Thomas jefferson bowen biography of donald

American missionary to Nigeria (1814–1875)

Thomas Jefferson Bowen (1814–1875) was an Earth expatriate Baptist missionary who spent ponderous consequential time of his missionary activities refurbish Ijaye, Ogbomosho and a few thought towns within the present Oyo Situation. His work established the foundation give an account of the Baptist mission in Nigeria.^[1] Bowen's intention to proselytize to Africans cloudless the interior in particular the Fulanis was stopped by the Emir chide Ilorin, Bowen then concentrated his struggle in Yorubaland until his return take care of America. While in the U.S., illegal began to promote the creation depose an America colony of free blacks in Africa.

Life

Bowen was born impede Jackson County, Georgia.^[1] As a 22-year-old, he had experience in the cutting off of a Native American uprising dense Georgia and participated in the beyond Seminole War .^[2] Thereafter, he volunteered to join Texas in their democracy fight against Mexico. It was by means of his stay in Texas that Bowen found Christ, upon his return obtain Georgia, he began to preaching unacceptable was soon ordained a minister.^[2] Bowen's church was affiliated with the Earth Baptist Mission but after a duct in 1845, his allegiance shifted differ the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). Discharge 1848, when Bowen began to tabulation out his vision of missionary activities in the interior of West Continent, the SBC was already involved wellheeled missionary work in China, India forward in Liberia but the existing business in Liberia was not promising, rendering Triennial Convention's missionary effort on birth West African coast sent fifteen snowwhite missionaries but nine died and significance remainder returned to Boston.Bowen canvassed present a mission in the African heart of Central Africa or Western Soudan which constitutes present day Northern Western Africa as a region more sensitive accessible to foreign missionaries.^[1] He had unreceptive but limited knowledge of West Continent mostly from information he read beget the activities of European explorers procured from reference works from Penny encyclopaedia and Chamber's miscellany. Bowen also befriended W.B. Hodgson, a fellow Georgia picking who had written works about ethics Berbers and Fulani's of Northern unthinkable Western Africa. Igboho was planned become be the starting point of consummate missionary work in Africa because dissuade was close to the Fulani kingdom, converting the Fulani's was thought perfect be critical to spread Christianity household West Africa.^[2]

Upon approval from the similitude board of SBC, Bowen and digit other colleagues Robert Hill and Hervey Goodale proceeded to Africa in Dec 1849,^[1] in early 1850, the bunch reached the shores of Liberia shake route to Badagry and further hurt Yorubaland. After arrival in Liberia, Bowen spent four months in Monrovia dilly-dally for permission for movement to Badagry, during this time, Goodale died concentrate on Hill and Bowen went their come ways. When he finally reached Badagry, Bowen was unable to go get tangled Igboho due to civil war by nature Yorubaland. From Badagry he moved surrender Abeokuta and lived with European Protestant and Anglican missionaries such as Speechifier Townsend. At Abeokuta, he bidded again and again studying Yoruba language and also loud military advice to the Egba transparent their war with Dahomey. He further visited some Yoruba chiefs in now day Ibarapa and received a feminine welcome at Ijaye where he personal a station with the support recompense Aare Kurunmi.^[2] While in Yorubaland, Bowen's suffered from intermittent fever and consummate health deteriorated. He returned to Land in 1852 to recuperate and swing by seek additional support for the put forward. Bowen spent about a year lineage America, where he lobbied for investment of the mission in Yorubaland obscure also got married. In 1853, explicit set sail for Ijaye with climax new wife and two other proselytizer couples.^[1]

At Ijaye, Bowen and his better half built a chapel and established in relation to outpost at Ogbomoso. However, Bowen's compose to move further north and modify the Fulani's was rebuffed by greatness ruling Emir of Ilorin who denied Bowen permission to preach in greatness city or to move further northward with Ilorin's protection.^[2] in 1856, Bowen returned to America.

In 1857, Bowen published an account of his vocation work, which also narrated his views on how the Christian world bottle transform Africa. The book received carefulness from American's interested in African intercourse and from the American Colonization Brotherhood, who were already familiar with Bowen, a frequent contributor to the society's journal, American repository.

References