Botswana Missions...

[1] commons.wikimedia.com/botswana

         The development of missions played a major adverse role in the lives of the people living in Botswana. These missionaries as mediators between disputes between indigenous people and white men who encroached on their land seeking fame and riches , while some wanting a new way of life.[2]

[3] commons.wikimedia.com/richardmoffat

Missionaries began arriving in Botswana early on the 1800’s. Among these missionary groups was the London Mission Society(LMS). The famous of the LMS missionaries was Robert Moffat and Dr. David Livingstone.  Robert Moffat came to Botswana in 1817 and worked evangelizing among the Batlhaping people then South Africa. Moffat is known for helping the people by asking groups like the Griquas who were better equipped with weapons and experts in horse riding to fend of raiding attacks on the tribe. This made Moffat popular amongst the people their and helped pave the way for missionaries like Dr. David Livingstone.[4]

[5]commons.wikimedia.com/drdavidlivingstone

Dr David Livingstone was one of the most influential missionaries and explorer in his time. Livingstone was known as the Ngaka or Doctor in the African language.  Livingstone came to the region in the 1840’s and became one of the first resident live in missionary in Botswana. The missionaries main purpose was to persuade the Botswana people to come to Christ and do away with what they thought to be demonistic practices. These practices included: bogera mystic schools, boloi witchcraft, and rain-making chanting. These practices included dancing and use of musical intruments in their daily lives. Livingstone is famous for converting King Kgosi Sechele I of the Bakwena.[6]

  Kgosi Khama III, of the Bangwato was a devout LMS Christian enforced Christian principles on his subjects. Anyone who was caught endulging in non Christians values were said the be severely punished or banished from the Kingdom.[7]

These early missions would pave the way for modern missionaries of today like the Baptists and Jehovah’s Witness’s and Catholic Church. They would provide the breaking down of the culture barrier once thought to be impossible to break in Africa.

[1] commons.wikimedia.com/botswana
[2] “History of Botswana” http://www.ambafrance-bw.org/History-of-Botswana  (accessed: 2- 25- 2016)
[3]  commons.wikimedia.com/richardmoffat

[4] Gasebalwe Seretse

Correspondent"The missionary legacy: How the LMS Helped Build Botswana" http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=6&aid=978&dir=2011/august/monday15(accessed:2-25-2016)

[5]  commons.wikimedia.com/drdavidlivingstone

[6]Gasebalwe Seretse

[7]Gasebalwe Seretse

Correspondent