Mission, race and colonialism were three forces shaping Malawis history during the early years of the twentieth century. These three found a concentrated meeting point in the life of Scottish missionary Alexander Hetherwick, who led Blantyre Mission from 1898 to 1928. This book presents a fresh assessment of this towering figure in Malawis history, contesting the scholarly consensus that Hetherwick betrayed the early ideals of Blantyre Mission by compromising too much with the colonial system that was in force during his leadership. The book assesses the pervasive influence of colonialism, from which Hetherwick was not exempt, and traces the ways in which he resisted such influence through his relentless commitment to the interests of the African community and the inspiration he found in the emergence of the African church.
A fresh assessment of how mission, race and colonialism intersected in the life of Scottish missionary Alexander Hetherwick, leader of Blantyre Mission in Malawi from 1898 to 1928.
Preface
1 Introduction 2 The Pioneer Missionary: Domasi Days3 The Right-Hand Man: Scott and Hetherwick4 The Mission Leader: Father Figure5 The Public Figure: Critic and Campaigner6 Malawi Visionary: Standing Up for Cinderella7 The Linguist and Bible Translator: Words Must Be Christianised8 The Mission Thinker: Priorities and Policy9 The Church Leader: Imagination and Reality 10 Missionary and Empire Builder? Tensions and Contradictions
Bibliography Index
Kenneth R. Ross is Professor of Theology and Dean of Postgraduate Studies at Zomba Theological University in Malawi and Extraordinary Professor at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. His most recent monograph is Mission, Race and Colonialism in Malawi: Alexander Hetherwick of Blantyre (Edinburgh University Press, 2023).
