An 1853 Map Of The Yoruba Country

What is it about?

This paper explores the development of missionary cartography in nineteenth-century Yorùbáland. It examines an 1853 map of Yorùbáland produced by the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) in the United States of America. The social and cultural narratives influencing the map production reveal an evangelical zeal in response to criticisms of racism. Southern Baptist missionary interest in West Africa resulted from the zeal to spread the gospel to Black Africans in response to this severe criticism. There was a contrast in the racial attention of the SBC Foreign Missions Board who wanted to engage Black Africans, and the particular interest of the missionary-explorer designate. Thomas Bowen, the missionary-explorer, aimed to reach Hausaland. The light-skinned Fulani, who resided in Hausaland, was his primary target of evangelization. However, the exploratory mission of Thomas Bowen did not go beyond Yorùbáland owing to political reasons. Thereafter, the Southern Baptist explorer gathered geographic information that became the data for the 1853 map prepared possibly by William Keenan, an American engraver. The feedback of the missionary-explorer was evident in cultural and natural features on the depicted landscape. The map depicted the river system and hilly terrain of the Yorùbá country. In addition, there was the portrayal of towns, villages and kingdoms of Yorùbáland. Besides, the settlement geography highlighted estimated populations, which drew attention to saving the perishing heathens. Before this map, the portrayal of Yorùbáland in maps was part of the blank spaces of European cartography, but the 1853 map drew attention to the Black African inhabitants. Attention to saving Black Africans served the anti-racist discourse of the SBC. The map illustrated the 1853 proceedings of the SBC reinforcing their thinking on saving Black Africans. In addition, it enriched the visualized geographical knowledge of West Central Africa. Consequently, the produced map embeds an anti-racist stance as a subtle ideological message.

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