Father Michael Witte of Kabaa High School, Missionary and Educationalist: A Study in Mission Strategy

Abstract

Quite often the early missionaries are vilified for cooperating with the colonial regimes in the exploitation of the continent – no wonder the frequent use of the expression that the colonialists came with the bible in one hand and the gun in the other. However, Albert de Jong, a Church historian of great reputation and a priest in the congregation of the Holy Ghost Fathers unveils to us the missionary strategies of Fr Michael Witte in a way that prompts us to question the longstanding negative claims on the work of the missionaries. Contrary to the negative claims on missionaries, De Jong views Witte’s strategy as that which fostered a sense of human dignity and confidence among the Africans.