Christian Mission and Emancipation in South Africa (Cape Colony)

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Claus Füllberg-Stolberg
• Subject Area: Modern and Contemporary History ; African, American and Oceania Studies
• Term: from 2014 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 241860704

The slaves and the Khoisan, remnants of the indigenous people at the Cape Colony, got their social and personal freedom in the first half of the 19th century. Circa one third of the liberated population sought the protection of protestant missions founded only shortly before the abolition of slavery. Legal marriages and the removal of the family from the places of the former owners was an important goal of the people. Like the free villages of the Caribbean the mission stations at the Cape became refuges where the Protestant churches provided land and material to build houses. At the same time the missionaries expected religious discipline and the acceptance of European values. Elements of African culture and religions were strongly rejected. Although founded in the same period and under similar conditions the mission stations developed in different ways. Contrary to their counterparts in the Caribbean (free villages) the churches at the Cape kept their dominant position within the mission station.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants