Watchtower African Editions

universitystudent

Hi everyone

That’s my first post here. I came to this forum site in hope to find an archive of the Watchtower magazine including all the African editions. I’m currently a student in History and Religious Studies at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland. I’m particularly interested in the History of the Jehova’s Witnesses in Africa.

I have learned that there are different versions of the magazine “Watchtower”, regarding the visual appearance for different cultural backgrounds, because people all over the world are reached by the magazine.

For a small research project, I would like to do a visual analysis of the African version of the Watchtower from the oldest editions up to the year 2016. My research question would be how the Jehova’s Witnesses adapt the Watchtower to different cultural backgrounds through visual communication.

However, I was unable to find editions of the African version of the Watchtower backdating prior to 2011. (On jw.org you can find the Watchtower editions backdating to 2011, but not before. A watchtower archive I stumbled upon on CD includes all the Watchtowers ever printed, but only text, no pictures.) The small span of 2011-2016 is unfortunately not large enough to prevent enough information for a thorough visual analysis.

Therefore, I come to my question: Does anyone know where to find digitalized issues of the African version of the Watchtower prior to 2011? Or do you have any idea where to find an archive of physical examples?

Thanks a lot in advance for your much appreciated answers!

LoisLane looking for Superman

Hello UniversityStudent and welcome.

I wish you much success finding the magazines. it would be interesting to note, through the decades, which African country or tribal group received more attention as cover models including inside photos.

LoisLane

kairos

Welcome.

I hope your research gets the results you seek.

Giordano

Hi Universitystudent,

The Branch offices may be your best bet.

1 Robert Broom Drive East

Rangeview

KRUGERSDORP

1739

SOUTH AFRICA

+27 11-761-1000

I did a Google search as I am sure you did as well.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jehovah%27s_Witnesses_by_country

Country	Population	Publishers	Congregations	Av. Bible Studies	Memorial Attendance
Angola	24,383,301	111,123	1,565	502,848	529,827
Benin	10,880,000	11,716	186	29,253	41,706
Botswana	2,262,000	2,099	46	4,552	6,323
Burkina Faso	18,106,000	1,656	44	3,328	4,499
Burundi	9,231,000	12,577	269	39,049	50,743
Cameroon	22,637,185	37,869	339	73,129	97,390
Cape Verde	545,993	2,098	35	4,423	8,033
Central African Republic	4,900,000	2,544	53	7,874	16,350
Chad	14,037,000	687	17	1,304	4,582
Congo (Democratic Republic)	77,267,000	176,585	3,642	556,852	1,131,161
Congo (Republic)	4,620,000	6,080	77	20,438	25,444
Côte d’Ivoire	22,671,331	10,302	293	28,496	64,724
Equatorial Guinea	810,613	1,653	15	5,801	6,860
Ethiopia	99,391,000	10,013	217	7,570	25,323
Gabon	1,756,708	3,972	38	8,906	11,646
Gambia	1,990,924	230	4	388	579
Ghana	27,451,357	124,004	1,852	400,672	353,891
Guinea	11,750,000	765	19	1,884	3,136
Guinea-Bissau	1,844,325	141	3	507	701
Kenya	47,233,491	26,578	619	46,515	66,820
Lesotho	2,135,000	3,837	90	6,774	10,266
Liberia	4,190,000	6,112	126	21,661	44,716
Madagascar	24,967,390	30,941	696	79,143	131,087
Madeira [note 1]	258,686	1,147	17	825	1,935
Malawi	16,000,000	80,776	1,447	116,274	296,711
Mali	17,599,694	284	7	854	1,163
Mauritius	1,330,000	1,785	25	2,093	4,124
Mayotte [note 2]	230,338	147	3	352	338
Mozambique	25,727,911	53,027	1,154	90,657	291,356
Namibia	2,459,000	2,247	44	4,381	7,726
Niger	19,899,000	272	7	377	805
Nigeria	182,201,962	338,955	6,145	798,359	739,234
Réunion [note 3]	843,617	2,980	37	2,450	6,297
Rodrigues [note 4]	41,669	48	1	65	122
Rwanda	11,262,564	25,061	589	67,184	83,107
Saint Helena [note 5]	4,000	118	3	65	272
São Tomé and Principe	194,006	754	11	3,041	3,226
Senegal	15,129,273	1,168	26	2,010	2,606
Seychelles	91,650	333	4	414	935
Sierra Leone	6,092,000	2,037	37	5,242	9,553
South Africa	54,490,000	96,631	2,108	140,789	250,754
South Sudan	11,864,683	1,218	33	3,132	4,682
Sudan	40,720,640	595	16	1,583	2,308
Swaziland	1,287,000	3,063	92	4,403	8,841
Tanzania	51,420,567	16,129	475	33,373	55,355
Togo	7,305,000	19,067	282	59,501	67,069
Uganda	36,076,000	6,832	142	19,559	23,157
Zambia	15,077,660	171,167	2,806	379,165	809,840
Zimbabwe	15,576,901	43,361	1,185	100,248	114,500

slimboyfat

What an interesting idea. But a difficult ask I'd imagine.

I think there was a brief mention of the different ethnic editions of the magazines in the video about Gilead called something like "To the ends of the earth". Maybe something in the Proclaimers book too or some magazine articles. But actually getting a hold of back issues of these different ethic editions. Good luck!

slimboyfat

Far out idea, but a person to ask might be Firpo Carr, who among other things wrote this pretty strange book.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jehovahs-Witnesses-Connection-Firpo-Carr-ebook/dp/B014I5JXJQ/

Daniel1555

Hello and Welcome

I am living in Bern, very close from you :-)

Before I left, I attended the Bern English Congregation. I often saw the African editions.

For your project it might be good to contact the Branch office in Selters Germany.

I grew up as a JW and left because of conscience reasons and was disfellowshipped because of that.

If you need first hand information about JWs and JW life and also how to be able to exit, you can contact me. I'd be happy to help, especially as we are living so near.

Kind regards

Dani

dropoffyourkeylee

The OP is definitely an interesting idea, and the chief understanding is that it is referring to the legitimate WT Society publications. But be advised that in some parts of Africa there have been some non-legitimate 'Watchtower' religions who have had nothing to do with the Watchtower Society. A few have been little more than a front for a political party or armed bands. I don't know if any of those groups every had publications, but their existence has caused some grief for the JW branches and missionaries.

Watchtower African Editions

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