Svensk missionsverksamhet i Tanganyika 1957-1961

Sammanfattning: The purpose of this essay is to examine the Swedish missionaries' work within the Swedish Evangelical Mission Society (Evangeliska Fosterlands-Stiftelsen, EFS) and The Pentecostal Mission (Pingstmissionen) in Tanganyika in 1957-1961. How was the mission's undertaking formulated by the missionaries, how did they legitimize their presence in Tanganyika, what image of Tanganyika's inhabitants did they give in their reports back to Sweden, and how did the missionaries relate to the African colonies’ growing demands for independence? The source material for the survey consists of the 1957 and 1961 issues of EFS’ and The Pentecostal Mission’s official weekly newspapers that regularly published articles and letters written by missionaries in Tanganyika. The method in this investigation has been based on a complete content and text analysis of the source material where I have sometimes been able to read between the lines as I have more knowledge of the historical context than when the source material was written. The survey shows that the main purpose of the missionaries was to spread the Christian faith. The establishment of schools, hospitals and the like were more or less seen as a means to an end. The missionaries motivated this work with a sense of responsibility and superiority over the African population where it was necessary to civilize and show them the right way. Regarding the growing demands for independence, it appears that the missionaries were aware of the situation. It was not a question of whether Tanganyika would become independent, but rather a question of when it would happen. This arouses some concern among the missionaries on how they should relate to the new situation and what would happen with Christianity in Africa.