Missionary societies, German colonies and ethnographic collections

This working paper offers an inventory of missionary orders and societies active in German colonial regions in Africa and Asia, the information available about them and the options for further research.

In his detailed report, Jan Hüsgen counts 26 Protestant missionary societies and 21 Roman-catholic in German colonial contexts in mostly Africa (Togo, Cameroon, Namibia, Tanzania), Asia (China, Bangladesh, Japan) and Oceania.

As most of them operated rather internationale and moved constantly within and across colonial borders, there is not a specific German missionary colonialism.

He finds a large variety of acquiring collections: gift, deception, purchase, robbery, plunder, confiscation and burning.

Local actors and Christianised communities deserve more attention in research efforts.

On 14 July 2025, the working paper will be discussed at a public event.