast from 16th century

Atlantic world

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– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efI6T8lovqY

• Wonders of the African World, Part 3: Slave Kingdoms– Documentary– 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/Overview-Pentecostalism-in-Africa.aspx

Recent history of Christianity in Africa: themes

– 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– 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 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRaw4MVQWlI