SPREAD OF CHRISTIANITY IN IGBOMINALAND: STRATEGIES, CHALLENGES AND RESPONSES, 1895-1960
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Date
2020
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Ilorin Journal of History and International Studies (IJOHIS)
Abstract
No matter how economic scholars seem to over-justify the economic motive as the basis of colonialism in Africa, other factors are also tenable as multi-causal theories allow for multiple factors to underpin any historical event. One of the motives of the Portuguese explorations of the coasts of West Africa in the 15th century was the spread of the Christian faith. Hitherto, in most published works on the history of Christianity in Nigeria, enough light has been shed on the abortive attempts in Benin and Warri in the 15th century and the successful establishment of Christianity in Nigeria in the 19th century when it in most cases met on ground, (African) Traditional Religion and Islam. However, the challenges to Christian mission activities via the adopted strategies and consequent indigenous responses often remain neglected. This study examined the advent of Christianity through the agents of its spread, the Christian Missions/missionaries and their adopted strategies. The data used in this historical research were mainly from primary and secondary sources. Findings reveal that there were pockets of the Igbomina in Diaspora who were already Christian converts before Christianity found its way to Igbominaland, noticeable as from 1895. The efforts of liberated indigenes or early converts cannot also be swept under the carpet. Challenges however, became inevitable but not insurmountable. To the first generation of missionaries, expansion was hindered by innumerable forces, as well as, the Islamization of many traditional Igbomina. Consequently, responses to Christian Mission activities took different patterns. It is concluded that though the enduring nature of Christianity in the face of challenges and hostilities made modifications and syncretism inevitable, it has played a distinctively civilizing and transformative role in Igbominaland.
Description
The focus of the is paper is spread of Christianity in Igbominaland, the people that are majorly found in Kwara and Osun states today. Even though evidence revealed that there were some liberated indigenes or early converts who had embraced Christianity in diaspora, the history of Christianity can first be traced to Ora-Igbomina in 1895. The paper thus discussed an epoch in Igbomina history and the incursion of Christianity alongside the strategies, challenges and responses.
Keywords
Spread, Christianity, Igbominaland, Strategies, Challenges, Responses, Spread, Christianity, Igbominaland, Strategies, Challenges, Responses, Spread, Christianity, Igbominaland, Strategies, Challenges, Responses, Spread, Christianity, Igbominaland, Strategies, Challenges, Responses
Citation
MLA, Pp. 100-120