Lovedale (South Africa)
Encyclopedia
Lovedale was a mission station and educational institute in the Victoria
East division of the Cape Province, South Africa
(now in Eastern Cape Province). It lies 1720 feet above sea level on the banks of the Tyhume (Chumie) tributary of the Keiskama river, some 2 miles north of Alice.
was one of the founding fathers of the mission station, which was established among the Ngqika
. In 1846 the work at Lovedale was again interrupted, this time by the War of the Axe. On this occasion the buildings were converted into a fort
and garrisoned by regular troops. Once more, in 1850, the natives threatened Lovedale and made an attack on the neighbouring Fort Hare
, built during the previous war.
Until 1841 the missionaries had devoted themselves almost entirely to evangelistic
work; in that year the Lovedale Missionary Institute was founded by Edward Govan, who, save for brief intervals, continued at its head until 1870. He was then succeeded by the Rev. James Stewart (1831-1905), who had joined the mission in 1867, having previously (1861-1863), and partly in company with David Livingstone
, explored the Zambezi
regions.
and Latin
, adopting English
as the classic); it also took European scholars, no racial distinction being allowed in any department of the work (indeed; until it became part of the new Union of South Africa
in 1910, the laws of the Cape Colony
were "colour-blind"). The institute gave technical training in many subjects and maintained various industries, including such diverse enterprises as farming and printing-works. Eventually it included a primary school, high school, technical school, a teacher training college, a theological college and a hospital.
The school buildings rivaled in accommodation and completeness those of the schools in large English cities. The educational and industrial methods initiated at Lovedale were widely adopted by other missionary bodies.
Lovedale later became a branch of the work of the United Free Church of Scotland
, becoming part of the Church of Scotland
in 1929 (when the United Free Church united with the Church of Scotland). It was closed in the 1950s under the Bantu Education Act
. The last ordained Principal of Lovedale was the Reverend R. H. W. Shepherd, who became Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
in 1959.
Lovedale Press, in Alice, continues to publish religious and educational material in several languages.
Famous alumni include Z. K. Mathews
, Govan Mbeki
, Tiyo Soga
, Charles Nqakula
, King Sobhuza II, Ellen Kuzwayo
, Sam Nolutshungu
and William Wellington Gqoba
. Teachers included George McCall Theal
, Milner Langa Kabane (later became principal).
East division of the Cape Province, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
(now in Eastern Cape Province). It lies 1720 feet above sea level on the banks of the Tyhume (Chumie) tributary of the Keiskama river, some 2 miles north of Alice.
Foundation
The station was founded in 1824 by the Glasgow Missionary Society and was named after Dr John Love, one of the leading members of, and at the time secretary to, the society. The site first chosen was in the Ncera valley, but in 1834 the mission buildings were destroyed by natives. On rebuilding, the station was removed somewhat farther north to the banks of the Tyumhe. John BennieJohn Bennie (missionary)
John Bennie was a Presbyterian missionary and early Xhosa linguist. In 1816 he became associated with the Glasgow Missionary Society while still in Scotland and sailed to South Africa on the ship Woodlark as a catechist where he carried out his missionary work in the Ciskei.-Missionary work:John...
was one of the founding fathers of the mission station, which was established among the Ngqika
Ngqika
The Ngqika are a tribe of the Rharhabe Xhosa whose homeland is in the former Ciskei area of the Eastern Cape.Their famous chief Sandile led most of the Rharhabe Xhosa in a series of the frontier wars with the Cape Colony....
. In 1846 the work at Lovedale was again interrupted, this time by the War of the Axe. On this occasion the buildings were converted into a fort
Fortification
Fortifications are military constructions and buildings designed for defence in warfare and military bases. Humans have constructed defensive works for many thousands of years, in a variety of increasingly complex designs...
and garrisoned by regular troops. Once more, in 1850, the natives threatened Lovedale and made an attack on the neighbouring Fort Hare
University of Fort Hare
The University of Fort Hare is a public university in Alice, Eastern Cape, South Africa. It was a key institution in higher education for black Africans from 1916 to 1959. It offered a Western-style, academically excellent education to students from across sub-Saharan Africa, creating a black...
, built during the previous war.
Until 1841 the missionaries had devoted themselves almost entirely to evangelistic
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
work; in that year the Lovedale Missionary Institute was founded by Edward Govan, who, save for brief intervals, continued at its head until 1870. He was then succeeded by the Rev. James Stewart (1831-1905), who had joined the mission in 1867, having previously (1861-1863), and partly in company with David Livingstone
David Livingstone
David Livingstone was a Scottish Congregationalist pioneer medical missionary with the London Missionary Society and an explorer in Africa. His meeting with H. M. Stanley gave rise to the popular quotation, "Dr...
, explored the Zambezi
Zambezi
The Zambezi is the fourth-longest river in Africa, and the largest flowing into the Indian Ocean from Africa. The area of its basin is , slightly less than half that of the Nile...
regions.
Native education
The institute, in addition to its purely church work — in which no sectarian tests were allowed — provided for the education of natives of both sexes in nearly all branches of learning (Stewart discontinued the teaching of GreekGreek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
and Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, adopting English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
as the classic); it also took European scholars, no racial distinction being allowed in any department of the work (indeed; until it became part of the new Union of South Africa
Union of South Africa
The Union of South Africa is the historic predecessor to the present-day Republic of South Africa. It came into being on 31 May 1910 with the unification of the previously separate colonies of the Cape, Natal, Transvaal and the Orange Free State...
in 1910, the laws of the Cape Colony
Cape Colony
The Cape Colony, part of modern South Africa, was established by the Dutch East India Company in 1652, with the founding of Cape Town. It was subsequently occupied by the British in 1795 when the Netherlands were occupied by revolutionary France, so that the French revolutionaries could not take...
were "colour-blind"). The institute gave technical training in many subjects and maintained various industries, including such diverse enterprises as farming and printing-works. Eventually it included a primary school, high school, technical school, a teacher training college, a theological college and a hospital.
The school buildings rivaled in accommodation and completeness those of the schools in large English cities. The educational and industrial methods initiated at Lovedale were widely adopted by other missionary bodies.
Lovedale later became a branch of the work of the United Free Church of Scotland
United Free Church of Scotland
The United Free Church of Scotland is a Scottish Presbyterian denomination formed in 1900 by the union of the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland and the Free Church of Scotland...
, becoming part of the Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
in 1929 (when the United Free Church united with the Church of Scotland). It was closed in the 1950s under the Bantu Education Act
Bantu Education Act
Bantu Education Act of 1953 was a South African law which codified several aspects of the apartheid system. Its major provision was enforced separation of races in all educational institutions. Even universities were made 'tribal', and all but three Missionary schools chose to close down when the...
. The last ordained Principal of Lovedale was the Reverend R. H. W. Shepherd, who became Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
The Moderator of the General Assembly of Church of Scotland is a Minister, Elder or Deacon of the Church of Scotland chosen to "moderate" the annual General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, which is held for a week in Edinburgh every May....
in 1959.
Lovedale Press, in Alice, continues to publish religious and educational material in several languages.
Famous alumni include Z. K. Mathews
Z. K. Mathews
Zachariah Keodirelang "ZK" Matthews was a prominent black academic in South Africa, lecturing at South African Native College , where many future leaders of the African continent were among his students....
, Govan Mbeki
Govan Mbeki
Govan Archibald Mvuyelwa Mbeki was a South African politician, and father of the former South African president Thabo Mbeki and political economist Moeletsi Mbeki...
, Tiyo Soga
Tiyo Soga
Tiyo Soga was a South African journalist, minister, translator, missionary, and composer of hymns. Soga was the first black South African to be ordained and worked to translate the Bible and John Bunyan’s classic work Pilgrim’s Progress# into his native Xhosa language.When Soga’s mother Nosuthu...
, Charles Nqakula
Charles Nqakula
Charles Nqakula is a South African politician who has been Minister of Defence since September 2008. He was Minister of Safety and Security from May 2002 to September 2008. Tipped as a contender for the future presidency of South Africa, he is concurrently national chairperson of the South African...
, King Sobhuza II, Ellen Kuzwayo
Ellen Kuzwayo
Nnoseng Ellen Kate Kuzwayo was a women's rights activist and politician in South Africa. She was president of the African National Congress Youth League in the 1960s. In 1994 she was elected to the first post-apartheid South African Parliament...
, Sam Nolutshungu
Sam Nolutshungu
Samuel Clement Nolutshungu was one of the foremost South African scholars, and an internationally acclaimed expert on South African politics....
and William Wellington Gqoba
William Wellington Gqoba
William Wellington Gqoba was a South African Xhosa poet, translator, and journalist. He was a major nineteenth-century Xhosa writer, whose relatively short life saw him working as a wagonmaker, a clerk, a teacher, a translator of Xhosa and English, and a pastor.Gqoba was born in Gaba, near Alice,...
. Teachers included George McCall Theal
George McCall Theal
George McCall Theal , was the most prolific and influential South African historian, archivist and genealogist of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.-Life history:...
, Milner Langa Kabane (later became principal).