As of 1900, the area that had been administered by the British Niger Company became the Protectorate on Southern Nigeria, also incorporating what had been called the Niger Coast Protectorate. Elizabeth Isichei Alo in her book: Igbo people had first contact with Europeans in the mid-fifteenth century with the advent of the Portuguese. With the arrival of the new culture, Okonkwo felt immensely conflicted, he lived to challenge the Europeans and all his thoughts along with what he spoke was directed against the newly arrived Christians. The final conclusion of the Obadya Alliance Rabbinate was that "Igbos are to be treated as Israelites, in every sense of the word, and also their priestly and Levite lineages should be upheld as . The present Igbo population is above nine million. Christianity has contributed a lot in modernizing some ethos in Igbo traditional religion through dialogue, like the issue of twins and burial of an elderly person. Christian religion in AG to expose the Igbo traditional cosmology which is the basis of indigenous Igbo political and religious attitude to life as well as its relevance to the contemporary Igbo. With the similarities being the belief in one god, the belief in a divine affinity with our ancestors, and other important values. In Chapter 16 we are given a very clear explanation of the differences between the two different religions. Although the proper name of God in Igbo is debatable as Aro-Chukwu, people claim that the name is coined from them; this study focuses on the name Chukwu or Chineke. What is the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution for Things Fall Apart? On the other hand, Christianity is a very common religion that is practiced all over the world. A Study of Religious Change in a Christian Heartland. Akunna attempts to explain that the natives also have a supreme deity named Chukwu, and the various objects they worship are minor gods that act as Chukwu's messengers. Unlike the colonial encounter, which was marked by antagonism and the rejection of Igbo traditional belief, this study argues for a relationship that needs to be identified with communal reverence, comprehension, acceptance and free will, emancipation and authenticity in this era. Latest answer posted February 08, 2022 at 1:56:37 PM. Nevertheless, as the incarnation and Christianity happened in a space, so does Igbo Traditional Religion. The third influence is on the education provided in the Igbo community. The Igbo people (English: / i b o / EE-boh, US also / b o / IG-boh; also spelled Ibo and formerly also Iboe, Ebo, Eboe, Eboans, Heebo; natively d gb) are an ethnic group in Nigeria.They are primarily found in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo States.A sizable Igbo population is also found in Delta and Rivers States. Some of these prisoners have thrown away their twins, while some have molested Christians (Achebe 174). The white missionary begins by explaining that there is only one God and tells the clansmen that their numerous gods are nothing but stone and wood. Already a member? These foreign forces inflicted derision on the traditional religion, categorizing them as heathenism, paganism, uncivilized, and of the evil one. In the book, the Christian missionaries came in and harshly tried to convert everyone from the Ibo religion to Christianity. This passage of the Scripture, is often referred to as the Golden Rule. Two questions in particular come up that show the differences, firstly focussing on the monotheistic (having only one god) element of Christianity: At this point an old man said he had a question. <>>> The conflicts that exist between traditional religion and Christianity in Igbo land are moral, ideological, and physical, though more moral than physical in the sense that the moral conflict did not develop into a serious civil struggle between the traditionalists and Christians. Later in the history of the movement, when there are 100,000 Christians, the same annual growth rate will yield 3,000 converts; when there are 1 million Christians, 30,000 converts. Chinua Achebe describes the impact of Christianity towards the Ibos of Umuofia in his historic novel Things Fall Apart. This collision shapes the meaning of the novel as a whole by symbolizing many things and relating back to many important quotes in the book that help develop the plot., Until the arrival of the European missionaries, nobody, including Okonkwo, has ever learned about or considered another religion. After Christianity was introduced the Igbo tribe experienced many changes, such as changes to weddings, jobs, and school systems. A typical example is an incident that happened in Awka, Anambra State when late Archbishop A.K. People strongly come to believe that converting to Christianity leads to peace and that Christianity is superior to the Igbo religion and its beliefs (in the power of magic, bad luck, spirits). Many religions come together to worship different gods which give people a common interest. ; (0o? Ozala, Onitsha Nigeria: typed script in the C.M.S. "Describe the differences between Christianity and the religion of the Igbo community in Things Fall Apart." This sudden and unexpected approach to the idea of change did not sit well with most people. Africa is very well known for their long history, dating back to two million years ago, and their ancient ethnic customs have lived on since (African History). Often considered a Christian heartland in Nigeria, Igboland has recently seen a dramatic increase in Igbo Christians converting to Islam. According to Ilogu, three types of human sacrifice had existed in Igbo culture before the arrival of Christianity. An additional Igbo value which the missionaries attacked through their catechesis, particularly through the school children, was the respect for seniors, parents and traditional rulers like kings and chiefs. Edubirdie. The Igbo Christians in Awka were not allowed to participate in this act. 4 0 obj We also learn about Igbo religion and customs and see how religion is a fundamental pillar in Igbo society, which will be examined in this essay. Previous to the arrival of the white men in Umuofia, decisions were made by the clan leaders, the men with respected titles throughout the communities. Before western influence, borrowing and sharing were key components of Igbo culture, and money was not seen as essential. Amsterdam-New York: Wird Gemeinsam Von Rodopi. By. It has lured many loyal servants of the Igbo gods away from their religion and has replaced Igbo oracles and an effective legal system for Churches and an unfair set of new laws. It is received by oral authority by one generation and transmitted by the same pro-cess to subsequent generations and, thus, has effect of being widely diffused among its adherents and of deeply coloring their consciousness. There is a huge difference between the Ibo Clan religion and Christianity, it will be shown., Things fall apart, the center cannot hold. It was even said that they had hanged one man who killed a missionary (Achebe 155). African Traditional Religion has no specific founder whereas Christianity has its founder who is Supreme God. <>/Font<>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/Annots[ 29 0 R 30 0 R] /MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> Odita was questioned why he did not do the customary courtesy to the king which was to kneel and bow the head to the ground in front of the King. This essay sample was donated by a student to help the academic community. Throughout history, many have argued that a society stripped of its culture is a society stripped of its soul. Psychology Press. The following is an excerpt from pages 199-200 of Traditional Igbo Beliefs and Practices by IK Ogbukagu. between Christianity and Igbo traditional religion in Nigeria. However, these two central issues become incredibly important when we think about the impact of Christianity upon tribal religion, as we can see the massive gulf in understanding that exists between the two groups. He traces back the roots of his people to the moment when [they] lost [their] initiative to other people, to colonizers (Appiah). Contrary to antagonism and rejection that marked the first encounter between Christianity and Igbo traditional belief, this study argues for a relationship that needs to be identified with communal reverence, comprehension, acceptance, and some level of free will, emancipation and authenticity in this postcolonial era. It was said that they had built a place of judgment in Umuofia to protect the followers of their religion. The white man had indeed brought a lunatics religion, but he had also built a trading store and for the first time palm oil and kernel became things of great price, and much money flowed into Umuofia (Achebe 178). 2023 EduBirdie.com. Achebe did not like how the Europeans and the Igbo people interacted with each other. Christians were taught never to swear an oath in shrines. In contrast, the Igbo villagers are polytheistic and believe in the power of their ancestral spirits. The Western teachings in schools and in Christianity made Igbo children see the cultural practices of their parents as demonic. What is the conflict in Things Fall Apartby Chinua Achebe? Our writers will provide you with an essay sample written from scratch: any topic, any deadline, any instructions. Saadatu Abdullahi, a Muslim of Igbo extraction who lives in Kaduna, was educated at the Federal College of Education (T) in Yobe State. This paper is concerned with the encounter between Christianity and Igbo traditional religion in Nigeria. The first encounter of Igbo Traditional Religion with Christianity and Western culture was marked by antagonism and the rejection of Igbo traditional belief as &ldquo;pagan&rdquo; and &ldquo;devilish.&rdquo; A decisive overview by some scholars on belief and worship systems shows that Igbo traditional religion has components of monotheism, polytheism and pantheism. How Are The Core Beliefs Of Christianity Able To Live Alongside? Umuofia is the village where they practice the Ibo religion. Through witnessing the way in which the westerners traded, the Igbo expand their knowledge about trading and grew more aware of the characteristics of foreign markets. igbo religion vs christianity - Example. Yoruba people tend to have a bit of more watery skin than Igbo who have a harder body due to the kind of food they eat. In a land where ancestral spirits hold powers to the Ibos, it settles in section three when Mr.Brown (the father of the Christian church) preaches the Christian faith by using a translator towards the Ibos. Umuofia is the village where they practice the Ibo religion. Through the introduction of western trade, a contest has been created within Umuofia, one in which people aspire to obtain the greatest financial success possible. Christianity is one of the most followed religions in the whole world with about 2.1 billion followers globally and has been existent for over 2000 years. In this regard, Christians can then see how their accustomed traditions can serve as a new avenue for the exaltation of God in Jesus Christ. He was unoccupied, poor, libertine, gentle, interested in conversation and in music more than anything else. 1 (March 1971): 113. Start your 48-hour free trial to get access to more than 30,000 additional guides and more than 350,000 Homework Help questions answered by our experts. For example, The West African Pilot, a nationalistic newspaper founded in 1937 by Nnamdi Azikiwe, an Igbo trained in the United States, became influential and was a ready medium for much critical opinion about the work of the missions. Private individuals and the government started opening and owning schools which later transitioned from being the churchs form of evangelization to a lucrative business. Obeah, or Obayi, is a series of African diasporic spell-casting and healing traditions found in the former British colonies of the Caribbean. The quote displays the effect that Mr. Brown has upon the community, and shows how people within the Igbo are eager to learn. Although Christianity storms through Umuofia and greatly impacts the Igbo lifestyle, it does bring about economic developments to the community. Christians in various Igbo communities still perform the second burial to maintain the traditional practice of past generations even without official approval by the church. Throughout his novel Achebe shows the effects the Ibo culture experiences when Christian colonizers arrive., Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, was a terrific book because it elicited many emotions, from sympathy towards Okonkwos bitterness due to his childhood, intrigue of the customs I was unfamiliar with and anger towards the sacrifice of Ikemefuna. As a result of the Church being built, fueled by the many workers attempting to spread their western ideas throughout Umuofia, much of the Igbo tribe decides to convert to Christianity. Udeani CC (2007). These Europeans were colonizing Africa with the intentions of setting up Christian missionaries. endobj Igbo People - Origin and History. With pollution, deforestation and climate change being in the top three issues that need addressing, the world has started to take action. Black participation within a Euro-American Christian context evolved to rinse Euro-American denominations from their unprecedented sin of exploitation performed against enslaved Africans, and to paint African religious practices as demonic. In this way, the Church in Igbo-land can hope to become an indigenous Church. Thus we see frequent worship of the earth and her bounty, especially at the new year and during harvest season. How is it related to the protagonist and notions of community? Next to the ancestors are the oracles. Cf. In this essay, the author. How does the Igbo belief in God, the spirit world and the ancestors? Ilogu E (1914). This causes a cultural collision between Okonkwo and Nwoye because Nwoye wants to become a Christian, but Okonkwo doesnt like the white men or Christianity. Traditional Igbo religion has many similarities to modern-day Christianity, which is why many Ibo people have adjusted and are now practicing Christians. the wrong Ibo spelling of the colonial era. Compare And Contrast Igbo And Christianity In Things Fall Apart. There had been twenty-one British military troops among the Igbo people between 1900 and 1914, when Northern and Southern Nigeria were amalgamated. TG;0+s M&MYS,1hNRQ$313X]6iT=x5p'\OY~%-1WK4 K\LthY~;aKTVl`fF ,5 &BQRZ\4U&2^TqrQk4r h~9\lc`*q0q*|E02X/Znw=Lsr'\M/]Kp? They finally came up with the agreement that the Igbo Christians would still do the traditional marriage without the killing of a hen and spreading the blood on the shrine In line with the above-mentioned practical example, this study suggests that the reverence to the ancestors in Igbo Traditional Religion need to be well studied in Christian perspective. The existence of oracles is still felt in most Igbo religious practices even in this modern era. They were not all young, these people who came to learn (Achebe 181). He specifically aims to teach people of different age groups, in hopes to influence the greatest possible number of converts who would accept the switch to Christianity. He answered that he was taught at school that kneeling was only for prayer and bowing down in deep reverence was only done to God. All rights reserved The missionary responds that the plethora of gods the tribe has are not gods at all, and there is only one true God: the God of Christianity. Christians were taught to desist from paying the extended family and village levies for various activities since a piece is used in sacrifice to idols. The next question deals with the worship of ancestors, as another member of the tribe asks how they will be protected from the wrath of these neglected deities and the ancestors if they worship this new god. The five major world religions give humans a moral framework on how to live their life. She observes with genuine reverence ways of acting and living, rules and doctrines which, though may differ on many points from what the Church teaches but it often reflects a ray of truth enlightening all men. Most of these formalized interactions occur in an attempt to show respect to some external being - another man, an ancestral spirit, or a god. This Igbo religion, where the Gods speak directly with the people as Divine entities and tells them what actions must be committed, clashes heavily with the British Christian faith brought to them. %PDF-1.5 The human relationship to these should be compared to the Christian faith. While some religions prohibit the consumption of certain foods and drinks, others have periods of fasting. This was reflected in Taylors journal for December 29, 1863. This led to the desertion of the efficient teachings of Christian doctrines until after the 1967-1970 Nigerian civil war, when the schools were finally taken over by the government. The novel by Chinua Achebe called Things Fall Apart was first published in 1958. The Igbo believe that there are multiple gods and goddesses representing . The missionaries say We have been sent by the Great God to ask you to leave your evil ways and false gods and turn to Him so that you may be saved when you die (Achebe 145). A name with an insignia is given to the z man at the successful end of the title taking. Christianity broadly consists of individuals who believe in the deity Jesus Christ. This religion remained intact and continued in existence prior to the arrival of Europeans. Religions have significantly impacted cultural evolution of mankind being inseparable part of world history. All these suggestions are the logical upshot of this paper which seeks to define Christian normative values by which Igbo people can live within their traditional culture and gradually transform, without compulsion, some of the main institutions of that culture, into an avenue for the normal expression of Christian virtues. Some even paid huge amounts of money before they were able to rescue somebody. By imbibing into its symbolic and cultural life, the living institutions of the peoples way of life, there will be the elimination of the offensive practice of Christians being divorced from their own culture. In the books first part, religion acts as the glue holding together the structure of Ibo society: it is the basis that helps to found the societys rituals, moral code, and gender roles. The Igbo-land is also surrounded by other tribes like, Urhobo, Itsekiri, Ijaw, Ogoni, Igala, Tiv, Yako and Ibibio. The book tells the story of Okonkwo, the main character in the book, and his approach towards Christianity and the new Umuofia after being sent in exile. The twin children would be destroyed; otherwise, the land that had been defiled would incur the rage of the ancestral spirits, which would cause an epidemic for the community, since the natural concord between human, the spirit world, and the universe, had been shattered. Umuofia, after the arrival of the Christians, has experienced a period of economic growth and prosperity as a result of new and improved trading mechanisms, in addition to a more diverse and unique market. And some practice a synthetic version of Christianity mixed with Ibo indigenous beliefs. This paper studies the confrontation between Christianity and the Igbo religion in Chinua Achebe's first novel in the context of colonialist appropriation. The implementation of Christian trading techniques has proved to be very beneficial to the Igbo people. There is also the belief that ancestors protect their . The soul of a human being is drawn to a religion that speaks to the mind. In a bid to infiltrate Christian normative values into the cultural life of the Igbo, the z title needs to be included in Christian value as part of the Christianization of Igbo life.
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