Joseph Booth (bishop)

Joseph Booth (1855 – 1932) was a British Baptist missionary and radical social reformer. He is notable for his missionary work in South Africa and Nyasaland (modern-day Malawi), where he advocated for Black self-reliance, industrial missions, and challenged colonial injustices.

Booth was born in Derby, England. He arrived in South Africa in 1892, initially working independently and then with various missionary societies. He became disillusioned with the established mission practices, which he believed perpetuated dependency and failed to address the systemic issues of racial discrimination and economic exploitation.

His advocacy for Black self-help and industrial education resonated with many Africans. He founded the Zambezi Industrial Mission (ZIM) in Nyasaland in 1893, aiming to provide Africans with practical skills and economic opportunities. He also established several other missions and schools throughout the region.

Booth's radical views and his encouragement of independent Black churches often brought him into conflict with colonial authorities and other missionaries. He mentored several prominent African leaders, including John Chilembwe, who was deeply influenced by Booth's ideas of self-reliance and later led a rebellion against colonial rule in Nyasaland.

Booth returned to England in 1902 and continued to advocate for African rights. His writings and activism contributed to the growing awareness of colonial injustices and the rise of African nationalism. He died in 1932. His legacy is complex and contested, but he is remembered as a significant figure in the history of mission work and the struggle for African liberation.