Colonialism and Christianity in West Africa: the Igbo case, 1900–1915

Abstract

A critical examination of the forces behind Igbo acceptance of Christianity during the first decade of this century reveals that British military imperialism and other forms of colonial exploitation were in fact basic to the decision of many Igbo communities to embrace Christianity. The adoption of the Christian religion, especially by the male adults, may be seen as a clear method of adjusting to the new colonial regime in which Christianity offered visible social advantages. Communities which embraced the new religion believed that by associating with the Christian missionaries, they would perhaps escape various forms of colonial over-rule.The expansion of British political authority in the Igbo country, therefore, widened the frontiers of missionary enterprise. And as the Christian missions found the Igbos remarkably receptive to missionary propaganda, each was more than anxious to exert its denominational influence on the people. Thus interdenominational rivalry, especially between the Roman Catholics and the Protestants, was acute. For various reasons, the Roman Catholic missionaries seem to have established a more preponderating influence than the other Protestant societies.

History, Community Milieu, and Christian‐Muslim Differentials in Contraceptive Use in Sub‐Saharan Africa

“…As a result, in Tanzania the Muslim‐Christian boundaries did not follow ethnic boundaries as closely as they did in Nigeria, where ethnic and religious divisions intertwined and reinforced each other. To be sure, throughout most of Tanzania's colonial history and especially under the British rule, Christianity “offered visible social advantage” (Ekechi 1971:115) as Christian converts were subject to less discriminatory policies and were rewarded with Western education, which often opened doors to employment in colonial government (Chande 1998; Ekechi 1971). Yet, although Muslims’ influence and power were considerably undermined during colonialism, the colony's social hierarchy, first established by Germans and later reinforced by the British, was based more on race than religion or ethnicity.…”

Borders That Divide: Education and Religion in Ghana and Togo Since Colonial Times

“…Christian missionaries offered a powerful alliance to deal with European colonizers(Oliver 1952) Ekechi (1971). andDer (1974) emphasized the ability to escape the chiefs' authority as an important motive.4 As exception to the rule, there were instances where African rulers actively shaped the border, seeTouval (1966) andGriffiths (1986).…”

Missions, Education and Conversion in Colonial Africa

“…The new set of socio-economic and political institutions implemented by European colonial regimes affected African perceptions of the benefits associated with formal education and adherence to the Christian church (Frankema 2012). Mission schooling, especially by males, became seen as one method of adjusting to the new colonial realities in which literacy skills and Christian adherence offered visible social advantages (Ekechi 1971). Formal education was not only linked to new employment opportunities and social mobility (Wantchekon et al 2015) but also promised a significant skill premium for African men in the colonial wage economy (Frankema and Van Waijenburg 2012).…”