Music and Presbyterianism at the Lovedale Missionary Institute, 1841–1955

Abstract

This history of music and Presbyterianism at the Lovedale Missionary Institute focuses on the work of Scottish Presbyterian missionaries, students and graduates of Lovedale in the period 1841 to 1955. The period under consideration begins with the foundation of the mission in 1841 and ends with its closure in 1955 as a result of the apartheid government’s decision to stop funding the independent mission schools. This work offers a critical appraisal of the careers, influence and ideology of the five Scottish principals: William Govan, James Stewart, James Henderson, Arthur West Wilkie and Robert Henry Wishart Shepherd. Many of South Africa’s most prominent African intellectuals and composers studied at Lovedale under their tutelage. A survey of these musicians and intellectuals is described in a series of profiles, which include discussion of their careers and analysis of their music. Case studies of composers Tiyo Soga, John Knox Bokwe, Benjamin Tyamzashe, Daniel Marivate, Michael Moerane, Joshua Polumo Mohapeloa and Reuben Caluza explore themes of influence and syncretism. Stories about events, characters and the relationships that developed between students and teachers are brought to the fore because these give insight into the social and political dynamics of music and mission in general, and to a changing South Africa in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The role of women at Lovedale is emphasised with a focus on the wives of missionaries, such as Mina Stewart, but also independent figures, such as Frieda Bokwe Matthews, Jane Waterston and Monica Wilson. It thematically discusses how Lovedale became an intellectual and musical centre with a strong tradition of African music and literature supported by the publications of the Lovedale Press. This thesis offers a careful review of documentary sources in South Africa and Scotland, and in so doing draws close attention to the mission’s policies and educational outcomes in relation to music. The research is based on archival methods and framed by contemporary theories of postcolonialism and decoloniality.

Le mbali yomculo nobuPresbhitari kwiziko Lecawe laseDikeni (iLovedale Missionary Institute) igxila kumsebenzi wabaququzeleli bevangeli bamaSkoti, abafundi kunye nabathweswa zidanga besinala saseDikeni esaziwa ngokuba yiLovedale ngeminyaka ephakathi kowe1841 nowe1955. Eli xesha sifunda ngalo liqala ekwakhiweni kwemishini ngowe1841 kwaye liphela ekuvalweni kwayo ngowe1955 kuba urhulumente wocalucalulo wagqiba ekubeni apheze ukuxhasa ngemali izikolo zeecawe ezizimeleyo. Esi sifundo siphengulula ngeliso elibukhali umsebenzi, impembelelo kunye nezimvo ezisisiseko seenqununu zamaSkoti ezintlanu: uWilliam Govan, uJames Stewart, uJames Henderson, uArthur West Wilkie kunye noRobert Henry Wishart Shepherd. Uninzi lweenkcubabuchopo nabaqambi beengoma abangama-Afrika bafunda eLovedale phantsi kwezi nqununu. Uphononongo lwezi nkcubabuchopo nabaqambi beengoma lwenziwe kwiqela leeprofayili eziquka ingxoxo ngemisebenzi yabo nohlalutyo lomculo wabo. Izifundo ezingumzekelo ezingoTiyo Soga, uJohn Knox Bokwe, uBenjamin Tyamzashe, uDaniel Marivate, uMichael Moerane, uJoshua Polumo Mohapeloa kunye noReuben Caluza ziphonononga imixholo yempembelelo kunye nokudityaniswa kweenkolo ezahlukeneyo. Kubaliswa namabali eziganeko, abantu abahlukeneyo nentsebenziswano eyayikho phakathi kwabafundi nootitshala. La mabali adandalazisa amahla ndinyuka kwezentlalo nezopolitiko malunga nomculo kunye nemishini ngokubanzi, noMzantsi Afrika owawuguquka ngenkulungwane yeshumi elinethoba neyamashumi amabini. Indima yamabhinqa eLovedale iqwalaselwe ngokugxila kumakhosikazi abaququzeleli bevangeli abanjengoMina Stewart kunye namanye amakhosikazi azimeleyo afana noFrieda Bokwe Matthews, uJane Waterston kunye noMonica Wilson. Isifundo sibonisa ngokwemixholo, indlela iLovedale eyaba liziko lemfundo nelomculo osekelwe ngamandla kumculo wobuAfrika noncwadi olwalupapashwa kwiziko lokushicilela, iLovedale Press. Le ngxelo yophando inika uphengululo olunzulu lwemithombo yolwazi eseMzantsi Afrika naseScotland, kwaye ngokwenza njalo itsalela ingqalelo kwimigaqo nkqubo yale mishini kunye neziphumo zemfundo emalunga nomculo. Uphando lusekelwe kwiindlela zemithombo kavimba kwaye luphanhlwe ziingcingane (iithiyori) ezingexesha lasemva kobukoloniyali nokupheliswa kolawulo lwezizwe ezingamathanga.

Hierdie geskiedkundige oorsig van musiek en Presbiterianisme by die Lovedale Missionary Institute fokus op die werk van Skots-Presbiteriaanse sendelinge, studente en gegradueerdes van Lovedale in die tydperk 1841 tot 1955. Die tydperk onder bespreking begin met die stigting van die sendingpos in 1841 en eindig met die sluiting daarvan in 1955 vanweë die apartheidregering se besluit om nie meer die onafhanklike sendingskole te befonds nie. Hierdie werk bied ʼn kritiese beoordeling van die loopbane, invloed en ideologie van die vyf Skotse hoofde: William Govan, James Stewart, James Henderson, Arthur West Wilkie en Robert Henry Wishart Shepherd. Vele van Suid-Afrika se mees prominente Afrika-intellektuele en komponiste het by Lovedale gestudeer onder hul leiding. ʼn Oorsig van hierdie musikante en intellektuele word in ʼn reeks profiele beskryf en dit sluit ʼn bespreking van hul loopbane en ʼn ontleding van hul musiek in. Gevallestudies oor die komponiste Tiyo Soga, John Knox Bokwe, Benjamin Tyamzashe, Daniel Marivate, Michael Moerane, Joshua Polumo Mohapeloa en Reuben Caluza fokus op temas wat met invloed en sinkritisme verband hou. Stories oor gebeure, karakters en die verhoudings wat tussen studente en onderwysers ontwikkel het, word prominent omdat dit insig gee in die sosiale en politieke dinamika van musiek en sending oor die algemeen, en ʼn veranderende Suid-Afrika in die negentiende en twintigste eeu. Die rol van vroue by Lovedale word beklemtoon, met ʼn fokus op die vrouens van sendelinge – soos Mina Stewart, maar ook onafhanklike figure soos Frieda Bokwe Matthews, Jane Waterston en Monica Wilson. Daar word tematies bespreek hoe Lovedale ʼn intellektuele en musieksentrum geword het, met ʼn sterk tradisie van Afrika-musiek en -literatuur, ondersteun deur die publikasies van die Lovedale Press. Hierdie tesis gee ʼn sorgvuldige oorsig van dokumentêre bronne in Suid-Afrika en Skotland, en vestig sodoende die aandag op die sending se beleide en opvoedkundige uitkomste ten opsigte van musiek. Die navorsing is gebaseer op argivale metodes in die konteks van kontemporêre teorieë van postkolonialisme en dekolonialisme.