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When things fall apart Religion in Igbo culture
How is religion viewed when things fall apart
Religion in things fall apart
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Recommended: When things fall apart Religion in Igbo culture
Religion The Igboland culture relies on religion a great deal throughout their tradition. Throughout the novel “Things Fall Apart” one of the major conflicts encountered during the story is based on religion. The dilemma of trying to convert the villagers of the Umuofia tribe from believing in multiple Gods to christianity was a risky task. The novel “Things Fall Apart” portrays real life conflicts and scenarios of religion throughout the Nigerian culture and community. Throughout the novel it was very difficult for many of the village people to grasp the idea of worshipping one God. The Umuofia tribe was very use to the thought of having several Gods that they would praise and consider their higher power. Although, when the idea was first introduced to the villagers it was done peaceful this did not change the fact that this was a major transition. Converting to christianity would be a huge step for the Umuofia tribe, the values and beliefs were totally different in some sort. For example polygamy which is having multiple wives or partners was a common thing for those of the Umuofia tribe. Therefore, …show more content…
Nigeria has now dealt with the problem of being portrayed as a disunity due to the religion controversy that took place throughout the country. Problems based on religion and ethnicity have affected Nigeria in various ways. As a result of the civil war that took place in Nigeria it affected the country as a whole especially when dealing with politics. The conflicts in Nigeria dealing with religion and ethnicity have now grew worse taking a toll on Nigeria’s economy. According to Onaga(2015) Christianity and Islam are now the most powerful religions and traditions throughout Nigeria which have now became avenues for the ethnic ascendancy.(p. 225) During this time period the country being “One Nigeria” a paradise was a constant ongoing
Nigeria has a complex history and though it is independent the effects of British colonization are still present.1#2 Nigeria’s dissension is inextricably linked to the merging of Northern and Southern Nigeria in 1914.2#3 Early missionaries used Western education as a tool for evangelism causing a northerrn pulation dominated by islam to be suspicious and reject Western influences.3 In the south western ideals were more widely accepted as a result of their acceptance to Christianity and evangelism. Due to their easy acceptance of westernization the British built schools, roads and infrastructure in the South, none of which appeared in the North.
One custom of Umuofia that would be very different from Western culture is Polygamy, the practice of having many wives. This custom is practiced in the connected nine villages of Umuofia. In fact, a man's wealth is partially measured by the number of wives he has. A wealthy man described in Things Fall Apart, had nine wives and thirty children. Okonkwo had three wives and eight children.
The novel Things Fall Apart written by Chinua Achebe highlights the many important historical events that happened during the period of colonialism, spread of religious fervor to Africa from Europe, and the importance of the native religion among African societies. Achebe shows that religion holds a major influence in many African societies and influences the daily life of the natives. Furthermore, the novel introduces a major event that happen during pre-colonial Africa, the spread of the Christian faith, which forever changed and affected the natives in Africa, more specifically the Igbo society located in Nigeria. Things Fall Apart vividly describes and explains how the Christian faith that arrived in Africa changed both the individuals in the Umoufia and society. To add on, the novel shows how the spread of Christianity ultimately leads to the destruction of the many native African cultures, and shows what redeeming qualities that arise from the destruction of their culture. Achebe describes how the Christian faith acts as a guide to the Igbo society and at the same time acts as the inevitable downfall of the Igbo society.
During the late nineteenth century Christianity is introduced to Africa, which brings conflict and unrest. In Chinua Achebe’s novel, Things Fall Apart, he portrays a cultural and religious struggle between the native Igbo people and the Christians. When the Christians become involved in the Igbo community things change. The Igbo and Christians have different beliefs about the spiritual world and this causes tension between the cultures. The differing spiritual customs of the two religions break them apart even further. Finally the destruction of the Igbo culture happens as a result of contradictory beliefs based on kinship ties within the religions. The differences between the religions are the ultimate downfall of the Igbo culture and both religions contribute to this demise equally. Understanding the dissimilarity between the Igbo religion and Christianity allows the reader to fully apprehend the reason for the eradication of the Igbo culture.
...y consulted their oracle. Yet, the underlying forces at work behind the missions, as well as their inextricable links with commercial activities should never be overlooked. From the outset, the missions were seen as ideal vehicles for gaining the trust and confidence of the tribal leaders, before the real monied interest moved in. It could argued that the missions were one part of the wheel of business and economics that starting to turn in Nigeria, while a substitute for slaves was sought. The humanitarian touch they seemed to bring disguised these motives behind a facade of peaceful and beneficent civilisation. It would be naive to assume that the missionaries were innocently unaware of the drastic consequences their opening of the African heartland would bring. In this sense they must, at least in part, be held answerable for the colonial predicament of Nigeria.
...to their clan, the faith in their gods, the villagers quickly gave up their possessions to follow this loving, accepting way of life that the clan had. denied them. Works Cited and Consulted Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. Oxford: Heinemann, 1996.
As the British colonized the areas of Nigeria inhabited by the Ibo, they brought with them their new religion of Christianity, which sought to overrun the traditional animist way of life that had endured in the area for centuries. The new religion was treated with skepticism early on, but the lure of the wealth that British traders brought into the city, along with the support of the British government and judicial system eventually displaced Ibo society completely. Although many historians make the assertion that the tribes’ conversion to Christianity by English missionaries was responsible, even noble, the truth is that the fragmentation of Ibo culture was not for the love of God, but for the love of money and power.
There are many different religions in the world but they are all capable of doing similar things. Religion plays a significant role in the book Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. In this book religion is important to the people of Umuofia ,which is the village where the protagonist, Okonkwo lives. The people of the village believed there was only one religion ,and when another religion was introduced to them they would not believe in it. This religion was Christianity. During the novel the power of religion both guides and destroys the society of Umuofia.
Chapter 17 of Things Fall Apart, goes in explicit details of the horrible traditions the Umuofia tribe has embedded deeply into the bases of their society. Abnormal events or people were seen as works of the devil and immediately disposed of “She had borne twins, and they had been immediately thrown away” (151). Another instance is when the outcasts or osu go to Church after seeing how they accept “abominations” such as the mother who only bore twins. The only difference between the osu and average people were that they were forbidden to cut their hair “he [Mr. Kiaga] ordered the outcasts to shave off their long, tangled hair. At first they were afraid they might die[...]
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 itself, in both a sophisticated and primitive light describing and discussing its grandeur, showing its strengths and weaknesses, etiquettes and incivilities, and even the beginning of cultural breakdown before the introduction of the missionaries. The collapse of the old culture is evident soon after the missionaries arrived, and here Achebe utilises two of the primary missionary figures, Mr. Brown and Mr. Smith, to once again depicts both sides of the Ibo culture between them, with Mr. Brown depicting the sophisticated and Mr. Smith depicting the primitive aspects.
...’s depictions of both traditional and modern beliefs in varying degrees illustrate the importance of both in contemporary Nigerian culture, as well as the greater Africa as a whole, and how both are intertwined and cannot exist without the other. In effect, she skillfully subverts stereotypes or single perceptions of Africa as backward and traditional, proving instead, the multifaceted culture of Africa. She further illustrates that neither traditional African nor western culture is necessarily detrimental. It is the stark contrast of the fundamental cultures that inevitably leads to clashes and disagreements. In the end, what holds African countries such as Nigeria together is their shared pride. Modern, western influences can bring positive changes to society, but new cultures cannot completely eradicate the foundational cultures to which a society is founded on.
A small village in Nigeria, devoted to the sacred customs inherited over many years, dramatically revolutionizes as the white men from Europe invade Umuofia. Umuofia consists of a religion called Igbo, that the people in the community dote towards. Okonkwo, a man of leadership in Umuofia, apprehends the strife the white men bear. Hardship after hardship, Okonkwo subsists to the challenging transformation of his village. Chinua Achebe suggests that the missionaries promoting Christianity in his novel, Things Fall Apart, guides the Igbo society by providing refuge to the outcasts and bringing wealth to the village, but also destroys the society by decimating community.