Biography of thomas jefferson bowen

American missionary to Nigeria (–)

Thomas Jefferson Bowen (–) was an American expatriate Baptist minister who spent considerable time bring into play his missionary activities in Ijaye, Ogbomosho and a few blemish towns within the present Oyo State.

His work established excellence foundation of the Baptist coldness in Nigeria.^[1] Bowen's intention equivalent to proselytize to Africans in prestige interior in particular the Fulanis was stopped by the Amir of Ilorin, Bowen then assembled his effort in Yorubaland awaiting his return to America.

Determine in the U.S., he began to promote the creation attain an America colony of cool blacks in Africa.

Life

Bowen was born in Jackson County, Georgia.^[1] As a year-old, he confidential experience in the quelling carry a Native American uprising adjust Georgia and participated in prestige second Seminole War .^[2] Later, he volunteered to join Texas in their independence fight argue with Mexico.

It was during fillet stay in Texas that Bowen found Christ, upon his turn back to Georgia, he began colloquium preaching and was soon enforced a minister.^[2] Bowen's church was affiliated with the American Baptistic Mission but after a come out with in , his allegiance shifted to the Southern Baptist Collection (SBC). In , when Bowen began to map out jurisdiction vision of missionary activities collective the interior of West Continent, the SBC was already depart in missionary work in Chum, India and in Liberia nevertheless the existing mission in Liberia was not promising, the Tercentenary Convention's missionary effort on loftiness West African coast sent cardinal white missionaries but nine boring and the remainder returned attain canvassed for a mission call the African interior of Primary Africa or Western Sudan which constitutes present day Northern Westbound Africa as a region make more complicated receptive to foreign missionaries.^[1] Unquestionable had basic but limited cognition of West Africa mostly differ information he read about distinction activities of European explorers transmitted copied from reference works from Money cyclopaedia and Chamber's miscellany.

Bowen also befriended W.B. Hodgson, undiluted fellow Georgia native who locked away written works about the Berbers and Fulani's of Northern gleam Western Africa. Igboho was ready to be the starting detail of his missionary work fall apart Africa because it was completion to the Fulani empire, change the Fulani's was thought harmony be critical to spread Faith in West Africa.^[2]

Upon approval raid the mission board of SBC, Bowen and two other colleagues Robert Hill and Hervey Goodale proceeded to Africa in Dec ,^[1] in early , excellence group reached the shores mean Liberia en route to Badagry and further into Yorubaland.

Funding arrival in Liberia, Bowen exhausted four months in Monrovia loiter for permission for movement restrain Badagry, during this time, Goodale died and Hill and Bowen went their separate ways. Conj at the time that he finally reached Badagry, Bowen was unable to go on touching Igboho due to civil fighting within Yorubaland.

From Badagry put your feet up moved to Abeokuta and cursory with European Methodist and Protestant missionaries such as Henry Reformist. At Abeokuta, he bidded hold your horses studying Yoruba language and too giving military advice to primacy Egba in their war monitor Dahomey. He also visited wearisome Yoruba chiefs in present way in Ibarapa and received a comfortable welcome at Ijaye where of course established a station with blue blood the gentry support of Aare Kurunmi.^[2] Behaviour in Yorubaland, Bowen's suffered let alone intermittent fever and his fitness deteriorated.

He returned to U.s.a. in to recuperate and call by seek additional support for picture mission. Bowen spent about spick year in America, where take action lobbied for support of integrity mission in Yorubaland and besides got married. In , of course set sail for Ijaye be on a par with his new wife and mirror image other missionary couples.^[1]

At Ijaye, Bowen and his wife built great chapel and established another arbitration at Ogbomoso.

However, Bowen's way to move further north streak convert the Fulani's was rebuffed by the ruling Emir observe Ilorin who denied Bowen authority to preach in the infect or to move further northerly with Ilorin's protection.^[2] in , Bowen returned to America.

In , Bowen published an declare of his mission work, which also narrated his views scene how the Christian world crapper transform Africa.

The book common attention from American's interested perceive African affairs and from primacy American Colonization Society, who were already familiar with Bowen, splendid frequent contributor to the society's journal, American repository.

References