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South African Historical Journal Volume 31, 1994 - Issue 1
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ARTICLES/ARTIKELS

Missionary Work and the Sotho in the Gold Mine Compounds, 1920–1940

TSHIDISO MALOKA University of Cape Town,
Pages 28-54 | Published online: 14 Jan 2009

  • van Onselen , C. 1976 . Chibaro: African Mine Labour in Southern Rhodesia, 1900–1933 184 – 32 . London Pioneering studies on religion and African mine workers in southern Africa tend to focus on the relationship between the religious beliefs of workers and their industrial militancy. See, for example, 204–9, and C. Perring, Black Mineworkers in Central Africa: Industrial Strategies and the Evolution of an African Proletariat in the Copperbelt, 1914–41 (London, 1979), 214–17. Patrick Harries attempts to look at the significance that religion had for African miners: P. Harries, Work, Culture and Identity: Migrant Laborers in Mozambique and South Africa, c.1860–1910 (Johannesburg, 1994), 213–22
  • The private correspondence of PEMS missionaries are on microfiche at the South African Library, but only covers the period 1827 to 1935
  • Harries . Work, Culture and Identity 213;D. Gaitskell, ‘Devout Domesticity? A Century of African Women's Christianity in South Africa’, in C. Walker, ed., Women and Gender in South Africa (Cape Town, 1990), 253;D. Gaitskell, ‘Female Mission Initiatives: Black and White Women in Three Witwatersrand Churches, 1903–1939’ (PhD thesis, University of London, 1981), 6
  • Baker , A. W. 1939 . Grace Triumphant: The Life Story of a Carpenter, Lawyer and Missionary in South Africa from 1856 to 1939 101 Glasgow
  • Baker . Grace Triumphant 101 – 14 . Bulletin de la Mission Suisse Romande (1896–97), pp. 219–20;Central Archives Depot (hereafter SAB), E.H. Mabille's ‘Claim for Compensation’, RAD 160, 4025–4062;D.P. Kunene, Thomas Mofolo and the Emergence of Written Sesotho Prose (Johannesburg, 1989), 33;Harries, Work, Culture and Identity, 213
  • 1904 . Bulletin 38 p. Bulletin (1905), p. 86;Leselinyana la Lesotho, 1 Nov. 1929
  • Mohapeloa , J. M. 1985 . From Mission to Church: Fifty Years of the Work of the Paris Evangelical Missionary Society and the Lesotho Evangelical Church, 1933–1983 2 – 32 . Morija S.J. Gill, A Short History of Lesotho: From the Late Stone Age until the 1993 Elections (Morija 1993), 173;B. Kennedy, ‘Missionaries, Black Converts, and Separatists on the Rand, 1886–1910: From Accommodation to Resistance’, Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History 20, 2 (May 1992), 196–222;see esp. 199. For figures on the religious and denominational affiliation of Sotho, see Basutoland Government, Census 1911, 1936 and 1946
  • Martin , M-L. 1964 . The Biblical Concept of Messianism and Messianism in Southern Africa 118 – 32 . Morija Gill, Short History, 173–8;B. Edgar, Prophets with Honour: A Documentary History of Lekhoda la Bafo (Johannesburg, 1987), 16
  • 15 July 1893 . Leselinyana 15 July , 1 Aug. 1893,1 Oct. 1893, 14 Jan. 1911, 3 June 1911;Mission de la Congregation des Missionaires Oblats de Marie Immaculee (1893), 496 and 507;ibid, (1900), 201–2;ibid (1939), 65;Quarterly Papers, 118 (25 Oct. 1897), 113–14. Gaitskell, ‘Devout Domesticity’, 253–57, touches on the history of the Anglicans
  • This indicates that the ethnic compartmentalisation of the African workforce by the mine management should not be overemphasised in the study of conflict and control on the mines
  • 22 Jan. 1915 . 22 Jan. , Bulletin (1908), 150.Leselinyana, 22 Jan. 1917, 28 Feb. 1928, 27 Apr. 1928, 18 Dec. 1935, 19 May 1937
  • 1929 . Journal des Missions Évangéliques (hereafter JME , : 560 Leselinyana, 27 June 1934;B. Moreillon, ‘My First Three Weeks on the Rand’, Basutoland Witness (hereafter BW), 4, 2 (Mar.-Apr. 1950), 119–21;E. Labarthe, ‘Mission Work in Johannesburg’, BW, 62 (Jury 1962), 2. V. Ellenberger, A Century of Mission Work in Basutoland 1833–1933 (Morija, 1938) is the PEMS's official history of the beginning of its work on the Rand, and does not acknowledge the pioneering work of Henry Mabille, possibly because of his expulsion from the church: see Ellenberger, Century of Mission Work, 352–7
  • 16 Sep. 1927 . Leselinyana 16 Sep. , 27 June 1934
  • 27 June 1934 . Leselinyana 27 June , South African Library, Archives of the PEMS (hereafter APEMS), Mf. 730 and 759;Mochochonono, 10 Oct. 1934
  • 1924 . JME 206 – 32 . JME (1926), 285 and 558;Leselinyana, 11 July 1934
  • 1925 . JME 396 – 32 . and 558;JME (1927), 373–4;Leselinyana, 11 July 1934;APEMS, Mf. 730
  • Coplan , D. B. Township Tonight In;Baker Grace Triumphant, 101;South Africa's Black City Music and Theatre (Johannesburg, 1985), 46;JME (1928), 84–90 and 145;JME (1942–45), 129–32;R.E. Phillips, The Bantu are Coming: Phases of South Africa's Race Problem (Stellenbosch, 1930), 141–51
  • 1934 . JME 352 APEMS, Mf. 183;V. Ellenberger, Landmarks in the Story of the French Protestant Church in Basutoland during the First Hundred Years of its Existence, 1833–1933 (Morija, 1933), 14–15 and 27;Mohapeloa, From Mission to Church, 41 and 47;Morija Archives, Lesotho, Mrs Jaques, ‘Mission au Rand’
  • 6 Apr. 1938 . Leselinyana 6 Apr. , 1 Aug. 1934, 25 Feb. 1927, 11 Jury 1934, 6 Apr. 1938;JME (1928), 84–90;M. Malefane, “The Work of the Lord among Basuto People', BW 3, 1 (Jan.-Feb. 1949), 5
  • 1929 . JME 222 – 32 . Leselinyana, 18 July 1934, 12 Oct. 1932
  • Ellenberger . Century of Mission Work 182;JME (1942–5), 131–2
  • Coplan . In Township Tonight 37 and 71–6;JME (1942–45), 131–2;Leselinyana, 23 Feb. 1917, 18 Mar. 1921, 26 Mar. 1926, 12 Oct. 1932, 13 Mar. 1935,14 Aug. 1935, 5 Feb. 1936, 3 Mar. 1937, 12 May 1937, 3 Nov. 1937, 16 Feb. 1938, 25 May 1938, 1 June 1938, 12 Oct. 1938;Mochochonono, 12 Sep. 1934, 13 Mar. 1937
  • 1 June 1938 . Leselinyana 1 June ,
  • 12 Sep. 1934 . Mochochonono 12 Sep. , 10 Oct. 1934, 28 Nov. 1934, 3 Mar. 1937, 27 Mar. 1937
  • Mosunyane , Solomon . JME, 2 (1934), 640–1. b. 1913, interviewed at Quthing, 13 July 1993
  • 1931 . JME 757 JME (1933), 149–53;JME, 2 (1934), 640–1;JME (1937), 182–4;Leselinyana, 18 July 1934;Labarthe, ‘Mission Work’, 2–5
  • 3 Jan. 1938 . Mochochonono 3 Jan. , 15 Jan. 1938, 28 May 1938, 18 June 1938, 2 July 1938;Leselinyana, 12 Dec. 1938
  • far out on the Rand they still exercise such pride, and feel that the Church of Basutoland is their Alma Mater. They do not want their sermons to be preached in any other language save Sotho‘: J.E. Selikane, “The Church of Basutoland on the Rand’, BW 3, 1 (Jan.-Feb. 1949), 10.Sotho were said to be a 'self-centred and a proud nation even though they may be far from their country
  • 1937 . JME 182 – 32 . JME (1942–45), 129–32;Leselinyana, 25 May 1938;G. Mabille, ‘Missionary Work on the Rand’, and M. Malefane, “The Work of the Lord Among Basuto People', BW 3, 1 (Jan.-Feb. 1949), 4–7;Labarthe, ‘Mission Work’, 4;Mrs Jaques, ‘Mission au Rand’
  • 25 May 1938 . Leselinyana 25 May , JME (1937), 182–84;JME (1940–41), 158–59;JME (1942–45), 129–32;Mrs Jaques, ‘Mission au Rand’;Mabille, ‘Missionary Work on the Rand’, 4–5;Labarthe, ‘Mission Work’, 2–5
  • 1930 . JME , 2 : 20 – 32 . and 102–3;JME (1940–41), 158);P. Bonner, “Desirable or Undesirable Basotho Women?” Liquor, Prostitution and the Migration of Basotho Women to the Rand, 1920–1945', in Walker, Women and Gender in South Africa.
  • Harries . Work, Culture and Identity 217 – 18 .
  • Elphick , R. 1981 . “ ‘Africans and the Christian Campaign in Southern Africa’ ” . In The Frontier in History: North America and Southern Africa Compared Edited by: Lamar , H. and Thompson , L. 291 – 2 . London
  • 1928 . JME 89 Leselinyana, 18 Dec. 1925, 10 Feb. 1928, 28 Nov. 1930, 12 Oct. 1932, 18 July 1934;Mochochonono, 5 Sep. 1934. Mabilie participated in a debate in the discrimination against the Basotho in employment in Lesotho. It was not uncommon for Mabilie or Ellenberger, for example, to express their reservations about the political system in South Africa. Mabilie even wrote to one of his friends in France asking him to arrange schools for his children, as he was worried that they were going to grow up with a supremacist mentality (see APEMS, Mf. 783)
  • 18 Dec. 1925 . Leselinyana 18 Dec. , 10 Feb. 1928, 25 Nov. 1930, 12 Oct. 1932, 18 July 1934;JME (1928), 84–90
  • 1928 . JME 89
  • 18 Dec 1925 . Leselinyana 18 Dec , 10 Feb. 1928, 12 Oct. 1932, 25 Nov. 1930, 18 July 1934;Mochochonono, 14 Sep. 1946
  • Harries . Work, Culture and Identity 216 – 18 . S. Moroney, ‘Mine Married Quarters: The Differential Stabilisation of the Witwatersrand Workforce, 1900–1920’, in S. Marks and R. Rathbone, eds, Industrialisation and Social Change in South Africa: African Class Formation, Culture and Consciousness 1870–1930 (London, 1982), 264–7;S.J. Jingoes, A Chief is a Chief by the People: The Autobiography of Stimela Janson Jingoes (London, 1975), 63;Samuel Nonyana Mokoaleli, b. 1914, interviewed at Thaba Bosiu, 2 July 1993
  • Falk , P. 1979 . The Growth of the Church in Africa 171 Michigan JME (1929), 222–7;Leselinyana, 25 Feb. 1927, 11 July 1934;Mochochonono, 18 June 1938;APEMS, Mf. 730
  • 1930 . JME 308 – 32 . Leselinyana, 11 Feb. 1927, 27 Jan. 1928, 31 Jan. 1934, 21 Aug. 1935
  • Harries . Work, Culture, and Identity 214 See, for an example
  • June 1917 . Africa's Golden Harvest June , 11
  • Taylor , J. D. 1926 . ‘The Rand as a Mission Field’ . International Review of Missions , 25 Oct. : 658 on the Anglicans, see Harries, Work, Culture and Identity, 214
  • Taylor . ‘The Rand as a Mission Field’ 653
  • 25 Sep. 1935 . Leselinyana 25 Sep. , 24 May 1939;JME, 1 (1934), 355;JME (1942–45), 132;Falk, Growth of the Church, 182;B.G.M. Sundkler, Bantu Prophets in South Africa (London, 1948), 80–7
  • 22 Mar. 1940 . Basutoland News 22 Mar. , Annual celebrations of Moshoeshoe's Day (12 March) had been taking place since 1919 in Lesotho
  • 13 Mar. 1928 . Leselinyana 13 Mar. , 16 Mar. 1928, 12 Oct. 1932
  • Mabille , G. 1950 . ‘Spiritual Gold Digging on the Rand’ . BW , 4 Mar.-Apr. : 2 22
  • Mabille . ‘Missionary Work’ 5
  • Mosunyane , Solomon . Leselinyana, 1 Aug. 1934.
  • 5 July 1939 . Leselinyana 5 July ,
  • 1907 . Bulletin 160
  • 1911 . Bulletin 369
  • 31 Dec 1896 . Standard and Diggers News 31 Dec , T.D. Moodie, 'Ethnic Violence on South African Gold Mines', Journal of Southern African Studies 18, 3 (1992);Rand Daily Mail, 31 May 1910, 1 June 1910, 3 June 1910;Report of the Native Grievances Inquiry, 1913–14, U.G. 37-'14.
  • Selikane . ‘Church of Basutoland’ 10
  • Mohapeloa . From Mission to Church 18;JME (1929), 227;T. Verdier, ‘L'alcoholisme au Lessouto’, JME, 1 (1930);E. Mphatsoe, ‘The Blue Cross Association in Basutoland’, BW 8, 3 (July-Sep. 1954)
  • Mabille , G. 1976 . Un Noire et un Blanc-Une Equipc: Temoinage a Michael Malcfane par son Co-equipier George Mabille 69 – 32 . Paris Mohapeloa, From Mission to Church, 18;JME (1929), 226
  • Marabi was the type of South African ghetto music which was popular by the 1920s
  • These types of dances and music were linked to the migrant labour system and the development of prostitution in Lesotho. Besides being sexually provocative, the dances give a greater role to women
  • Coplan . In Township Tonight 94 – 101 . deals with marabi, famo and focho dances and music. On the role of alcohol on the mines, see D. Moodie, ‘Alcohol and Resistance on the South African Gold Mines, 1903–1962’, and J. Baker, ‘Prohibition and Illicit Liquor on the Witwatersrand, 1902–1932’, in J. Crush and C. Ambler (eds), Liquor and Labour in Southern Africa (Pietermaritzburg, 1992), 139–61
  • Selikane . ‘Church of Basutoland’ 11
  • Ashton , H. 1952 . The Basuto 282 – 32 . London H. Dieterlen, ‘La Medecine et les Medecines au Lessouto’, Les Cahiers Missionaires, 17 (1930), especially p. 24
  • Malebane . ‘Work of the Lord’ see Dieterlen, ‘La Medecine et les Medecins au Lessouto’, and F. Laydevant, ‘La Sorcellerie en Basutoland’, Etudes Missionaires 7, 2 (1937)., 6
  • 1928 . JME 88 Leselinyana, 1 Aug. 1893, 1 Aug. 1934, 8 Aug. 1934
  • Malefane . ‘Work of the Lord’ 5
  • Samuel Nonyana
  • Malefane, ‘Work of the Lord’, 6
  • 1942–45 . JME 132
  • Baker . Grace Triumphant 106
  • 1928 . JME 145

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