Mission, development, and ‘reverse mission’ in Europe-Africa religious relations

This chapter reviews some of the religious links between Europe and Africa, focusing on the Christian religion. It first discusses the spread of Christianity from Europe to Africa in the colonial context and then brings the situation up to date with a review of certain ongoing relationships between European and African Christians, particularly through the activities of European missionaries and faith-based development NGOs. It also explores the contemporary phenomenon of ‘reverse mission,’ in which African missionaries seek to re-Christianize a secularized Europe in the context of increasing migration from Africa to Europe.