The Challenges of African Christianity

Our friend Brian wrote this paper for his African Christianity class. We thought it was a good overview of the spread of Christianity in Africa. Click on the titles in parentheses for a link to the original articles if you would like to read more!!

Although Christianity has been present in Africa since the first century A.D., the modern age of African Christianity did not begin until the time of the western missionaries during the Middle Ages. There have been many challenges facing the development of Christianity and its spread throughout Africa. The most prevalent reasons Christianity has had difficulty taking root in Africa are also some of the most obvious. The sheer size of the continent presented difficulties for early missionaries. At eleven million square miles, it is over three times the size of the United States, and its population is very spread out over its vast savannahs and deserts. This was very problematic for the early missionaries because traveling so far across harsh, uncharted territory was a life-threatening voyage.

The African population during the Middle Ages was very primitive and tribal, similar to the Native Americans of the early Americas. Furthermore, language barriers and lack of transportation made communication and navigation between tribes very difficult.

Finally, there are and have been many cultural differences between the heavily westernized religion of Christianity and the way of life of the traditional African people. Also, heavy Muslim influence clashed against Christian beliefs, especially in Northern Africa. Many Christian ideals brought forth by westerners are either lost in translation, or simply not grasped by the African people. These, among with many others, are the main challenges that the integration of Christianity faces in Africa.

When western explorers first made their way into sub-Saharan Africa, they had no idea what to expect. While the northern portion of Africa was heavily westernized and was well charted, little was known about the rest of the massive continent. The Portuguese were among the first to travel down the western coast of Africa in the fifteenth century, when many trading posts and slave trafficking operations began to develop. “The Portuguese were the first Europeans to venture south of the Sahara desert in significant numbers. They took the sea route, exploring further and further down the west coast” (Sub-Saharan Christianity). Much of Africa’s interior was uncharted until well into the 1800’s, and even then it was not well mapped. Cities near the coast were often used as ports and therefore very easy for Christian missionaries to access. As such, nearly all early missionary work was done near coastal cities. “In the 1800's, Catholic missionary expeditions were launched with new vigor to the West, in Senegal and Gabon” (19^th Century White Missionaries).

When the development of the coastal missions had stabilized, many more missionaries and explorers began moving to the inner, unexplored, parts of the continent. “Missionaries and explorers went very much hand in hand. After hearing of the African continent from missionaries, many explorers ventured into the largely unknown area of sub-Saharan Africa” (Religion and Imperialism). This was a dangerous expedition even for expert explorers. Adverse climate, disease, wild animals, and hostile tribes were all constant threats. With extremely little known about the African interior, many parties perished. It was not until the 19^th century that any significant developments were made with cultures of African people living in these areas of the continent, and even then, it was very difficult to express their ideals to the people. “Those who worked in the interior might take several months to travel from the coast to their station, and once there had no choice but to integrate themselves into the local culture as best they could” (Sub-Saharan Christianity).

The people of sub-Saharan Africa are a multiplicity of diverse cultures, each with their own traditions and backgrounds. Because of the lack of western presence in sub-Saharan Africa, these people have all been able to develop their own diverse ways of life. “The vast continent of Africa is so rich and diverse in its culture with it not only changing from one country to another but within an individual country many different cultures can be found” (African People and Culture).

Over the years there has been a vast array of challenges facing the spread of Christianity in Africa. With today’s increased globalization, and the ease of communication, the challenges are becoming less apparent. Many of the problems that the early missionaries encountered have proven easier to overcome with advancing technology, such as improved transportation, as well as better knowledge about the African Interior. The most evident example is that the most remote parts of the continent have become much easier to access. These days, missionaries can reach the most isolated areas in Africa and still be safe from the risks that missionaries of even just a few decades ago encountered.

Clearly, early Christian missionaries in Africa had their work cut out for them. There was a gigantic, unexplored continent in front of them with an assortment of people about whom they knew very little. Though they faced adversity, they succeeded in their goals, as Christianity is the fastest growing religion in Africa today. What began as a few small bands of missionaries ‘testing the waters’ in coastal towns is now one of the largest religious movements in the world. The well being of the African people is a growing concern for many Christians, as well as other compassionate people with a heart for humanity. Disease, poverty, and conflict are just a few of the difficulties facing Africa, and long after they are resolved, Christianity will continue to move even deeper into the African way of life.