Mission Rivalries, Conflicts, and the Construction of Protestant Christian Identities in Colonial Malawi

This article delves into the historical background of mission work in colonial Malawi, specifically focusing on the crucial link between mission boundaries and the development of Christian and ethnic identities. The study examines the collaboration and conflicts that arose among missions due to overlapping spheres of influence and territories. It highlights the extent of cooperation between the Livingstonia Mission, Dutch Reformed Church Missions, and other missions operating under the Federated Board of Nyasaland Mission. In particular, the article will discuss the extent to which missionary boundaries affected the self-understanding of Christians and other ethnic groups and how they were expressed in the communities in which they lived. It is argued that Christian identity in colonial Malawi was a by-product of mission rivalries, which manifested in boundary disputes.