Leprosy and Christian conversion in twentieth-century Inhambane, Mozambique

Based on observations and interviews carried out in Maputo and Inhambane and on an analysis of primary sources from the Historical Archive of Mozambique, we show how the Africans in contact with the Methodist Episcopal Church were not passive victims of Protestant proselytism in that they showed agency by adapting creatively to exploit its presence in a context of leprosy. The research shows how new identities have been created in the researcher-researched relationship, but also how issues related to cultural shock and gender relations have permeated research in the field.