Bishop Colenso and Theophilus Shepstone: Partners in Christian Imperialism

This article revisits Bishop J.W. Colenso's long partnership with Theophilus Shepstone, trying to see it as it unfolded chronologically under changing circumstances. From the outset the bishop's missionary practice envisaged a partnership with the colonial state to deliver a Livingstonian...

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Published in:The Journal of Natal and Zulu history Vol. 33; no. 1; pp. 1 - 22
Main Author: Etherington, Norman
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Oxford Routledge 01.01.2019
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Subjects:
Autonomy
Black people
British imperialism
Christianity
Christianity in Africa
Christians
Colenso
Colonial Natal
Colonialism
Friendship
Historians
Imperialism
Missionaries
Partnerships
Public schools
Resistance
Rules
Shepstone
ISSN:0259-0123, 2521-8875
Online Access:Get full text
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Abstract This article revisits Bishop J.W. Colenso's long partnership with Theophilus Shepstone, trying to see it as it unfolded chronologically under changing circumstances. From the outset the bishop's missionary practice envisaged a partnership with the colonial state to deliver a Livingstonian programme of commerce, industry and civilisation. His administration of his foundation 'school for chiefs', Ekukanyeni, was set up on the model of an English Public School. Until it foundered on the rocks of African resistance, Colenso played the headmaster to the hilt, attempting to build character and flogging where he thought flogging was needed. The 'black kingdom' dream he dreamed with Shepstone was not, as presented by Jeff Guy and other historians, a thought bubble killed off by higher authorities but a scheme to which the friends returned repeatedly right up to their irreparable break of 1874. In each of its various guises it articulated a vision of patriarchal rule that challenges conventional pictures of Colenso as a consistent champion of justice and autonomy for Africans. No missionary to Southern Africa ever articulated a more extensive project of Christian imperialism.
AbstractList This article revisits Bishop J.W. Colenso's long partnership with Theophilus Shepstone, trying to see it as it unfolded chronologically under changing circumstances. From the outset the bishop's missionary practice envisaged a partnership with the colonial state to deliver a Livingstonian programme of commerce, industry and civilisation. His administration of his foundation 'school for chiefs', Ekukanyeni, was set up on the model of an English Public School. Until it foundered on the rocks of African resistance, Colenso played the headmaster to the hilt, attempting to build character and flogging where he thought flogging was needed. The 'black kingdom' dream he dreamed with Shepstone was not, as presented by Jeff Guy and other historians, a thought bubble killed off by higher authorities but a scheme to which the friends returned repeatedly right up to their irreparable break of 1874. In each of its various guises it articulated a vision of patriarchal rule that challenges conventional pictures of Colenso as a consistent champion of justice and autonomy for Africans. No missionary to Southern Africa ever articulated a more extensive project of Christian imperialism.
Author Etherington, Norman
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2019 Southern African Historical Society
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Snippet This article revisits Bishop J.W. Colenso's long partnership with Theophilus Shepstone, trying to see it as it unfolded chronologically under changing...
This article revisits Bishop J.W. Colenso’s long partnership with Theophilus Shepstone, trying to see it as it unfolded chronologically under changing...
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SubjectTerms Autonomy
Black people
British imperialism
Christianity
Christianity in Africa
Christians
Colenso
Colonial Natal
Colonialism
Friendship
Historians
Imperialism
Missionaries
Partnerships
Public schools
Resistance
Rules
Shepstone
Title Bishop Colenso and Theophilus Shepstone: Partners in Christian Imperialism
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