What can the story of clothing tells us about the nature of colonial power relations?

Essay topic 4: Religion and the modern world: South Africa, the Tswana and missionaries in the nineteenth century

Question: What can the story of clothing tells us about the nature of colonial power relations?

The Europeans conquered almost the entire continent of Africa in the nineteenth century. Victorians brought their culture and their faith; hence Africa was swept by Protestant and Catholic missionaries, who often arrived in places before colonial troops. Along the frontiers of what is now South Africa, the Tswana people were converted by Evangelical missionaries. Africans became Christians. But what did that mean?

Among the things that changed was clothing. Europeans were transmitting their tastes to Asians, Africans and everyone else. All around the world, people were wearing trousers, western hats, western suits etc. But not always in an identical fashion. This question is about the Tswana people in South Africa and their encounters with missionaries. More specifically, we will read that relationship through clothing. We were adopting western clothing but in ways that was disquieting to the missionaries.

In this essay, your task critically analyse the politics of dress in one interesting context.

What did Europeans see a need to ‘fashion’ colonial subjects?

Why did the body matter in the colonial world?

Why did colonial subjects get ‘refashioned’

What were the meanings ascribed to the fashioning process?

Who were the losers?