By Elizabeth Sitotombe

WITH the advent of colonisation, Africa witnessed a lot of changes and upheavals. 

Colonisation resulted in cultural destruction and condemnation of the African Traditional Religion (ATR), through Christianity in particular.

Pundits contend missionaries paved way for the occupation of many African countries and Zimbabwe is not an exception. 

The so-called ‘men of cloth’, including the likes of Rev Robert Moffat (father-in-law to missionary-explorer David Livingstone), Rev Charles Helm, Father Biehler and Father Hartman S.J., were influential in the occupation of Zimbabwe by the whiteman. 

In fact, the so-called ‘man of God’ (chaplain) for the Pioneer Column, the force that led the invasion of Zimbabwe was Father Hartmann S.J, the same man we have a school named after in Harare. 

Christianity was therefore the whiteman’s weapon of choice. 

The whiteman had one hand on the Bible while the other wielded the gun.

Missionaries introduced Christianity to Africans as a way to ‘civilise them and put an end to the African barbaric way of life’.

But does this mean God never existed in the life of Africans before Christianity? 

Oral and written history shows that God has always existed in the African world, though the Supreme Being took different names and forms, depending on the region and culture.

The inhabitants of Zimbabwe (MaDzimbahwe) believed, and still believe, in the existence of a supreme one called Musikavanhu (the creator of man) – the ultimate power above all powers known to mankind. 

Communication with Musikavanhu was done through the mediation of masvikiro or vadzimu. 

The masvikiro were, and still are, ancestral spirit-possessed beings. 

They are communication medium between the people and Musikavanhu.

Vadzimu were spirits of deceased family members or royals who were believed to be the inhabitants of the spirit world and were now closer to the Most High.

There is, however, a misconception that people worshipped, and still worship vadzimu and equate them to God.

It must be understood that vadzimu were a channel of communication with Musikavanhu just as the Roman Catholic Church believes Mary can intercede for mankind before God.

The whites demonised the African man’s way of worship and offered Christianity as way an alternative.

However, Christianity is steeped in the whiteman’s culture which is at variance with our own.

But is the God of Christianity not the same God worshipped by the African?

If so why did the whites demonise the African’s way of worship?

Christian missionaries came to negotiate for treaties that enslaved Africans. 

Treaties that would inevitably lead to the plunder of African resources by the same whites. 

In the case of Zimbabwe, the Moffat Treaty and Rudd Concession, among others, come to mind. 

Rudyard Kipling’s poem A White Man’s Burden consisted of the ‘three Cs’ of colonialism (Christianity, civilisation and commerce). 

Writes Kipling:

“To seek another’s profit and work another’s gain.

Take up the White man’s burden and reap his old reward. 

The blame of those ye better, the hate of those ye guard. 

The cry of hosts ye humour (Ah slowly to the light, why ye bought us from bondage).

Our Egyption beloved night.”

The whiteman considered it his duty to ensure that Africa was rid of its ‘backwardness and heinous traditional beliefs’ while helping themselves to Africa’s vast natural resources.

Karl Marx once wrote: “Religion is the sign of the oppressed creature, the sentiment of a heartless world and the soul of the soulless.” 

He went further to say: “Religion is the opium of the people.”

In other words, Christianity was used to pacify Africans who were seen as ‘burdened and poor in spirit’.

And Africans were made to believe in a ‘saviour’ called Jesus Christ, who is also portrayed as white with flowing hair.

His numerous portraits are displayed in many churches, homes and other institutions.

Isn’t this a clear manipulation of the African’s state of mind?

To date, Africa struggles to undo the damages of Christianity and  enslavement.

It (Africa) continues to suffer from an identity crisis that will take generations to explain and undo all because of a type and kind of people like Cecil John Rhodes who believed whites were ‘…the finest flower of civilisation’.

God forbid!