Missionaries and Their Impact

Many significant and inspiring missionary works have been seen in South Africa and can still be seen. I will only be focusing on the ones that I believe stand out the most.

http://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1701-1800/missionary-heroes-of-south-africa-11630223.html

While earlier missions work may have occurred in South Africa, many look to the date of July 9, 1737 as the arrival of the first Protestant missionary. This was the date that the Moravian, Protestant missionary, George Schmidt, arrived due to a request by the Dutch church. He saw moderate success, but other clergy in the area felt threatened by him, and he was ultimately cut off from the colonies. He had a desire to reach the Hottentots (Khoikhoi). Upon his departure, he left a Bible with his converts, and they eventually learned how to read it. It was a gift that kept on giving![1]

“Another auspicious day for South Africa occurred on this day, July 9, 1875 when Ernest Creux and Paul Berthoud, seminary friends, founded a mission to the Gwamba people at Valdezia in the Spelonken area of South Africa.”[2] This duo is perhaps my favorite about which to read. Both men were faced with perceivably insurmountable difficulties, and each man became intimately familiar with unimaginable pain and loss. Berthold lost his entire family (wife and five children) to disease. Creux lost three children and was imprisoned by the Boers. Throughout their ministry days, they were told they would fail. According to the Boers, the Gwamba language was impossible to learn. These missionary friends were undeterred. They set their minds to purpose and not only learned the language but translated the Bible into it!

            In addition to being tenacious, they were smart and did what every good missionary over the years has done—they trained the locals to minister. By training local men to carry the torch of the Gospel, they ensured their good work would continue long after they could not. However, while these men had success, not all missionaries in South Africa were as effective.

            Throughout the 1800’s missionaries of many different denominations and faiths began to enter South Africa. Wesleyans, Anglicans, and even Mormons were seeking to make new converts and gain a stronghold in South Africa. Naturally, depending upon what region of South Africa they were in, the missionaries were met with reservation. “Despite the continuing spread of a missionary presence into southern Africa during the 19th Century, by the time of the Anglo-Zulu conflict of 1879 very few converts had been won over to Christianity” and even fewer to Mormonism.[3]  Africans sometimes fled the areas in which these missionaries were, and new converts were often threatened with witchcraft and curses. This was to be expected. Many missionaries entered the area with no idea of the culture. They came with the good news of Jesus and a desire to moralize the people in Christian values. Furthermore, many missionaries measured their success based upon the people’s willingness to adopt a particular moral standard that hitherto was completely foreign to them. Unfortunately, it was an issue of innocent ignorance and putting the cart before the horse. It is an issue we see to this day. Often those evangelizing give a strong call to morality and try to project Christian values on the lost world. This is ineffective. We cannot expect the conviction we have due to the Holy Spirit to resonate with people lacking the Holy Spirit. While it might bring conviction in some cases, morality never brings conversion. We must introduce people to the Spirit then guide them to understand the Spirit’s guidance. Early Christian missionaries were introducing eternal life and abundant life in the same basket, but they are two very different things, and one does not ensure the other.

http://www.sahistory.org.za/article/missionaries-pondoland

            These missionaries were not complete failures though. More than their calls for morality, their introduction of agricultural land and practices benefitted the indigenous people and softened them toward the missionaries. In a time when whites were taking everything, the missionaries did offer desirable, materialistic opportunity. Granted, they did not realize the potential because they were still deeply focused on making the people moral.[4]

            Missionaries in South Africa brought work, education, and most importantly, the Gospel. By the late 1880’s, Christian institutions began to gain traction in South Africa. As these grew, so did the opportunity for the Gospel. Finally, missionaries were starting to see that measurable morality they so desperately wanted to see.

South Africa is now considered primarily Christian. Certainly, Christianity is a broad term, but it is an encouraging fact nonetheless. Ultimately, though these missionaries saw little immediate results, their hard work and faithfulness would bring long-term success.

             

Bibliography

Cummings, Lawrence C. “The First Missionaries to South Africa.”  Africa Southeast

(February 21, 2012). https://africase.lds.org/thefirst-missionaries-to-south-africa (accessed June 23, 2016).

Graves, Dan. “Missionary Heroes of South Africa: 1701-1800.” (April 18, 2007).

http://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1701-1800/missionary-heroes-of-south-africa-11630223.html (accessed June 23, 2016).

South African History Online. “Pondoland: The Missionaries.” SAHO (January 13,

2014). http://www.sahistory.org.za/article/missionaries-pondoland (accessed June 23, 2016).

-----. “European Missions in South Africa: The Role of Missions.” SAHO (March 22,

2011). http://www.sahistory.org.za/article/european-missionaries-southern-africa (accessed June 23, 2016).

---

[1]             Dan Graves, “Missionary Heroes of South Africa: 1701-1800,” (April 18, 2007). http://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1701-1800/missionary-heroes-of-south-africa-11630223.html (accessed June 23, 2016).

[2] Ibid.

[3]             South African History Online, “Pondoland: The Missionaries,” SAHO (January 13, 2014). http://www.sahistory.org.za/article/missionaries-pondoland (accessed June 23, 2016).

[4]             -----, “European Missions in South Africa: The Role of Missions,” SAHO (March 22, 2011. http://www.sahistory.org.za/article/european-missionaries-southern-africa (accessed June 23, 2016).

Outside Influence

South Africa has a checkered past with many outside influences that have often exchanged leadership with one another. Many European countries have occupied this country, and often times, it has been at the expense and suffering of the indigenous people. Sadly, the Western world often only saw South Africa as a stepping stone to the East. It was an excellent place for seafarers to resupply on journeys east.

            While there is a lack of archaeological and oral history, it is very likely that the Chinese had ancient contacts with South Africa. Certainly more new evidence is appearing to support this assertion, but more is needed to substantiate these claims. With this being said, we can feel quite certain that China did have early contacts with South Africa. During the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1376), trade routes were set up for accesses to Africa which included South Africa. We know this because Zhu Siben of the Yuan Dynasty had created maps that included South Africa. [1]  These maps are believed to have been influenced by previous explorations of the region; unfortunately, this cannot be substantiated as many records of Chinese exploration are partial or have been lost entirely. 

 "Ryukoku Kangnido: Europe & Africa"
http://cartographic-images.net/Cartographic_Images/236_Kangnido.html

In the 15^th century, the Portuguese began opening trade routes through Africa in order to get to Asia. This gave them frequent contact with the South Africans, which ultimately resulted in Africa being opened up to Europe and colonialism.[2]

"Circle of Joachim Patinir." WikiMedia.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Portuguese_Carracks_off_a_Rocky_Coast.jpg

            By the 1600’s South Africa was primed for colonialism and the Dutch East Indies Company was ready to set up shop.[3] South Africa was the perfect place for the Dutch to provision passing ships. Colonies would soon follow. With the colonies came oppression and slavery as the demands of the colonists increased. Somewhat fortunate for the South Africans, most slaves were imported from East Africa, and the Dutch kept minimal supervision on the pastoralists in the region. However, as the colonies continued to grow into the 1700’s, their demands grew, and thus, their drain on the land.“As they intruded further upon the land and water sources, and stepped up their demands for livestock and labour, more and more of the indigenous inhabitants were dispossessed and incorporated into the colonial economy as servants.”[4]  This early colonialism resulted in war and the spread of foreign disease among the South African population. However, under Dutch rule, South Africa remained a relatively closed area.

Joseph Mudler. "The Shipyard of the Dutch East India Company in Amsterdam."  WikiMedia. 06 September 2008.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_East_India_Company#/media/File:Voc.jpg

            The proceeding years would see the colonial leadership change between the Dutch and the British. In the 1790’s the British occupied South Africa because it was a strategic stronghold against the French. By the 1800’s the British would have control of South African territories. “The closed and regulated economic system of the Dutch period was swept away as the Cape Colony was integrated into the dynamic international trading empire of industrialising Britain.”[5] With this being said, “Like the Dutch before them, the British were primarily interested in the Cape as a ‘stepping stone’ on the route to their expanding interests in India and the East.”[6]

Walter Crane. "Imperial Federation, Map of the World Showing the Extent of the British Empire in 1886." WikiMedia. 24 July 1886. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Empire

Much of the colonial period was negative. Even as the British worked to end slavery, they still took the side of the colonist in most matters. Furthermore, they brought in more Westerners who would be given more landholding in the region. One positive is that missionaries were able to enter the region and evangelize the South Africans. For better or worse, this was done under the pretense that westernizing the South African people would be the most effective way of converting them.

I believe that outside influences likely predate anything we have found archaeologically.  While there is not empirical evidence to confirm my belief, I do not believe it is a far-out estimation, especially in light of the evidences we have of later contacts.

Bibliography

New Africa. “China’s Long History in Africa.” New Africa Magazine, 11 March 2015.

http://newafricanmagazine.com/chinas-long-history-africa/ (accessed June 16, 2016).

Reader, John. Africa: A Biography of the Continent. NY: Vintage Books, 1999.

South African Government. “History: The Earlier Colonial Period to British Colinial

Era,” South African Yearbook. http://www.gov.za/about-sa/history#early_colonial_period (accessed  June 16, 2016).

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[1]             New Africa, “China’s Long History in Africa,” New Africa Magazine, 11 March 2015, http://newafricanmagazine.com/chinas-long-history-africa/ (accessed June 16, 2016).

[2]             South African Government, “History: The Earlier Colonial Period to British Colinial Era,” South African Yearbook, http://www.gov.za/about-sa/history#early_colonial_period (accessed  June 16, 2016).

[3]             Ibid.

[4]             Ibid.

[5]             Ibid.

[6]             John Reader, Africa: A Biography of the Continent (NY: Vintage Books, 1999), 461.

Resources and Economy

http://www.bullionstreet.com/tag/South-Africa-gold

South Africa has very diverse resources, and the consumers of these resources use them quite differently. For instance, the United State’s number one import from South Africa is gems and precious metals. These precious items are primarily diamonds, gold, and platinum. Not surprising when we consider that South Africa is the world’s largest producer of gold and platinum, and the fourth largest produce of diamonds.[1]

http://blog.gainesvillecoins.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/southafrica-gold.jpg

Comparatively, these items come in at number four on China’s list of South African imports. China’s number one imports are ore, slag, and ash.[2] It is for these reasons that South Africa is a major force in the mining industry. But these are not there only exports though; they also have resources in food and manufacturing.

As of 2015, vegetables were South Africa’s fastest growing exports while other manufactured goods were second.[3] An example of manufactured goods might be automobiles, which is its neighboring Namibia’s number one consumption and is in the top five in several other African countries. They also have strong resources in oil, which they export to many other African countries.[4] 

http://www.businessinsider.com/bbh-on-south-africas-economy-2013-11

South Africa’s vast and diverse resources have made it the second largest economy in all of Africa. Furthermore, “apart from its prolific mineral reserves, South Africa’s strengths include a high level of technical and production expertise, and comprehensive research and development activities.”[5] This is fascinating when considering the number of sanctions that hindered their development less than thirty years ago.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/d6/72/42/d67242522599415006818634aedf6245.jpg

South Africa has a fast growing economy, and because it has 40% of the world’s known resources, it contributes significantly to the overall African economy. Being friends and neighbors with South Africa brings a lot of trade and interest to potentially unnoticed regions in Africa. However, despite all of their resources and economic growth, it has been reported that South Africa’s economy is not growing fast enough to create jobs and wealth for the inhabitants and is not operating at full potential.[6] Even knowing this, they are certainly learning to utilize their resources and make their mark on the world. This is a brighter picture than colonial South Africa, where their greatest resource was livestock and was often taken forcibly.[7]

It is exciting to see what is in store for the future of this resource rich nation.

Bibliography

South Africa Chicago. “Mining and Natural Resources.” WordPress, 2012.

http://www.southafricachicago.com/?page_id=1616 (accessed June 9, 2016).

South African Government. “History.” South Africa Year Book, 2016.

            http://www.gov.za/about-sa/history (accessed June 9, 2016).

Workman, Daniel. “South African Imports and Exports.” World’s Richest Countries,

2016. http://www.worldsrichestcountries.com/top-south-africa-exports.html (accessed June 9, 2016).

The World Bank. “Export Competitiveness, Regional Trade Integration Could Spur

South African Export Growth.” World Bank Group, February 2012. http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/southafrica/publication/south-africa-economic-update-focus-export-competitiveness (accessed June 9, 2016).

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[1]             South Africa Chicago, “Mining and Natural Resources,” WordPress, 2012. http://www.southafricachicago.com/?page_id=1616 (accessed June 9, 2016).

[2]             Daniel Workman, “South African Imports and Exports,” World’s Richest Countries, 2016. http://www.worldsrichestcountries.com/top-south-africa-exports.html (accessed June 9, 2016).

[3]             Ibid.

[4]             Ibid.

[5]             http://www.southafricachicago.com/?page_id=1616 (accessed June 9, 2016).

[6]             The World Bank, “Export Competitiveness, Regional Trade Integration Could Spur South African Export Growth,” World Bank Group, February 2012. http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/southafrica/publication/south-africa-economic-update-focus-export-competitiveness (accessed June 9, 2016).

[7]             South African Government, “History,” South Africa Year Book, 2016. http://www.gov.za/about-sa/history (accessed June 9, 2016).

History Without Words

 

Links:

http://absfreepic.com/free-photos/download/cattle-farming-country-4288x3216_81566.html

http://absfreepic.com/free-photos/download/part-of-human-body-3126x2013_46602.html

http://absfreepic.com/free-photos/download/blind-human-4640x3472_81760.html

http://absfreepic.com/free-photos/download/hunter-in-forest-2336x3504_49124.html

http://absfreepic.com/free-photos/download/cow-in-the-farm-3924x2616_26197.html

http://absfreepic.com/free-photos/download/funny-man-smoking-cigar-5472x3648_26588.html

South Africa: A Peak into Religion

The religious make and history of South Africa is fascinating. While we have observable and strong evidence of religious and mythological beliefs, some of our understandings come from outside testimony from Europeans, and therefore, some of what we understand about the history of South African myths and religion may be incorrectly interpreted. With this being said, there is still a lot of tradition and history that informs us.

Some of the earliest inhabitants of South Africa were the San. San people are typically recognized as hunter gatherers. Like many other religions, the San religion believes in a physical and spiritual world. Interestingly, they believe that the spiritual world can be accessed through a human Shaman.  When a powerful animal is killed, they believe a portal is open between the two worlds, and a Shaman may enter into the spiritual world by entering into a dance that leads into a powerful and spiritual trance. This trance enables the Shaman to do many incredible things such as healing the sick, controlling the weather, and even telling the future. [1]

Shaman Dancing
Source: http://thesanbushmen.blogspot.com/2011/11/san-religion.html

Among lesser deities, the San also believe in an all-important god called Kaggen, who is a trickster deity. His actions can be either good or bad, and he can take on many physical forms however his name translates to Mantis; so many San worship mantises. They also give significant importance to the Eland bull, which they believe Kaggen can inhabit. [2] In addition to venerating many animals, some San even revere the moon.

Eland Bull
Source:https://visitstothepark.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/rietvlei-18-10-2012-308.jpg

Source: http://thesanbushmen.blogspot.com/2011/11/san-religion.html

Other South African inhabitants, known as the Khoi-khoi, have a very similar culture to the San and, likely, are of the same ancestry. The explanation of their origination and split from the herdsman San can be found in myth. The myth states that there were two men, a blind man and a hunter. One day the hunter found a hole where the from which the animals came. The hunter took this blind man to this place and one day the blind man regained his eyesight and decided to trap the animals. The process by which he caught the animals included covering himself in oil—something the hunter found undoable. In the end, the hunter continued to hunt and the blind man began to practice animal husbandry. The Khoi-khoi would become the people of animal husbandry. [3] The Khoi-khoi separated from the San “probably within the last five hundred years, when they acquired cattle and stopped being hunters.”[4]

Another myth says that a traveler named Heitsi-Eibib was dancing with the king of snakes. They danced and ultimately Heitsi-Eibib jumped across a fire. The king of snakes followed suit but fell into the fire. The king’s cattle then became Hietsi-Eibib’s cattle[5].

Christianity has had a great impact in South Africa. For instance, in the 1820’s, missionaries such as John Philip successfully campaigned for improved treatment of the Khoi-khoi. This brought a favorable view of Christianity to the people.[6] Furthermore, colonization, a primarily negative event, helped Christianity take a foothold in South Africa. In fact, Christianity is now the dominant religion in South Africa with a large percentage of the population professing to be some type of Christian. This is a stark contrast to the minute percentage of Muslims in the region. Islam has had a much smaller impact on South Africa than it has on other African countries.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_South_Africa

Books

Belcher, Stephen. African Myths of Origin. NY: Penguin Books, 2005.

Harris, Joseph E. Africans and Their History. NY: Meridian Books, 1998.

Meredith, Martin. The Fortunes of Africa. NY: Public Affairs, 2014.

Links 

http://www.khoisan.org/religion.htm

http://www.krugerpark.co.za/africa_bushmen.html

http://thesanbushmen.blogspot.com/2011/11/san-religion.html

https://mythologycurator.tumblr.com/post/80598354224/origins-khoikhoi-man-eating-trolls

https://visitstothepark.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/rietvlei-18-10-2012-308.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_South_Africa

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[1]             http://thesanbushmen.blogspot.com/2011/11/san-religion.html

[2]             http://www.krugerpark.co.za/africa_bushmen.html

[3]             Stephen Belcher, African Myths of Origin, (NY: Penguin Books, 2005), 51-52.

[4]             Ibid.

[5]             Ibid.

[6]             Martin Meredith, The Fortunes of Africa, (NY: Public Affairs, 2014), 231-232.

South Africa: History through Art

The art of South Africa is fascinating. From colonial times to the present, South Africa has remained culturally and racial diverse; this diversity carried over into their art. Primitive cave paintings gave way to the colonialists' realistic approach, and modern paintings ultimately found profound influence from ancient cave art. Music in South Africa was not much different, traditional forms of music adopted new and diverse forms of music from around the world. To this day, popular and unique musical compositions stem from South Africa. The art is as diverse as the people. 

South Africa holds the richest collection of rock art in all of Africa. Some of the most profound ancient artwork is found in Drakensburg, where the old hunter gather tradition of the San Bushmen is revealed. 

All Images in Post: http://www.southafrica.info/about/arts/art.htm#.V0iE6UKqxkg

Ancient San Bushmen Cave Painting

This is profound when we consider that these paintings are approximately 4,000 years old. This means the San Bushmen occupied this region long before they were driven out by the colonialists who brought more modern, realistic art with them.

Colonialist Art: "Elephants Charging over Quartos Country" by  Thomas Baines

Artistic Progression: San Art Influences Modern Art

Interestingly, though colonialist brought new more realistic art to the region, it is the San cave art that has had the most far-reaching impact on South African art. Beautiful yet primitive, the cave paintings do more than just entertain and inspire peoples of today; they reveal much about South African history. In fact, it has been said that these paintings "represent the spiritual life of the San people. [They are] outstanding both in quality and diversity of subject…which sheds much light on their way of life and their beliefs. The authenticity of the paintings, and their shelter and cave settings, as a reflection of the beliefs of the San peoples, are without question."[1]

South Africa also has a rich heritage of intricate bead art. Much younger in its adoption, bead work reveals much about the dress and ornamentation of the region's past. Clearly, the people of the region had a liking of jewelry and personal ornamentation. Archaeologically speaking, this, coupled with the cave paintings, reveals that South Africa had a developed civilization prior to colonialism. Much like the cave paintings, beadwork has survived and is quite popular and influential beyond the borders of South Africa. Some beadwork is even considered fine jewelry and can carry very high prices in international markets. 

Traditional Bead Art.

Music too has revealed much about South African history. During the colonial period many different influences spread into South Africa. Many of the slaves in South Africa tried to recreate the instruments they had seen and heard, yet they were inadvertently creating their own new instruments. Furthermore, as missions became more prevalent in the region, gospel and choir music began to grow in popularity. The music of South Africa reveals much about the development and pain seen during the colonial period. To this day, music is a difficult but important industry in South Africa. Many internationally recognized bands of today have come from South Africa (e.g. Seether, Kongos, Soweto Gospel Choir). The popular music of today ranges from Gospel to heavy rock-n-roll. While today's music seems like a digression of topic, it is important to consider in light of the diverse South African past. South Africa's contemporary music is directly correlated with its past.

While the art of South Africa reveals much about its history, it reveals more about its current culture. As Dr. Joseph E. Harris says, "Although the early humans in Africa to a great extent were preoccupied with the bare necessities of physical survival, they also found time for aesthetic expression...All of these paintings and engravings not only attest to prehistoric Africans' artistic knowledge and style as well as their developments with durable paints, but in addition, valuable data are provided about their life, history, and their environment..."[2]

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[1]      http://www.southafrica.info/about/arts/art.htm#.V0iE6UKqxkg#ixzz49uHecZ00

[2]      Joseph E. Harris, Africa and Their History (NY: Meridian Books, 1998), 30-31.

References: 

"Arts and Culture: South African Art." South Africa Info: January 2014. (Accessed May 26, 2016).

"Arts and Culture: South African Music." South Africa Info: 2015. (Accessed May 26, 2016). http://www.southafrica.info/about/arts/music.htm#.V0jahEKqxkg 

Harris, Joseph E. Africa and Their History. NY: Meridian Books, 1998.

     

 

The Geography of South Africa

        The term shame is a South African term of endearment that can be used in most social situations and is typically associated with agreement depending upon the inflexion applied. Ag (pronounced ach) is the U.S. equivalent of saying, “Oh, Man.”  When considering the beauty and diversity of South Africa, one would be correct in proclaiming, “Ag, Shame!”[1]

            South Africa is appropriately located on the southern most tip of Africa.  It borders Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland, and Lesotho. Interestingly, South Africa completely engulfs Lesotho, bordering it on every side.             This mid-sized country of nine providences has the largest and most developed economy in all of Africa.[2]  While it holds several important tourist attracting, developed cities its most important city is Johannesburg (-26.2041 S; 28.0473 E). Johannesburg is considered to be the “economic heart” of South Africa, and it is one of the most internationally recognizable cities in South Africa.[3]

            While this region is “classified as semi-arid,” it has a diverse climate.[4] In some regions the country is dry and hot while in other regions the weather is tropical. Some regions even see occasional snowfall. This diversity in climate is largely due to the equally diverse topography. With flat land in the West and Highlands in the East, South African temperatures are often dictated by altitude and land features. However, nothing dictates the weather more drastically than the ocean currents.

            The weather, wildlife, and residents of South Africa are keenly aware of and effected by the surrounding ocean currents.

The cold Benguela current sweeps up from the Antarctic along the Atlantic coast, laden with plankton and providing rich fishing grounds. The east coast has the north-to- south Mozambique- Agulhas current to thank for its warm waters. These two currents have a major effect on the country's climate, the ready evaporation of the eastern seas providing generous rainfall while the Benguela current retains its moisture to cause desert conditions in the west.[5]

           

            It is for this reason that there is a solid tourist market for people wanting to have land safaris, great white shark encounters, and even penguin expeditions.             Though mostly surrounded by water, South Africa is still considered a dry country. Many of the waterways in the country provide no help by way of fresh water; furthermore they are mostly inhospitable.  For a land surrounded by so much water:

There are only two major rivers in South Africa: the Limpopo, a stretch of which is shared with Zimbabwe; and the Orange (with its tributary, the Vaal), which runs with a variable flow across the central landscape from east to west, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean at the Namibian border.[6]

When considering the geography of South Africa, few words seem more adequately than diverse.

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[1]             Coroline Von Looy, “15 Slang Terms You’ll Need to Know in South Africa,” Matador Network: Sept. 2016. (Accessed May 19, 2016). http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/15-slang-phrases-youll-need-know-south-africa/?single=1

[2]             http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/Africa/Africa_GL_1024_768.html

[3]             Mary Alexander, “South Africa’s Geography,” South Africa Info: December 2015. (Accessed May 19, 2016). http://www.southafrica.info/about/geography/geography.htm#.Vz3oAkKqxkg

[4]             Ibid.

[5]             Ibid.

[6]             Ibid.