Missionary Education In Africa In Perspective: Against The Theory Of Benevolence

Abstract

There is disagreement between colonial and post-colonial Africanist historiographies on Africa over the role of missionaries in Africa especially their provision of education to the Africans prior and during colonization. Precisely, controversy emanates from the possible motive behind missionary provision of education to the Africans. Colonial historiography, maintaining benevolence as the prime motive, a position unacceptable especially to post colonial Africanist historians who argue that the motive and provision of education to the Africans can only be construed within the context of the ‘womb’ the missionaries came from. The purpose of this paper therefore, is to critically examine the motive behind missionary provision of education to the Africans in view of the two conflicting positions from the 'north' and the ‘south’ respectively.