Jomo Kenyatta, reported in John Frederick Walker, A Certain Curve of Horn: The Hundred-Year Quest for the Giant Sable Antelope of Angola (2004), p. 144; also attributed to Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
“
When the Missionaries arrived, the Africans had the Land and the Missionaries had the Bible. They taught us how to pray with our eyes closed. When we opened them, they had the land and we had the Bible.
— Jomo Kenyatta on Missionaries
What It Means
This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "When the Missionaries arrived, the Africans had the Land and the Missionaries had the Bible. They taught us how to pray with our eyes closed. When we opened them, they had the land and we had the Bible." in the context of "Jomo Kenyatta, reported in John Frederick Walker, A Certain Curve of Horn: The Hundred-Year Quest for the Giant Sable Antelope of Angola (2004), p. 144; also attributed to Archbishop Desmond Tutu." to mean that wisdom is timeless.
Source: Wikiquote: "Missionaries" (Quotes)
The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
About Jomo Kenyatta
Jomo Kenyatta (20 October 1892? – 22 August 1978) was an African social activist and politician; the first Prime Minister (1963–1964) and first President (1964–1978) of an independent Kenya; born Kamau wa Ngengi, he was baptized John Peter in 1914, later changing his name to Johnstone Kamau, and finally to Jomo Kenyatta.
About Jomo Kenyatta
Jomo Kenyatta (20 October 1892? – 22 August 1978) was an African social activist and politician; the first Prime Minister (1963–1964) and first President (1964–1978) of an independent Kenya; born Kamau wa Ngengi, he was baptized John Peter in 1914, later changing his name to Johnstone Kamau, and finally to Jomo Kenyatta.
View all quotes →