How Does Christianity Affect The Igbo Culture

Religion and sacred tradition often play an integral part in the structure and stability of a society. The Ibo

“The court messenger, the emissary of the white man who had destroyed the world he loved, stood in his path” (Champion 276). Upon his return from exile Okonkwo can no longer bear his people because “The new religion and the government and the trading stores were very much in the people’s eyes and minds. It is evident to Okonkwo that his forefather’s clan, that he has left behind is a new culture that is in transition to become a whole new society. As Champion states in his article of the “story of a man and his people”, “Okonkwo's bitterness is the bitterness of one generation as it helplessly watches another destroying the values by which that past generation has lived.” (276). In short, the British has successful win over all the Igbo’s noble men that could stand against the imperialistic matching through the Igbo

In the novel Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, religion, an indispensable tradition is celebrated within the Igbo people. The Igbo people, hosts gatherings, worship, and celebrate their ancestors. They are polytheistic, in other words, they believe in many gods. The Igbo people also believe in sacrifices to their ancestors and crimes are considered as sins. Their ancestors and gods serve as a role model, or a sculpture, to whom they worship and sacrifice in Igbo society. However, the arrival of the European Missionaries not only brings tremendous changes to Igbo religion and culture, but also creates conflicts among them.

Chinua Achebe’s, Things Fall Apart, is a story of a traditional village in Nigeria from inside Umuofia around the late 1800s. This novel depicts late African history and shows how the British administrative structure, in the form of the European Anglican Church, imposed its religion and trappings on the cultures of Africa, which they believed was uncivilized. This missionary zeal subjugated large native populations. Consequently, the native traditions gradually disappeared and in time the whole local social structure within which the indigenous people had lived successfully for centuries was destroyed. Achebe spends the first half of the novel depicting the Ibo culture, by

In a society, religion is supposed to unite people that share a common belief and create peace, but in Umuofia and the other villages in Nigeria, it tears everyone and everything apart. In Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, the Igbo religion was dominant in Umuofia prior to the Christian missionaries arrival. Everyone followed its teachings, despite how they made them feel. The villagers did what the religious figure (the Oracle) told them to, even if that meant killing someone that they loved. As a result of this, some relationships between people were changed. Despite some of the harsh teachings from the Igbo religion, society was united with a universal belief system. However, the day that the first Christian missionary arrived, this would forever be changed. Not only did the new religion transform relationships between people as well as change people individually (just like the Igbo religion did in some cases), but it also brought destruction to Umuofia and its neighboring villages. In Things Fall Apart, Achebe argues that religion has the power to destruct and change relationships, convince people to convert, and to break apart a society.

In his novel Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe introduces his readers to the Nigerian village Umuofia and its culture through the protagonist, Okonkwo, a well respected Umuofian leader. Umuofian culture is centered around pleasing and respecting spiritual life. Everything within this culture and religion has a specific order; however, the Umuofian culture ultimately reaches its demise when Evangelists arrive to convert the Umuofians to Christianity. As seen through the events that transpire in this novel, from Nwoye leaving his family to letting the osu have a place in society, religion has the potential to both build and break a society. Specifically, religion has the power to break apart families, introduce new ideas into society, and bring hope into one’s life.

During the African colonization period, Western beliefs greatly impacted the African mindset and belief system. In the novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe the impact of Western beliefs is very evident. The novel focuses on pre- and post- colonial life in Nigeria. It was among the first novels to be recognized globally by an African author, and it is widely read in modern African literature. The story is about the fall of the main character Okonkwo as well as the Igbo culture. European beliefs clashed with the traditions that are rooted deep into the society of this Nigerian community. The Igbo, especially Okonkwo, at first try to fight the influence of the evangelists; nevertheless the arrival of Christianity largely affects the Igbo religion,

One of the major flaws in society is the lack of people with strong convictions. While Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Abeche, is a novel revealing how the European invasion ultimately leads to the destruction of the African society, Chinua demonstrates an underlying message about how some internal flaws also lead to a person’s or society’s demise. The way people begin to follow the ways of the Christians and the lack of action regarding the missionary invasions are key factors in the ruin of the Ibo society. As a whole, the Ibo people do not stand on a clear conviction; thus they fall for another belief. A major cause of the collapse of Okonkwo’s society is the scarcity of attempts to stop the missionary invasion.

The novel, Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe centers around a man named Okonkwo, and it explores Igbo culture through two tribes that Okonkwo is a part of, the Umuofia and the Mbanta. The novel demonstrates a number of core aspects of the Igbo culture which include religion, tradition, discipline, and unity. After exploring these aspects of Igbo culture, the novel shows how they are affected and changed by European colonialism. Achebe specifically uses interactions between Okonkwo, his tribes, and European missionaries to portray what happened to Igbo culture once European colonialism was introduced.

In Things Fall Apart, religion is a strong influence over government. Before the missionaries arrived, all of the rules and superstitions in the village were made in correlation with the Igbo culture. Their multiple gods all serve different purposes and influence their lifestyle in different ways. When the missionaries arrived, they tried to take control, denying the Igbo culture and religion. With the introduction of Christianity in Things Fall Apart, the missionaries not only tear down Igbo culture, but also replace the government with one of their own.

A major aspect of one’s society is religion. Without it, the way people hold themselves accountable would be nonexistent. In addition, many moral standards that exist today are values taken directly from religions such as Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Currently, there exists a feud between people who believe in a god, and of those who do not. Eventually those who believe in a higher power will fight against each other. In “Things Fall Apart”, Chinua Achebe brings to light the differences and similarities of Christianity and Animism in order to demonstrate the effects of religion upon one’s society, which is exemplified by Okonkwo and his people. This is noticed in the lives of the Ibo, the missionaries, and

Ultimately religion is the number one change through out the novel. When the white man first arrives he has little luck gaining converts, but the more he preaches his religion and the differences in Christianity to the Igbo people the more people convert. Most of these people have felt pain from this religion; such as the women who only birthed twins that were thrown into the dark forest would be able to safely deliver twins. “There is only one true God and he has the earth, the sky, you and me and all of us” (126). Religion is also relates to the destruction of the culture because the people are lead to believe their gods are only myths and fairytales and not the true god. Conversion to Christianity is also the reason for many distractions

The novel “Things Fall Apart” written by Chinua Achebe, is a tale based on the traditional beliefs and customs of an Ibo village during late 1800’s Africa. Through the telling of this story, we witness the remarkable depth of Igbo culture through its functions of religion, politics, judiciary and entertainment.

In Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, son of esteemed tribe member of the Umuofia tribe, Nwoye explicates the struggle between conforming to African social norms and his individualistic desire to follow Christianity. Nwoye’s internal conflict between socially imposed notions and personal ideals portrays his struggle to define his individualistic sense of self-identity, as he must respond to his tribe’s “effeminate” notions versus his personal regard to the Christian church. His ultimate response to this cultural collision explicates his ability to overcome societal boundaries, and his ability to define his individualistic sense of self-identity.

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe was wrote in 1958 as a response to European Literature viewing Africans as savages who were then enlightened and found peace and safety by the Europeans. Chinua describes the Igbo people and showed the culture and showing the way of life of the Igbo people. This book shows this powerful and eye opening look into the complex society of these tribes and villages and how law and order is run. The major theme that is I will focus is that traditional development of the Igbo tribe alone and with the influence of the Europeans.