Some Social Consequences of Missionary Activity among South African Bantu

Abstract

The article which follows is the last half of a paper published in Africa. In the first half of the article the author traces the beginnings of missionary work among the Bantu in the early nineteenth century, stressing its initial friendly reception, the development of its patterns of instituting culture change, and its gradual effect on African cultures. In the following section, the author goes on to trace later developments, and the disturbing social changes which resulted from some, missionary policies, the final effect being sometimes opposite to what was intended.