Four years ago, Simon Larsson wrote a doctoral dissertation on the work of the Swedish Missionary Federation in Congo. It was in connection with this that he stumbled upon a rich picture material in various archives.

He believes that there may be as many as 30,000 photographs taken between 1861 and 1961. 

- The pictures are many times anonymous. But I think I am part of this photo project, that I should try to find out as much about the background as possible, ”Simon Larsson tells Culture News.

Takes help of diaries

With a Bernadotte scholarship from the Royal Academy of Sciences he can now examine the pictures a bit more closely. Among other things, he will try to find the stories behind the pictures with the help of the missionaries' diaries and notes.

- I want to give additional knowledge about Christian mission by revealing details that are not conveyed in the missionaries' texts, says Simon Larsson.

Simon Larsson explains that when the mission manager Ekman describes why they chose Congo, he refers to what British explorer Stanley wrote about his travels in Africa. Namely, he discovered "countless tribes immersed in the worst paganism, cruelty and cannibalism".

- Ekman says that's why it was so important to send missionaries there, says Simon Larsson.

Collaborated with the colonial state

The Swedish missionaries cooperated with the colonial power and thus became part of the colonial oppression, even though they were officially critical of the colonial state's extensive violence and abuse of the Congolese. Despite this, the collaboration continued under the brutal terror of the Belgian King Leopold II.

It also happened that the Swedish missionaries themselves provided physical punishment. 

- It is true that the missionaries raised both children and adults at the station through physical punishments, says Simon Larsson

- It was considered necessary in that context.