Mary Slessor
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Mary Slessor (2 December 1848 - 13 January 1915) was a Scottish missionary to Nigeria. Her determined work and strong personality allowed her to be trusted and accepted by the locals, spreading Christianity and promoting women's rights.
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[edit] Early life
Mary was born in Aberdeen and moved to Dundee at the age of 11 when her family was looking for work. Her father was an alcoholic who had to stop his work as a shoemaker and eventually became a mill laborer. Mary's mother ensured that she attended church and made her a half time worker at a jute mill, working for half the day and attending the mill school for the other half.
She developed a strong interest in religion and joined a local mission teaching the poor. One famous story from this time is that of the Red Headed Lady. Mary dared a gang of boys that she would not flinch as they swung a metal weight closer and closer to her face. She successfully stayed still and the boys had to attend her Sunday School as forfeit.
[edit] Travels to Nigeria
In 1876, she applied to the Foreign Mission Board of the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland (the Scottish United Presbyterian Mission). She was briefly trained before being sent to Calabar where she arrived in September. It was a time of turmoil in Nigeria. The slave trade, which had stopped traditional life for many, had ceased. Britain had seized Lagos to ensure continued trading. Ritualised rape, infanticide and human sacrifice were all common. Women had no rights at all and were considered as low as animals.
Disease was almost universal amongst the missionaries. Mary herself suffered from flu and malaria. Vaccinations for smallpox and other diseases only began to be available towards the end of her 40 year stay in Africa.
Mary shocked many missionaries by living with and as the locals. She learned to speak Efik fluently (phonograph recording of her speaking Efik) and became practised in the local customs and culture, thus assisting her missionary work and promotion of women's rights. While her insistence upon working by herself brought her into conflict with authorities, her close understanding of the Nigerians led the local Governor to offer her a position on the Itu court. She adopted a number of children including twins which were considered cursed and often sacrificed.
She received the Order of St John of Jerusalem in 1913. Recurring illness made her very weak and in 1915 she died of a fever. She was buried in Nigeria after a full state funeral. She is currently depicted on the Clydesdale Bank £10 note.
[edit] Mary Slessor in popular culture
"Mother of All The Peoples", a musical play dramatising Mary Slessor's life, was recently performed at the Dundee Repertory Theatre. Other performances are planned.
