DESCRIBE THE ACTIVITIES OF THE LIVINGSTONlA MISSIONON THE PEOPLE OF NYASALAND IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE 19n, CENTURY

2.

Approach
•Brief background of the Livingstonia mission in Nyasa land. Then clearly explain the activities of the Livingstonia mission in Nyasa land (Malawi) during the second half of the 19th century.
Basis for Answer
1. In 18 75, the Livrngstonia mission was established by the free church of Scotland in Cape maclear at the southern port of Lake Nyasa.
2. The Missionaries under took the guidance of doctor Robert laws and were able to perform a number of works in Nyasa land
3. They built schools like Barotse, Biantyre, lnyati to provide education. Over 2000 children were attending schools among the Tonga by 1890.
4. Medicine centres were opened to help treat diseases so as to attract people especially Amachinga Yao who did not like Christianity at the beginning.
5. Missionaries helped to pacify conflicting societies in Malawi e.g. Mbelwa settled scores with the Tonga and Tumbuka. Tonga reconciled with Ngoni slave raiders
6. They played an active role in stopping slave trade e.g. the Ngoni slave raiders reconciled with the Tonga victims.
7. Missionaries introduced cash crops and new methods of production, cash crops like cotton, tobacco, coffee and oranges were introduced.
8. Missionaries performed activities which Africans perceived as miracles e.g. doctor Elms prayed for rain and it rained which the traditional rain makers had failed
9. Industries were established to process the cash crops grown.
10. The missionaries also promoted legitimate trade in order to improve on people's lives e.g. Chief Mbelwa exchanged food crops for cotton cloth with missionaries.
11. They preached Christianity, established churches and trained African preachers; they translated the bible into local languages.
12. Missionaries constructed roads e.g. the Stevenson road connecting Lake Malawi and Tanganyika, steamer services on Lake Malawi among others.
13. Missionaries created divisionism in African societies as most converts supported colonialism.
14. The Livingstone mission persuaded the Ngoni and Tonga to accept colonialism e.g. they signed a treaty with chief Mbelwa of Ngoni.
15. Missionaries also promoted western culture in Nyasa land e.g. the Livingstonia mission extended western cultures to Banian on the western shores of Lake Nyasa in 1881. They also extended their influence among the Tonga, Ngoni among others.
16. The Livingstonia mission also promoted a western oriented economy in Nyasaland.
17. Missionaries were not readily accepted by the Ngoni, doctor Laws and James Stewart were kept at bay for some time by chief Chikusi, Chief Mbelwa, however later they allowed Stewart in 1879 to spread Christian,