Mission, Race and Colonialism in Malawi

Kenneth Ross

Description

The first intellectual biography of Alexander Hetherwick, a key figure in Scotland–Malawi relations. Mission, race and colonialism were three forces shaping Malawi’s history during the early years of the 20th century. They found a concentrated meeting point in the life of Scottish missionary Alexander Hetherwick, who led Blantyre Mission from 1898 to 1928. This book presents a fresh assessment of this towering figure in Malawi’s history, contesting the scholarly consensus that Hetherwick betrayed the early ideals of Blantyre Mission by compromising too much with the colonial system that was in force during his leadership. Kenneth R. Ross assesses the pervasive influence of colonialism, from which Hetherwick was not exempt, and traces the ways in which he resisted such influence through his relentless commitment to the interests of the African community and the inspiration he found in the emergence of the African church.

Sujets

• Sociology of Religion
• Social Science
• Sociologie, société et politique
• Sociology

Informations

• Publié par: Mzuni Press
• Date de parution: 29 août 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9789996076114
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 12 Mo

Extrait

Kenneth R. Ross Kenneth R. Ross Kenneth R. Ross Kenneth R. Ross

Mission, Race and Colonialism in Malawi A Mzuni Press Monograph

Kenneth R. Ross

MZUNI PRESS

Mission, Race and Colonialism in Malawi

Alexander Hetherwick of Blantyre

Kenneth R. Ross

MISSION, RACE AND COLONIALISM IN MALAWI

Books on Malawi by Kenneth R. Ross

Ed. with Asiyati Lorraine Chiweza and Wapulumuka O. Mulwafu,Beyond Impunîty: New Dîrectîons for Governance în Maawî, Cape Town: University of Cape Town Press and Mzuzu: Mzuni Press, 2022. Ed. with Klaus Fiedler,Chrîstîanîty în Maawî: A Reader, Mzuni Press, 2021. Ed. with Mzee Hermann Y. Mvula,Theoogy în Maawî: Prospects for the 2020s, Zomba: Kachere, 2021. With Klaus Fiedler,A Maawî Church Hîstory 1860–2020, Mzuzu: Mzuni Press, 2020. Ed.Chrîstîanîty în Maawî: A Sourcebook, revised and expanded edition, Mzuzu: Mzuni Press, 2020. Ed. with Wapulumuka Mulwafu,Poîtîcs, Chrîstîanîty and Socîety în Maawî: Essays în Honour of John McCracken, Mzuzu: Mzuni Press, 2020. Frîendshîp wîth a Purpose: Maawî and Scotand for Sustaînabe Deveopment, Edinburgh: Scotland Malawi Partnership, 2018. Maawî, Scotand and a Reatîona Approach to Internatîona Deveopment, Edinburgh: Scotland Malawi Partnership, 2015. Maawî and Scotand: Together în the Takîng Pace sînce 1859, Mzuzu: Mzuni Press, 2013. Ed. with J.C. Chakanza,Reîgîon în Maawî: An Annotated Bîbîography, Blantyre: CLAIM- Kachere, 1998. Ed.Faîth at the Frontîers of Knowedge, Blantyre: CLAIM-Kachere, 1998. Here Comes Your Kîng! Chrîst, Church and Natîon în Maawî, Blantyre: CLAIM-Kachere, 1998. Ed. with Kings M. Phiri,Democratîzatîon în Maawî: A Stock-takîng, Blantyre: CLAIM- Kachere, 1998. Ed.God, Peope and Power în Maawî: Democratîzatîon în Theoogîca Perspectîve, Blantyre: CLAIM-Kachere, 1996. Ed.Chrîstîanîty în Maawî: A Sourcebook, Gweru: Mambo-Kachere, 1996. Gospe Ferment în Maawî: Theoogîca Essays, Gweru: Mambo-Kachere, 1995. Ed. with Matembo S. Nzunda,Church, Law and Poîtîca Transîtîon în Maawî 1992–94, Gweru: Mambo Press, 1995. Maawî: A Moment of Truth, London: CIIR, 1993.

MISSION, RACE AND COLONIALISM IN MALAWI Alexander Hetherwick of Blantyre

KENNETH R. ROSS

MZUNI PRESS Mzuzu 2023

© Kenneth R. Ross 2023

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission from the publishers.

Published by Mzuni Press, P/Bag 201, Mzuzu, Malawi Fîrst pubîshed by Edînburgh Unîversîty Press (2023)

ISBN 978-99960-76-10-7 eISBN 978-99960-76-11-4

Mzuni Press is represented outside Malawi by: African Books Collective Oxford (also for e-books) ([e-mail])

www.africanbookscollective.com www.mzunipress.blogspot.com

Cover photograph: The wedding of Lewis and Grace Bandawe, conducted by Rev Dr Alexander Hetherwick at St Michael and All Angels Church, Blantyre, 31 May 1913. Image provided from the Society of Malawi Library and Archive, used with kind permission. Reproduced earlier in Barbara Lamport-Stokes, Bantyre: Gîmpses of the Eary Days, Bantyre: Socîety of Maawî, 1989, 127.

Preface

Contents

 1 Introduction  2 The Pioneer Missionary: Domasi Days  3 The Right-hand Man: Scott and Hetherwick  4 The Mission Leader: Father Figure  5 The Public Figure: Critic and Campaigner  6 Malawi Visionary: Standing Up for Cinderella  7 The Linguist and Bible Translator: Words Must Be Christianised  8 The Mission Thinker: Priorities and Policy  9 The Church Leader: Imagination and Reality 10 MissionaryandEmpire Builder? Tensions and Contradictions

Bîbîography Index

v

i

1 9 25 42 62 82

101 121 139 159

189 197

Preface

The sense I have with this book is that it somehow pursued me, demand- ing to be written. My interest in the early history of Blantyre Mission goes back to the late 1980s and 1990s when I was becoming acquainted with Malawi in general and serving as a minister of the CCAP Blantyre Synod in particular. At a time when Malawi was struggling with questions of identity, I found that interactions with Malawian colleagues prompted me to think again about the role of Blantyre Mission in the making of the nation 100 years earlier. On return visits to Scotland, I enjoyed long conversations with Andrew Ross who, thirty years earlier, had done his PhD research, at that time unpublished, on Blantyre Mission history. It was a pleasure to collaborate with Andrew on the publication of his doctoral thesis as one of 1 é îŝ ôôŝ  é Kàçéé Śééŝ, ç àŝ àûçéd  é md-1990ŝ. ŝ ŝmûàéd my ô éŝéàç àd ï ûŝéd à ŝééŝ ô àçéŝ ô déé àŝéçŝ ô Bàyé Mŝŝô ŝôy: ‘véàçûà àŝàô  Çŝà Mŝŝô: é Çàŝé ô Dàd Çémé Śçô àd é Bàyé Mŝŝô 2 1888–98’; ‘é Āçà Çûç àd Éàŝé Ôôdôy: éléçôŝ ô 3 é Çééày ô Ś Mçàé àd Ā Āéŝ’; ‘éé éé é pôéŝ 4 àd Màyŝ  Bàdà’ŝ Màà: fôû péŝyéà Mŝéŝ’; ‘Çŝŝ àd 5 ïdéy: péŝyéà Éççéŝôôy  Śôûé Màà 1891–1993’. Ô my éû ô Śçôàd, Màà ŝôy çôûéd ô é ôé ô my md, éàd, àmôŝ ôé ŝ, ô é ûçàô ô my àém à à çômééŝé àççôû ô é 150-yéà-ôd éàôŝ ééé Śçôàd àd Màà:Maawî and Scotand: Together în the Takîng Pace 6 sînce 1859à ŝ éŝéàç àd  é îûé ô Āéàdé. ôû ééç àŝ ààyŝ éŝé, çéày à màjô lûéçé û ŝôméô ô ûy àççôûéd ô. péôdç çôéŝàôŝ  Màà ŝôàŝ é é àé Jô MçÇàçé àd é àé Jàç ômŝô ŝôméméŝ çàmé ôûd ô é ûéŝô ô éé  àŝ mé ô à é ôày ô Āéàdé ééç. ï àŝ, ôéé, my éû ô Màà  2019 à ôdéd é méûŝ éédéd ô màé  àé. fôm Jûé ô Déçémé 2019 ï àŝ  ô é Bàyé Mŝŝô. My ééydày ŝûôûdŝ, àçûày é éé- àŝôŝ çûç ô Ś Mçàé àd Ā Āéŝ, éày çàéd Dàd Çémé Śçô àd Āéàdé ééç ô md. ï àŝ à ôŝé àd ôççàŝôà éàçé à Ś Mçàé’ŝ dû ôŝé môŝ àd àŝ ŝmûàéd y é çôéàô’ŝ ŝô ŝéŝé ô ŝ ŝéçà ŝôy, ç çûdéd émé àŝ ô dééô à mûŝéûm. fôm é é ô 2020 ï àŝ

Preface

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àŝéd  Zômà, ç àé mé éàdy ôôûy ô çôŝû ééç’ŝ ééŝé çôéŝôdéçé éd y é Màà àôà Āçéŝ. é ôŝé ô é çôôàûŝ àdémç  Màç 2020 ûŝàéd mày àŝ û  àŝô çéàéd à ôôûy ô éŝéàç àd . Ôé ôjéçŝ à îŝ démàdéd éçédéçé û my ô ô ééç àŝ ŝôy màû  é àçôûd. é Màà’ŝ d àé ô çôôàûŝ àéd  Jûy 2021  éŝééd ô mé é ôôûy ô ûçé dô àd ŝéé  ï çôûd û my éŝéàç ôéôôŝ ô à ôé ôày. Śçé é ŝémà ô ô Ādé ôŝŝ  é éày 1960ŝ, é ô ôû- ŝàd îûéŝ  é éày ŝôy ô Bàyé Mŝŝô, Dàd Çémé Śçô àd Āéàdé ééç, àé éçééd àé é ŝçôày àéô. By ŝômé ûàççôûàé àmé ô é ŝàŝ, ô ô ûŝ éé dà ô àddéŝŝ ŝ déîçéçy àmôŝ à é ŝàmé mé. é ï àŝ û my àéô ô Āéàdé ééç, à Éûd, pôéŝŝô ô Āôôôy à é Ûéŝy ô Çàmdé, ŝé àôû ôé à éŝ çôŝdéàô ô é é àd ô ô Dàd Çémé Śçô. pôéŝŝô Éûd àŝ àéàd ô mé àd àŝ d éôû  Śéémé 2021 ô àô mé ô éàd à àdàçéd, û ô yé îàŝéd, màûŝç ô ŝ ôçôm-  ôô ô Śçô:Vîsîons for Racîa Equaîty: Davîd Cement Scott and the Strugge for Justîce în Nîneteenth Century Maawî(Çàmdé Ûéŝy péŝŝ). ŝ màdé àŝçà éàd ô mé àd éé àé mày ôŝ ô çô- éçô  é éŝé ôô. ŚçéVîsîons for Racîa Equaîtyàŝ ŝ  à é-îà ŝàé é ï àd é ôôûy ô éàd , ï àé ô màdé ày éééçé ô   ŝ ôô. ôéé, ï dô éé ô à ûŝéd çàé y pôéŝŝô Éûd, ç ŝ ô ŝômé éé à émyôç éŝô ô é ôçôm ôô: ‘“Āçà ïŝ à Édûçàô”: véàçûà àûàé àd é 7 Mŝŝôày Éçôûé  ééé-çéûy Màà’. ô à éà éé ôû ô ôôŝ àé çôméméày ŝçé é ôé çôçéàéŝ ô Śçô àd ŝ éôd àŝ éàd ô Bàyé Mŝŝô ôm 1881 ô 1898 é é ôé çôçéàéŝ ô ééç àd ŝ éôd àŝ éàd ôm 1898 ô 1928. éé ŝ, ôéé, à çôŝdéàé ôéà  à é ô mé éé  Màà ôéé ôm 1883 ô 1898 àd  ŝ éy dîçû ô çôŝdé ôé ô ém ôû çôŝdéàé éééçé ô é ôé. My ôé ŝ à é ô ôôŝ,  é ŝôméméŝ çôàŝ çôçûŝôŝ, çà ŝmûàé ûé ŝçôày ŝûdy ô ŝ déçŝé éôd  Màà’ŝ ŝôy. Ā à ééŝ, ï àm dééy àéû ô pôéŝŝô Éûd ô ŝ ééôûŝ ŝçôày çôàôà- ô àd ô  ûŝ é îŝ ôô-é ŝûdy ô é émààé é àd ôû ô Dàd Çémé Śçô. é ôô ôûd ô éŝ ôû é é ï éçééd ôm é ŝà ô àéŝ àd àçéŝ ô éàéd mé ô àé àççéŝŝ ô é mày ŝôûçéŝ. é Màà àôà Āçéŝ  Zômà éçàmé my ŝéçôd ômé à méŝ dû 2020–21 àd ï éçôd my ŝçéé àŝ ô é Déçô D pàû ômà, ôé Mà àd Zŝô Bàô Kàô ô é ûà éçômé, çôûéŝy àd éŝôûçéûéŝŝ. é ŝéçàçûà ôûôô ôé é Ôd ô ô Édû ôm é éàd ôôm ô é àôà ày ô

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Mîssîon, Race and Coonîaîsm în Maawî

Śçôàd Śéçà Çôéçôŝ àŝ é màçéd y é éîçéçy àd çàé ô é ŝà  ôçà àd ŝûy ééà dôçûméŝ. pàçûà àŝ àé dûé ô Çéà pŝ. ï àŝ àmdŝ  çôôà-éàéd éŝçôŝ à ï àŝ à éûà ŝô ô é Çéé ô éŝéàç Çôéçôŝ à é Ûéŝy ô Édû ày éé é ŝà çàéûy ôŝééd à ôôçôŝ é ŝé mé û  é mçôîm à çôàŝ é ôy çôméé û ô Lîfe and Work în Brîtîsh Centra Afrîca. ééç’ŝ ô ŝûŝàà ŝûmŝ- ŝôŝ ô é Édû 1910 ôd Mŝŝôày Çôééçé çà ôy é ôûd à é ày ô é Éçûméçà ïŝûé, Bôŝŝéy, Śzéàd, àd ï àm àéû ô pédô à, é àà, ô mà  ôŝŝé ô mé ô çôŝû ém. ï àm àŝô mûç  é dé ô çôéàûéŝ ô àé dééééd my ûdé- ŝàd ô Màà’ŝ ŝôy. Āmô mày ôéŝ éŝé çûdé pôéŝŝôŝ Kŝ p, àûûmûà Mûàû àd Śàŝ çôzàà. ï àŝ àé ô é à à ô ŝômé ô é mà ŝŝûéŝ àŝéd y é é ô ééç à é Zômà éôôçà Çôéé éŝéàç Śémà éd ô 11 Āûûŝ 2021 àd àm àéû ô é ççà ŝŝ ôééd y çôéàûéŝ ô à ôççàŝô. ï àm àŝô éày dééd ô my ôŝàd çôàôàô, pôéŝŝô Kàûŝ fédé ô Mzû péŝŝ. ï 2022 é ô ô ûŝ mà é 30 àéŝày ô é ŝà ô ôû ŝçôày çôàôàô àd ï çôûé ô ééî mméàŝ- ûày ôm pôéŝŝô fédé’ŝ éçôûàémé àd ûdàçé. é àŝ ôéd  é dééômé ô ŝ ôô ôm ŝ çéô àd ôdéd déàéd ààyŝŝ àd çûé. é dd ô ààyŝ àéé ô ééy, û é ôô ŝ mûç é éé ô ŝ çômméŝ àd ŝûéŝôŝ. ï àm éày dééd ô çôéàûéŝ ô éàd é màûŝç àd àé mé é ççà éédàç: é D By gàmà, f fàçŝ Bôôé, é Màŝé Jûmé, pô à Éûd àd pô Dàà ôé. ï àm àéû àŝô ô pô Śçô Śûôç ô gàŝô Ûéŝy, Śééŝ Édô ô ÉÛp’ŝ Śçôŝ éôûŝ Çûûéŝ Śééŝ, ô ŝà é ôéà ô é ôô ô éçômé à ô é Śééŝ. Éŝé Éŝôy, ïŝôé Bŝ àd à é çôéàûéŝ à ÉÛp ûéd é déà ô éày  éà éîçéçy àd ûà ôôd ûmôû. ï àŝô àéçàé éy mûç é çô-ûçàô àéémé ééé ÉÛp àd Mzû péŝŝ, ç  àô é ôô ô é éàdy àààé  Màà àŝ é àŝ ô à éàôà éàdéŝ. Āŝ ŝ çûŝômày, ï ŝŝ à ày émà déîçéçéŝ ô é ôô àé ééy my ô éŝôŝy. My ôé ŝ ŝmy à é ôô m é ôé çô- ûô ô çéàŝ ôû ûdéŝàd ô à ŝôy à çôûéŝ ô çày môàçé ô Màà àd éyôd. Zomba May 2022

Notes 1. Ādé Ç. ôŝŝ,Bantyre Mîssîon and the Makîng of Modern Maawî, Bàyé: ÇĀïM-Kàçéé, 1996, é. Mzûzû: û péŝŝ, 2018.

Preface

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2. Kéé . ôŝŝ, ‘véàçûà àŝàô  Çŝà Mŝŝô: é Çàŝé ô Dàd Çémé Śçô àd é Bàyé Mŝŝô 1888–98’,Mîssîonaîa21/1 (Ā 1993), 5–18, àŝô  Kéé . ôŝŝ,Gospe Ferment în Maawî: Theoogîca Essays, géû: Màmô-Kàçéé, 1995, é. Mzûzû: û péŝŝ, 2018, 107–26. 3. Kéé . ôŝŝ, ‘é Āçà Çûç àd Éàŝé Ôôdôy: éléçôŝ ô é Çééày ô Ś Mçàé àd Ā Āéŝ’,Afrîca Theoogîca Journa22/1 (1993), 10–20, àŝô  Kéé . ôŝŝ,Gospe Ferment în Maawî: Theoogîca Essays, 127–38. 4. Kéé . ôŝŝ, ‘éé éé é pôéŝ àd Màyŝ  Bàdà’ŝ Màà: fôû péŝyéà Mŝéŝ’,Mîssîonaîa24/2 (Āûûŝ 1996), 113–28, àŝô  Kéé . ôŝŝ,Here Comes Your Kîng!Chrîst, Church and Natîon în Maawî, Bàyé: ÇĀïM-Kàçéé, 1998, é. Mzûzû: û péŝŝ, 2020, 154–74. 5. Kéé . ôŝŝ, ‘Çŝŝ àd ïdéy: péŝyéà Éççéŝôôy  Śôûé Màà 1891–1993’,Mîssîonaîa(1997), 375–91, àŝô  Kéé . ôŝŝ, 25/3 Here Comes Your Kîng!85–106. 6. Kéé . ôŝŝ,Maawî and Scotand: Together în the Takîng Pace sînce 1859, Mzûzû: Mzû péŝŝ, 2013. 7. à Éûd, ‘“Āçà ïŝ à Édûçàô”: véàçûà àûàé àd é Mŝŝôày Éçôûé  ééé-çéûy Màà’,  Kéé . ôŝŝ àd àûûmûà Ô. Mûàû (édŝ),Poîtîcs, Chrîstîanîty and Socîety în Maawî: Essays în Honour of John McCracken, Mzûzû: Mzû péŝŝ, 2020, 138–62.