CONTRIBUTIONS OF HENRY TOWNSEND

1.0 INTRODUCTION

The history of the press in Africa, particularly Nigeria centers on the activities of the colonialists. The British missionaries contributed immensely to the development of education and press in Nigeria. In Badagry, an Anglican priest, Reverend Henry Townsend worked assiduously to establish a vernacular newspaper entitled “Iwe Irohin.” Thus, in this unit our discussion will centre on the contribution of Henry Townsend.

2.0 OBJECTIVES

At the end of this unit, you should be able to:
• discuss the birth of the African newspapers in the pre-independence era
• give a brief profile of Reverend Henry Townsend
• discuss the contents, formats, frequency and readership of Iwe Irohin
• discuss readership and price of Iwe Irohin.

3.0 MAIN CONTENT

3.1 African Press: Pre-Independence Era

The printed word came to Africa with the European. The Portuguese and the Spaniards came first in search of treasure and quickly worked up an appetite for an empire. Not to be outdone, the Belgians, the Dutch, the English, the French and the Germans moved in to do battle over real estate. After a series of musical chairs, the situation stabilised but only to see the entrenchment of the Dutch in South Africa , the Belgians in Congo , Rwanda and Burundi , the English in Nigeria , the French in Cameroon , Togoland and the Germans in Tanganyika (Tanzania).

The occupation eventually led to racial and political conflicts between the indigenous populations and the white intruders. Out of these conflicts was born African Nationalism. Sections organised into resistance movements aimed at raising opposition over unpopular measures.

One of the instruments of African nationalism was the press. Its birth and growth in different colonies depended on such factors as the fear of the nationalism spirit, commitment to the nationalism course and the state of the economy. In a number of instances, introducing what turned out to be the foundations of the “nationalist press” was a European idea but such a beginning served only as a catalyst.

In any case, the African press seemed to have materialised first in the British colonies of West Africa. The Ghanaians in 1857 had one of their earliest African-owned newspapers in Charles Bannerman’s organ The West African Herald, Nigeria posted its first newspaper, Iwe Irohin in 1859.

3.2 Brief Profile of Townsend

It should be noted that in Nigeria, the first printing press was installed by the Presbyterian mission when they arrived in Calabar in 1946. Eight years later, Rev. Henry Townsend fitted up a printing press and inaugurated a printing school in the mission compound at Abeokuta.

Townsend, an Anglican, came from England. He was asked to proceed to Abeokuta by the mission authorities in Calabar to help in ministering the spiritual needs of many sierra Leonian immigrants who were emancipated from slave trade. He arrived Badagry and worked with Sierra Leonian immigrants at his headquarters at a place known as English Town. It is said that during the publication of Iwe Irohin, there were at least 300 people in CMS compound who had learnt to read and write and this generated the need for English man to set the newspaper.

3.3 Establishment of the Iwe Irohin

In December 1859, Townsend established a printing press on which Iwe Irohin, Yoruba Africa’s first vernacular newspaper was printed.  The full name of Townsend’s newspaper was “Iwe Irohin Fun Awon Ara Egba Ati Yoruba” translated into English language means “Newspaper in Yoruba for the Egba and Yoruba people.”

Reverend Townsend is reported to have said at the beginning of the maiden edition of Iwe Irohin that …… “my objective is to Beget the habit of seeking information by reading ……(newspapers)……

I have set on foot a Yoruba newspaper” Also, note that it was on Reverend Townsend’s printing press that the first Bible in Yoruba language was printed in 1862.

SELF-ASSESSMENT EXERCISE

What is the full name of Iwe Iroyin and what was the essence for its establishment?

3.4 Contents, Format and Frequency of Iwe Irohin 

Right from the outset, Iwe Irohin was published fortnightly, in Yoruba language and, later, in both Yoruba and English languages. It had eight pages with another four pages in Yoruba languages and another four complementary pages in English language, translating the Yoruba version of it. In other words, it was first a vernacular paper and later became a bilingual paper.

In terms of layout, typography and design, each page of Iwe Irohin was divided into two columns and measured approximately 6.5x8 inches deep. It did not carry any pictures. Its basic philosophical foundation among other things was to promote Christian literacy among the Yoruba people of Badagry and the England.

Iwe Irohin featured prominently on the vertical make-up. It generally lacked typographical pluralism. Items in each column were set-to- fit. Iwe Irohin did not carry editorial unit until 1862. Similarly, Iwe Irohin did not carry advertisements until five years after its first appearance. There was lack of typographical harmony, contrast balance, but unity in the earlier copies of Iwe Irohin was said to be very credible. It was a political newspaper exercising great restraint from colonial politics. It was a great critic of both the slave trade and the 1800. Iwe Irohin advocated for morality, and continuous humanism.

In January 1866, Iwe Irohin for the first time started publishing two different editions-one in Yoruba language and the other entirely in English language. It continued with the demise of the uprising.”

The “Ifole” uprising was a civil disruption between the Ibadan and Egba traders. It was alleged by the Egba people that the Europeans were helping the Ibadan people in their bid to by-pass Egba commercial middlemen in trading directly with the Lagos colony. Because of this allegation, all the Europeans living in Egba land (Abeokuta) were driven away by the Egba people.

At the outset, the news coverage of Irohin was limited in scope. For instance, it carried only religious news items. Later, its news coverage included non-religious items like trade and commerce, information about schedules of arrivals and departure of ships, coverage’s from and to European countries.

3.5 Readership and Price

Iwe Irohin was said to have been hard to read and comprehended during its first few years of existence. In particular, the teenagers of those days “quarreled” with Iwe Irohin’s stringent moralistic philosophies. The price of Iwe Irohin was about 120 cowries equivalent to one penny.

Similarly, in the political spheres, which were secondary to Iwe Irohin, the paper achieved a considerable influence. Townsend used it effectively in local politics in Egba land. The paper might have exerted a wide influence but it introduced first generation of educated Africans to the reading culture, which is part and parcel of the enlightened society. The paper also inspired the Africans who later made use of news papering of the land.  Iwe Irohin was a catalyst to the growth of other papers. The paper helped in revitalising other printing presses, which were existing and helped to increase the number of apprentice-printers.

4.0 CONCLUSION

We have established that the first newspaper in Nigeria was published in Yoruba language. Reverend Henry Townsend’s Iwe Irohin opened the publication gates for aspiring indigenous printers and publishers in Nigeria.

5.0 SUMMARY

In this unit, we have discussed the profile of Reverend Henry Townsend, the establishment of Iwe Irohin as well as the content, format, readership price and contributions of Iwe Irohin.

6.0 TUTOR-MARKED ASSIGNMENT

1. What are the contributions of Iwe Irohin?
2. What are the contributions of Reverend Henry Townsend to the
Nigerian press?