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The Catholic mission and some aspects of assimilation in Senegal, 1817–1852

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 January 2009

D. H. Jones
D. H. Jones
Affiliation:
S.O.A.S., London
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Extract

After the restoration of French rule in Senegal in 1817 the Congregation of the Holy Ghost undertook spiritual responsibility for the colony. But its members were unable to make any serious impact on a community that remained only nominally Christian. Their work was reinforced by the ‘Ploërmel Brothers’ who took over the schools in the 1840s, and by the ordination of three Senegalese priests, David Boillat, Arsène Fridoil and Pierra Moussa. Inevitably the three priests were drawn into acrimonious controversy. Under instructions from Governor Bouet, they opened a school in competition with the Ploërmel brothers, who became their implacable enemies. Eventually it had to close and the three priests were successively removed from the colony. Thus ended a brief experiment in educational assimilation.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of African History , Volume 21 , Issue 3 , July 1980 , pp. 323 - 340
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1980

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