Science and Evangelization
Geography Societies and Colonization
Fabio Rossinelli, historian and expert member of the exhibition's curatorial team for historical content
Fabio Rossinelli, historian and expert member of the exhibition's curatorial team for historical content
The Geography Society of Geneva, founded in 1858, became involved in missionary work very early on. Missionaries were not only self-proclaimed agents of «civilization», but also real agents of geographical information. They resided in colonized lands among the Indigenous populations and cultivated a scholarly passion for knowledge of the world. For these reasons, networks of correspondence and mutual aid were organized from 1859 on. The Geography Society provided missionaries with measuring instruments, editorial possibilities and public visibility, while missionaries communicated to the Society first hand information on the places they inhabited or explored and sent artefacts and maps. Science and missions worked hand in hand in the colonial context.
Fabio Rossinelli
Geography Societies and Missions
Fabio Rossinelli, historian historian and expert member of the exhibition's curatorial team for historical content
Fabio Rossinelli, historian historian and expert member of the exhibition's curatorial team for historical content
This decorative map, published and distributed in 1899 by the Basel Mission for the French-speaking public, shows the presumed success of Christian colonization in the world under the aegis of Christ who looks down on the scene (at the top). The main places where the Basel missionaries were present are also featured (their headquarters, in the city of the Rhine, is represented at the bottom), China and India on one side (left), Ghana and Cameroon on the other (right). F. Rossinelli
Map of missions
R. Niestlé, R. Schuler, M. Borel, Ph. Fernique junior
Printed by Delachaux et Niestlé, 1899
Reproduction
©Bibliothèque de Genève
Warning: some content presents racist, discriminating images or terms.
These are historical evidence of Western hegemonic thinking.
Their presence is indicated by this symbol.
These are historical evidence of Western hegemonic thinking.
Their presence is indicated by this symbol.
The review L’Afrique explorée et civilisée was founded in Geneva by the philanthropist-jurist Gustave Moynier (1826-1910) and the pastor-geographer Charles Faure (1829-1913). The latter was its editor while William Rosier (1856-1924), a pedagogue and future senior member of the Council of State, was responsible for the cartographic production. Published monthly between 1879 and 1894, the periodical constantly reported the progress of exploration and colonization in Africa and was an immense publishing success in Europe. Moynier, co-founder of the International Committee of the Red Cross, was noted for his commitment to philanthropic works. His vision of “civilization’ as a charitable act was stimulated by the geographers. The creation of this review was inspired by meaures taken by Belgian royalty which enabled the rise of Congo Free State (1885-1908). This state was represented in Geneva by Moynier, appointed general consul by Leopold II. The Genevan philanthropist would remain a faithful ally of the Leopoldian cause despite the colonial massacres perpetrated in the Congo and denounced by the press. F. Rossinelli
Gustave Moynier
JP Kalonji. 2021
Illustration published in a series of articles in Le Temps on Switzerland’s colonial past.
Mixed techniques
Loan from the artist
©Photo Johnathan Watts/MEG
Certified True Copy [gesture 4]
Mathias C. Pfund. 2024
Print, frame. Reproduction of the cover of L’Afrique explorée et civilisée, VIth year, no 3, March 1885; reproduction of the flyleaf of L’Afrique explorée et civilisée, Ist year, no 1, July 1879, p. 2. E-Periodica, ETH Zurich
The facsimiles bear the stamps of the “Société royale belge de géographie – Bruxelles” and the “Colonies suisses de Sétif Algérie – Genève” reproduced from copies conserved in the Africa Museum (former Royal Museum of Central Africa) of Tervuren and at the University of California. These testify to the distribution of the monthly and reveal networks of influence.
