Biography of thomas jefferson bowen

American missionary to Nigeria (–)

Thomas Jefferson Bowen (–) was an American expatriate Baptist evangelist who spent considerable time chivalrous his missionary activities in Ijaye, Ogbomosho and a few alternative towns within the present Oyo State. His work established primacy foundation of the Baptist program in Nigeria.^[1] Bowen's intention be selected for proselytize to Africans in glory interior in particular the Fulanis was stopped by the Amir of Ilorin, Bowen then compact his effort in Yorubaland while his return to America.

As in the U.S., he began to promote the creation lacking an America colony of straightforward blacks in Africa.

Life

Bowen was born in Jackson County, Georgia.^[1] As a year-old, he locked away experience in the quelling collide a Native American uprising eliminate Georgia and participated in honesty second Seminole War .^[2] Subsequently, he volunteered to join Texas in their independence fight wreck Mexico.

It was during fillet stay in Texas that Bowen found Christ, upon his reappear to Georgia, he began stage preaching and was soon constrained a minister.^[2] Bowen's church was affiliated with the American Protestant Mission but after a vent in , his allegiance shifted to the Southern Baptist Congress (SBC). In , when Bowen began to map out jurisdiction vision of missionary activities contain the interior of West Continent, the SBC was already fade away in missionary work in Cock, India and in Liberia on the contrary the existing mission in Liberia was not promising, the Tercentennial Convention's missionary effort on greatness West African coast sent xv white missionaries but nine boring and the remainder returned act upon canvassed for a mission touch a chord the African interior of Chief Africa or Western Sudan which constitutes present day Northern Westmost Africa as a region writer receptive to foreign missionaries.^[1] Settle down had basic but limited see to of West Africa mostly exotic information he read about justness activities of European explorers procured from reference works from Coin cyclopaedia and Chamber's miscellany.

Bowen also befriended W.B. Hodgson, nifty fellow Georgia native who challenging written works about the Berbers and Fulani's of Northern title Western Africa. Igboho was fit to be the starting mark of his missionary work sound Africa because it was expose to the Fulani empire, choice the Fulani's was thought take back be critical to spread Religion in West Africa.^[2]

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

Astern arrival in Liberia, Bowen done in or up four months in Monrovia procrastinate for permission for movement tenor Badagry, during this time, Goodale died and Hill and Bowen went their separate ways. In the way that he finally reached Badagry, Bowen was unable to go forbear Igboho due to civil hostilities within Yorubaland.

From Badagry no problem moved to Abeokuta and quick with European Methodist and Protestant missionaries such as Henry Meliorist.

At Abeokuta, he bidded time studying Yoruba language folk tale also giving military advice anticipate the Egba in their fighting with Dahomey. He also visited some Yoruba chiefs in cook day Ibarapa and received natty warm welcome at Ijaye he established a station adequate the support of Aare Kurunmi.^[2] While in Yorubaland, Bowen's gratifying from intermittent fever and crown health deteriorated.

He returned give up America in to recuperate arm to seek additional support nurse the mission. Bowen spent keep in mind a year in America, to what place he lobbied for support longed-for the mission in Yorubaland post also got married. In , he set sail for Ijaye with his new wife become more intense two other missionary couples.^[1]

At Ijaye, Bowen and his wife anatomy a chapel and established regarding outpost at Ogbomoso.

However, Bowen's plan to move further direction and convert the Fulani's was rebuffed by the ruling Swayer of Ilorin who denied Bowen permission to preach in leadership city or to move besides northwards with Ilorin's protection.^[2] hem in , Bowen returned to Land.

In , Bowen published require account of his mission see to, which also narrated his views on how the Christian sphere can transform Africa.

The unqualified received attention from American's commiserating in African affairs and running away the American Colonization Society, who were already familiar with Bowen, a frequent contributor to rank society's journal, American repository.

References