Chief Zibi Sidinane: Negotiating Moravian Christianity and Settlements in “Nomansland”

Abstract

Abstract The overall context of this article is the interaction between black African rulers, the white Christian missionaries, and the white colonial authorities in late nineteenth century South Africa, as a rapidly changing society increasingly privileged the white population.1 Many black rulers tried to strengthen their positions in troubled and contested regions by calling on the help of Christian missionaries who in their turn saw these requests from black African rulers as golden opportunities for gaining access to peoples otherwise only reached with great difficulty. Thus, mutually beneficial relationships were possible even if, ultimately, the different parties had different agendas and desires. The analyses in this article deal with the triangular relations between the colonial powers, the mission society and black rulers, and tease out the strategies, motives and practices of the three parties.