What were challenges faced by missionary activities in East Africa?

What were the problems faced by missionaries in East Africa ?

a) They faced the problem of language barrier. This was because East Africa had a multiplicity
of languages hence rendering communication between the missionaries and the local people very
difficult.
b) There was a problem of the influence of Islam. Arabs being the first group of people to arrive
at the coast and interior had deep rooted Islam into the people thus making it difficult for the
people to easily adopt Christianity. For example, by the time Sir Edward Frere arrived in East
Africa (1873) Rebmann had only 6 converts.
c) Existence of tropical diseases was yet another problem faced by the Christian missionaries.
Tropical diseases like malaria, small pox, claimed many missionary lives thus making progress
in their activities very difficult since they could be left very few in numbers.
d) Another hardship was caused by geographical barriers. These included hilly areas, rivers,
lakes and forests. These hindered their free movement to various places thus a threat to their
activities.
e) Divisions and quarrels between various missionary groups for example Catholics versus
Protestants was a hindrance to their activities. This could create divisions and biases among the
believers thus weakening their capacity to convert more converts.
f) Poor transport was a hindrance to the missionary activities in East Africa. This was due to
undeveloped roads at the time to help in the movement of missionaries from one place to
another.
g) Presence of hostile tribes in East Africa was also a problem that faced Christian missionaries.
The Nandi and Maasai who believed that strangers were not supposed to pass
via their land could attack and kill many missionaries thereby reducing their numbers compared
to the increasing number of converts.
h) The presence of wild animals was also a threat to the missionary activities in East Africa. Man
enters in Tsavo National Park consumed and threatened many whites. This clipped their
activities at times.
i) The missionaries faced the problem of lack of supplies. They for example lacked enough
money, accommodation and drugs. This was because they originated from very far (Europe) thus
making it difficult for them to have full time and constant supplies. Such put their lives at risk
and could sometimes lead to death.
j) The Christian missionaries faced the problem of stiff contradiction and rivals between
European missionaries and traditional Africans. Customs like polygamy, satanic worship, etc
were deep rooted into African communities which proved a threat for the missionaries to
successfully uproot them.
k) The missionaries made their work difficult by involving in politics and judicial systems which
were beyond spiritual jurisdiction. Local leaders could misinterpret them as political rivals and
organize their masses for resistance against missionary activities.

OR

1. Tropical diseases claimed lives of many missionaries and also slowed their work down

2. Stiff competition from Islam at the coast

3. Missionaries faced resistance or hostility from Africans.

4. Missionaries lacked a common language of communication with Africans

5. Poor infrastructure hindered missionary work.

6. Since Christianity was spread through different groups, there was rivalry amongst themselves

7. They faced hostility from slave raiders and traders

8. Lack of funds hindered activities of the missionaries.

9. There were few personnel compared to vast population of the East African coast and the interior

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johnmulu answered the question on March 13, 2017 at 05:56