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The first Catholic Missionaries in what is now called Zambia were the international Society of the Missionaries of Africa, popularly called 'The White Fathers’ because of their white dress. They arrived from what is now called Tanzania in 1891, and established the first mission post called Mwambwe Mwela. They were hierarchically structured with Bishop Joseph Dupont firmly in charge , something that appealed to the Bemba overlords. One of the reasons that bloodshed was avoided was his reconciliation during one of their succession disputes. They settled down successfully in the North of what was then called Northern Rhodesia but did not follow those who migrated to the copper mines and the capital Lusaka during the 1930s. This practice was changed in 1965, after the Second Vatican Council, when a younger group of White Fathers responded to the national requirements of the apostolate.
Around the beginning of the new millennium their missionary endeavour was taken over, almost entirely, by the local clergy.
== Dress and Membership ==
Africa is a continent with high levels of Islamic worship which meant that the White Fathers would wear robes that resembled those of [[Algerian Arab|Algerian Arabs]]. Algerian Arab robes were ones filled with colours and patterns which were known as [[Kaftan|Kaftans]], while the White Father missionaries were purely all white and, in some cases, black. The design was also different as it resembled more of a [[cassock]], which is a coat that is a piece of Christian Clerical clothing and is worn mainly in the Catholic Church. The climate across Africa meant however that wearing the Cassock would not be suitable, so robes were designed with inspiration from a [[Gandoura]], which is a popular article of clothing in Africa made from cotton and a light material, which suits the weather conditions. To accompany this was a long white cloak known as [[Burnous]]. These men would wear a rosary around their neck to show that they were men of religion and prayer, and the rosary resembled the [[Misbaha]] of the [[Marabout|Marabouts]].
== Archives ==
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