university of nigeria missionary...list of krrreviattons a.1 .c .e. &lvan i ko~u c ollege of...
TRANSCRIPT
University of Nigeria Research Publications
ODIFE, Ikenna
Aut
hor
PG/M.A/91/12185
Title
Christian Missionary Enterprise in Ihiala 1908-1970
Facu
lty
Arts
Dep
artm
ent
History
Dat
e
September,1996
Sign
atur
e
C H R I S T I A N M-!-SSIONAZY E N T E R P R I S E
I N I H I P , L A : 1908-1970
I:.
O D I F E , I K E N N A
. . . I
x PROJECT REPORT -FRZXNTED TO THE 'DEPARTMENT
OF H I S T O R Y , UNIVERSITY O F N I G E R I A , ' NSUKKA I N
P A R T I A L F U L F I L M E N T O F T H E R E Q U I R E M E N T S FOR
T H E AWARD O F MASTEi< O F A R T S .
APPROVAL PAGE
This p r o j e c t t e p o r t h a s been approved
f o r t h e Depa r tmen t o f H i s t o r y , U n i v e r s i t y of
l ! i g e r i a , Nsukka,
iii .
CERTIFICATION
ODIFE, IKENNA' a p o s t g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t w i t h
t h e Department of H i s t w y and wi th t h e r e g i s t r a t i o n
number PGhA/91/12805 h a s s a t i s f a c t o r i l y completed
t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s f .or t h e d e g r e e of MASTER. OF ARTS
I N HISTORY.
The work embodied i n t h i s , p r o j e c t r e p o r t i s
o r i g i n a l and h a s n o t been s u b m i t t e d i n p a r t o r f u l l
f o r any o t h e r Diploma o r Degree of t h i s o r any o t h e r
U n i v e r s i t y .
DR. J.D..; ITQMA'"' HEAD OF DEPARTMENT
REV.FR..(DR.)"'I..R.A. OZIGBOH SUPERVISOR.
DEDICATION
T h i s p r o j e c t i s d e d i c a t e d t o my p a r e n t s , ' .
M r . B . C . O d i f e (C.B. B r i g h t ) and Mrs. C.O. Odi fe )
my b r o t h e r , Amara, and s i s t e r s : Uche, Chioma
and N j ideka .
F i v e c h r i s t i a n mi : . s ions p r o s e l y t i z e d I h i a l a i n t h e
p e r i o d 1908-1970. They were; t h e A n g l i c a n C h u r c h (C.M. L. )
1 9 0 8 , tile homan C a t h o l i c C h u r c h (Fi.c.Fi.) 1 9 1 1 ; t h e F a i t h
T a u e r v l a c l e c o n g r e y & t i o n C h u r c h , 1 9 3 3 ; t h e J e h o v a ' s w i t n e s s e s
C h u r c h 1948; a n d c h r i s t Ho ly C h u r c h ( O d o z i O b o d o ) 1968 .
T r l e i r ail11 was to c o n v e r t t h e p e o p l e to c h r i s t i a n i t y . b e s i d e s I
t h i s , t h e y desired t o a t t r a c t c o n v e r t s t o t h e i r m i s s i o n s
a n d t o h a v e a p r e p o n d e r a n t r r l~ rn f se r sh ip , T h e s u c c e s s e s r e c o r d e d
by t h e v a r i o u s m i s s i o n s i n t r o d u c e d a n e b soc i&l phenomenon;
t h e s o c i e t y b e c a m e d i v i d e d a l o n g t h e l i n e s of N u i Uka, t h e
C o n v e r t s a n d i \di ogo mmuo t h e h o n - C o n v e r t s . A l t h o u g h , b o t h - -9
g r o u p s haa c o n f l i c t i n y b e l i e f s , t h e r e was n o a n x i o u s moment
i n t h e i r r e l a t i o n s .
D i s a , $ o i n t i n g i y e n o u g h , it ~ o u l d a p p e a r t h d t t h e b i d o i
t h e m a i n - l i n e m i : , s i o n s - che C , k . S , arid i-c,C,i.~. , t o h d v e
p r e p o n a e r a n t m e m b e r s h i p , their m e d d l e s o ~ n e n e s s i n tne
p o l i t i c s o i t h e t o h n hnd u n ~ h o l ~ s u r w e r f e c t of some a s p e c t s
o f t h e hornan Ca t i m i i c i e a c h i n q s , caesea r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n
t h e menmers gi t h e tho ~ r ~ i s s i o n s t o k c o m L ~ ~ C O L - O U S , H O h e V e K ,
l h i a l a has sb le t o c o u n t e r t h i s d i v i s i ~ n t h r o u g h t h e
a c t i v i t i e s of t h e i n i a l a Y o u t h s ~ s s o c i a t i o n (i<Y,/\) w h i c h
s t a r t e d a t a b o u t 194b, , i h e i r i r w ~ i b e r s h i p c u t across t h e
denominc, t i o n s .
T h e p e o p l e i n i t i a l l y s p u r r k d a n d d i s p a r a y e d C h r i s t i a n i t y .
I t w o u l d a p p e a r t n e massive r e s p o n s e l a t e r srose f r o m t h e
e x a c t i o n s o f c o l o n i a l r u l e and some soc ia l b e n e f i t s
t h e y e x p e c t e d t o d e r i v e f r o m t h e m i s s i o n s . T h e s o c i a l
m o b i l i t y n o t i c e a b l e among I h i a l a i n d i g e n e s a n d t h e
p h y s i c a l a n d s o c i a l i r r ip rovemcnts z v i d e n t i n t h e t o h n
a r e socre of t h e b e n e f i t s t h n t h a v e accrued t o I h i a l a a s
a r e s u l t o f t h e c h r i s t i s n m i s s i o n a r y e n t e r p r i s e .
T h e belief] p r a c t i c e s find c u l t u r e of Lht. p e o p l e
e x h i b i t e d r e m a r k a b l e r e s i l i e n c e i n t z c e o f c h r i s t i a n i t y .
A l t h o u g h t h e r e were r e m a r k a b l e c h a n g e s , the p e o p l e s
a c c e p t a n c e of ctlris t i a n i t y bas n o t t o t a l .
vii
PREFACE
T h i s s t u d y i s a h i s t o r i c a l and sociological a n a l y s i s
of t h e c h r i s t i a n m i s s i o n a r y e n t e r p r i s e i n I hiala.. H i s t o r i c a l l y
i t examines t h e growth and development of t h e v a r i o u s
c h r i s t i a n m i s s i o n s t h a t p r o s e l y t i z e d I h i a l a . S o c i o l o g i c a l l y
i t h i g h l i g h t s t h e dynamics of t h e c o n t a c t of t h e c h r i s t i a n
m i s s i o n s wi th I h i a l a , t h e I h i a l a r e s p o n s e t o c h r i s t i a n i t y arid
t h e r o l e of t h e c h r i s t i a c m i s s i o n s i n p r o v i d i n g new s t r u c t u r e s
f o r t h e r e o r g a n i s a t i o n and r e i n t e g r a t i o n of I h i a l a , .
Thj-,s s t u d y i s 'under taken w i t h t h r e e purposes i n view..
F i r s t , i t s e e k s t o c r i t i c a l l y examine t h e a d v e n t growth and
development of t h e v a r i o u s m i s s i o n s w i t h s p e c i a l emphasis on
t h e e v a n g e l i c a l s t r a t e g i e s and t h e . p e o p l e s r e a c t i o n s t o
C h r i s t i a n i t y . I t examines t h e c o n t a c t of t h e c h r i s t i a n
m i s s i o n s w i t h I h i a l a , F i n a l l y , i t t r i e s t o e v a l u a t e t h e
c o n t i n u i t i e s and changes i n I g b o c u l t u r a l i n s t i t u t i o n s , b e l i e f s
and p r a c t i c e s a s 5 r e s u l t of t h e i m p o s i t i o n of C h r i s t i a n i t y
and w e s t e r n c u l t u r e .
A l o t of peop le contL.ibuted t o t h e s u c c e s s f u l comple t ion
of t h i s p r o j e c t . F i r s t a n d fo remos t , I am excteedingly
g r a t e f u l t o my s u p e r v i s o r , Rev.Fr,(Dr.) I ,R .A. Ozigboh f o r (
p a t i e r l t l y and p a i n s t a k i n g l y s u p e r v i s i n g t h i s projec t ' . His
f a t h e r l y a z v i c e and compltkisance t o r e a d t h i s work w i l l e v e r
remain everg-peen i n my mind, I am a l s o g r a t e f u l t c D r . Uchenna
&nyanwu f o r a l l h i s encouragement, He r e a d th rough t h e f i n a l
d r a f t - o f t h i s - -work,_
U n i v e r s i t y o f N i g e r i a , . Nsukka. They c o n t r i b u t e d immensely i n
s h a r p e n i n g my f o c u s on t h e s t u d y o f h i s t o r y . They are:
P r o f e s s o r S.C. TJkpabi, D r . P.O. Esedebe , D r . Okoro I joma,'
The work o f t h i s n a t u r e c a n n o t b e s u c c e s s f u l l y e x e c u t e d
w i t h o u t t h e i n f o r m e d o p i n i o n s of my c o l l e a g u e s a n d f r i e n d s , ,
P r o m i n e n t among them a r e ; P r o m i s e O s u a f o r , P a u l O g u i k e ( P C ) ,
Mike I z u k a n n e a n d C z n u t e Ngwa.
My ar ;coc , i . a t ion w i t h Gome f r i o n d ~ d u r i n g my p o s t g r a d u a t e
c t u d i o s a t University of N i g e r i a Nmkkn was v e r y rewarding.
They i n s p i r e d me o u t o f . , despondence a n d were ' ' the e l i x i r t h a t
s t i m u l a t e d me t o w a r d s work ing h a r d e r . .kmong them a r e ; Dr. . Law
E z e a n y i k a , D r . I y k e I f e l u n n i , J B , Ugochukwq A'nac le tbs , Emma,
Nwokoye, Ben Ekwens i , I f e a n y i Eze , C h r i s Nwedo, Amoniit Biambo,
K e n e t h A'madi ( R i p p l e s ) a n d Eddy Osuagwu. O t h e r s i n c l u d e ;
C h i z o b a , E b e l e , G l o r i a I g w i l o , Chioma A l u a a n d Mrs. Ada Eruchalp:,
Also, I am i n d e b t e d t o Mrs. K e z i a h O d i f e who showed
b m e s e , r v e d e n t h u s i a s m i n t h i s work t h r o u g h h e r h o s p i t a . l i t y
d u r i n g my f i e l d work. Mos t i m p o r t a n . t l y , I s a l u t e my p a r e n . t s ,
M r a n d Mrs. E,.C. O d i f e , my b r o t h e r a n d s i s t e r s f o r t h e i r
s a c r i f i c e d u r i r ~ g t h e p e r i o d o f my s t u d y . I c a n n o t t h a n k them
s u f f i c i e n t l y b e c a u s e t h e y mean e v e r y t h i n g t o me i n t h e
c o m p l e t i o n o f my s t u d i e s . Mr. Eddy Meg:va a n d Hor). ( P r i n c e )
K , C . Nkemka a n d f a m i l y s h o u l d a l s o be remembered f o r t h e i r
moral and f i n a n c i a l a s s i s t a n c e . My t h a n k s a l s o go t o
Mrs. Amaucheazi f o r h e r niotherly c a r e . I t h a n k
M r . B,.C. Duru f o r h i s a s s i s t a n c e i n t y p i n g t h i s p r o j e c t ,
Above a l l , I g i v e p r a i s e s t o t h e Almighty Gad f o r
h i s l o v i n g k i n d n e s s and b l e s s i n g s t o me and my fami ly .
I k e n n a O d i f e .
L I S T OF KRRREVIATTONS
A . 1 .C .E. & l v a n I k o ~ u C o l l e g e of Educa t ion , Ower r i
C.M .S.. Church M i s s i o n a r y S o c i e t y
C .U .P . Cambridge U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s
C O W .Do. C a t h o l i c Women' s O r g a n i s a t i o n
D.O. D i s t r i c t O f f i c e r
F r . F a t h e r (Rev.)
H.R.S. Holy Rosary S o c i e t y
I .H .M . Immaculate H e a r t of Mary
I .Y . A , I h i a l a Youths k . s s o c i i t i o n
J .M .P:oSe.
J .R.K.
L .G .A.
M .C .A',
N .A'.E.
ONDI ST.
ONPROF.
N..P .C . O.U.P.
J o u r n a l of A f r i c a n H i s t o r y
J o u r n a l of A f r i c a n S t u d i e s
J o u r n a l of t h e H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y of N i g e r i a
J o u r n a l of Modern A f r i c a n S t u d i e s
J o u r n a l of R e l i g i o n i n A ' f r i ca
L o c a l Government Area
Men' s - C h r i s t i a n A s s o c i a t i o n
N a t i o n a l A r c h i v e s of N i g e r i a , Enugu Branch
O n i t s h a D i s t r i c t P a p e r s
Ondtsha P r o v i n c i a l P a p e r s
K a t f ona l P o p u l a t i o n Commission
Oxford U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s
R.C .M. -' Roman C a t h o l i c M i s s i o n
U.N.N. U n i v e r s i t y of N i g e r i a N cukka
Venn. Venerab le (A ' rchdeacod
Viz. Namely
Vol. Volume
W.A.R. ( J o u r n a l o f ) West A ' f r ican R e l i g i o n
w.c;^c. World C o u n c i l c f Churches.
C 0 td TEN TS
PAGE . - TImE PAGE
APPRCVAL PAGE
CERJXFICATIOW
ABSTRACT . PREFACE . . . . LIST OF ABBXXIATIONS . . . . CONTENTS e 0
CHAI"TER I : Ir!TIIODUC T I O N . . A) Statement of Problem .. . . B) Purpose and Scopc of t he Study . C) Methodology and P e r i o d i z a t i o n ' . . D) L i t e r a t u r e Peview . . . . E) Sources . . . .
Notes . . . . CHAPTER 11: THE PRE-MISSIONARY IBIALA SOCIETY
A) Loca t ion and Phys i ca l Fea tu re s . . B Aspects of S o c i o - P o l i t i c d Organ iza t ion C) Economy . . . . D) Philosophy 2nd Re l ig ion . . E) Ekte rna l Re l a t i ons ..
Notes . . . .
A ) , The Anglican Church (CMS) : 1908-1920 B The Roman Cat11o:Lic Mission (RCM) 1911-1920 C) The I n i t i a l Reac t ions of t h e People Towards
C h r i s t i a n i t y . . . . Notes . . . .
i
i i
iii
iv
x r i PAGE -
CHAPTER I V : THE PERIOD OF GROWTH A N D EXPANSION OF THE MISSIONS: 1 9 2 0 - 19'10
A ) The A n g l i c a n Church (CMS) 1 9 2 0 - 1 9 7 0 B) The Growth o f t h e RClll s t a t i o n i n r h i a l a :
1920-1970 . . C) The ~ a i t h T a b e r n a c l e C o n g r e g a t i . o n Church :
1933 - 1 9 7 0 D) The J e h o v a h ' s W i t n e s s e s M i s s i o n : 1 9 4 8 E l The C h r i s t Holy C h u r c h ( O d o z i Obodo) 1 9 6 8 F) The C i v i l War Years: 1 9 6 7 - 1 9 7 0 .. G ) E v a n g e l i s t i c S t r a t e g i e s of t h e M i s s i o n s
Notes . . . a
CljAPTER V: THE CHRISTIAN MISSIONS A N D IHIALA - SOCIETY , . .
A ) C o n f l i c t Retween C h r i s t i a n i t y a n d t h e T r a d i t i o n a l 6cdie ty . .
R ) The P r o b l e m of I n t e g r a t i o n , . C) ~ n t r a - M i s s i o n s R i v a l r y - . D) I n t e r - M i s s i o n s . R e l a t i o n s . , E) he' P e o p l e t s Re.sponses . .
Notes . . . . CHAPTER V I : CONTINUITIES A N D CHANGES
A ) C h r i s t i a n i t y a n d t h e E m e r g e n t S o c i e t y B) C o n t i n u i t i e s a n d C h a n g e s . .
Notes , . . . CHAPTER V I I : CONCLUSION
I t P P h i 6 /'K BIBLIOGRAPHY
CHAPTER I: INTRODIJCTTON
a) S t a t e m e n t of Problem
The c h r i s t i a n m i s s i o n s a f f e c t e d and i n f l u e n c e d t h e l i f e
of most I g b o communities. Then a g a i n , c o l o n i a l i s m , which
c o l l a b o r a t e d w i t h and r e i n f o r c e d t h e c h r i s t i a n r e l i g i o n ,
weakened t h e I g b o t r a d i t i o n a l p o l i t i c a l a u t h o r i t y . I t a l s o
undermined and t r ans fo rmed t h e b a s i s of t h e t r a d i t i o n a l s o c i e t y .
~ o e h e l e s s , I g b o l a n d was r e l a t i v e l y a q u i e t and p e a c e f u l
s o c i e t y b e f o r e t h e adven t of t h e c h r i s t i a n m i s s i o n a r y
e n t e r p r i s e . 1
The t r a d i t i o n a l r e l i g i o n was s a t i s f a c t o r i l y
f u n c t i o n a l and provided t h e b a s i s of behav iour and conduct
among t h e people. I t determined and c o n t r o l l e d a l l f a c e t s ~f
human behav iour , be t h e y socio-econom5-c, p o l i t i c a l , g r o u p arid
i n t e r g roup r e l a t i o n s . I t prov ided t h e s p i r i t u a l cement t h a t
bound t h e i n d i v i d u a l s i n t h e s o c i e t y . The new r e l i g i o n ,
@whose aimJ a c c o r d i n g t o Richmond Pa lmer , "was t o p u l l down
t h e f a b r i c of t h e s o c i e t y i n o r d e r t o b u i l d on i ts r u i n s N , 2
indeed, endeavoured t o b r e a k down t h e t r a d i t i o n a l s o l i d a r i t y
of most I g b o communities. I t i s on a c c o u n t of t h e profound
i n f l u e n c e , t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n of C h r i s t i a n i t y had on t h e I g b o
t h a t t h e need h a s a r i s e n t o a p p r a i s e and e v a l u a t e t h e
c h r i s t i a n n:Lssionary e n t e r p r i s e i r , I gboland..
Ih ia lz i s one of t h e I g b o towns where t h e p r e s e n c e of
t h e c h r i s t i a n m i s s i o n s i s h e a v i l y f e l t . . I t h a s a seminary
(Holy Ghost J u n i o r a t e ) and a h o s p i t a l (Our Lady of Lourdes)
~ u h i c h a r e g i g a n t i c m o n u m e n t s ci- a c c o m p l i s h m e n t . I t i s o n e o f
the t o h n s i n t h e C a t h o l i c Archdiocese of O n i t s r i a t h a t h a v e
p r o i b u c r u a v e r y l a r g e number of p r i e s t s a n d I t s e r v e d
as t h e c e n t r e f o r the d i s p e r s i o n of b o t h t h e Roman C a t h o l i c
a n d ~ h l i c a n c h u r c h e s t o t h e n e i g h b o u r i n g t o w n s .
I t i s n e c e s s a r y , t h e r e f o r e , t o s x p l a i n t h e m a g n i f i # e n t
k r e s e n c e of t h e c h i r s t i a n m i s s i o n s i n I h i a l a , d e s p i t e t h e
a p p a r e n t i n i t i a l r e s i s t a n c e w h i c h q r e e t e d t .he a r r i v a l of t h e
e a r l y m i s s i o n a r i e s . k ' u r t h e r m o r e , h i g h l y c o n f l i c t i n g v i e w s
t rave been e x ~ r e s s e d o n t h e m i s s i o n s r y e n t e r p ~ i s e i n I h i a l a .
Pt i s n e c e s s - ' r y t o s t a t ? a n d e v a l u a t e s u c h o p i n i o n s . An
o b s e r v e r , f o r i n s t a n c e , o n c e s t a t e d , t h a t , " I n n o o t h e r p a r t
of I g u o l d n c i did t h e r i v a l r y b e t w e e n t h e Honian c a t h o l 3 2 a n d
4 h n g l i c a r ~ breed a s much d i v i s i v e n e s s a s i n I h i a l a v , T h e r e is
t h e r e f o r e , t h e n e e u c o s t u d y t t ~ e ~ t i s s i o n a r y n i s t o r y of l h i s l a
i n order t o address these a n d o t h e r p r o b l e m s . bvas l h i a l a
resilient t o t n e c h a n g e s i n t r o c l u c e d i n t o t h e f a b r i c of the
s o c i e t y by C h r i s t i a n i t y ? O r , a i d t h e c t i a n g e mean a c o m p l e t e
b r e a k w i t h and aepcr t u r e f r o m h e r p a s t ? I n ~ t h e r words. , dces
I h i a l a f i t i n t o =,A, A y a n a e l e ' s g e n e r a l a s s u m p t i o n t h a t the
c u l t u r e and t r a d i t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s of I g b o l a n d c r u m b l e d l i k e t 5
t h e w a l l s !of ~ e r ~ c h o 7 t h e - blsre of C h r i s t a i n i t y ? C a n t h e
n i s t o r i a n t a l k of c o n h i n u i t i e s a n d c h a n g e s i n t h e c u l t u r e ,
b e k i e f p r a c t i c e s a n d v a l u e s y s t e m s of I h i a l a i n t h e f ace of
t h r o n s l a u g h t of c h r i s t i a n i t y ?
Moreso, c o u l d i t be a rgued t h a t I h i a l a d i d n o t have
o r c o u l d n o t c o n t r i v e i n t e r n a l mechanisms t o c o u n t e r a c t t h e
d i v i s i o n c r e a t e d i n t h e s o c i e t y by t h e . v a r i o u s c h r i s b i a n
miss ions .
b) P u r p o s e and S c o ~ e of t h e S tudv
The purpose of t h i s s t u d y i s t o a s c e r t a i n t h e r e a s o n s
f o r t h e a c c e p t a n c e o f c h r i s t i a n i t y i n I h i a l a . I t w i l l a l s o
h i g h l i g h t t h e growth and develo2ment of t h e v a r i o u s miss ions .
Again , i t w i l l examine t h e r e s p o n s e s of t h e v a r i o u ~ m i s s i o n s
t o t h e changing t i d e s . o f h i s t o r i c a l development and t h e i r r o l e
i n t h e p o l a r i , z a t i o n of t h e s o c i e t y ' . a long denomina t iona l I . ines, .
Fur the rmore , i t w i l l examine t h e r o l e of t h e c h r i s t i a n
m i s s i o n s i n t h e a c c e l e r a t i o n of s o c i a l change i n t h e town; t h e
weakening of t h e v a l u e s and s t r u c t u r e s of t h e t r a d i t i o n a l
s o c i e t y ; and t h e p r o v i s i o n of a new bz.sis f o r s o c i e t a l
i n t e g r a t i o n on a l a r g e r s c a l e .
The e s s e n c e of t h e s t u d y , t h e r e f o r e , .-.& t o a s c e r t a i n
t h e r o l e of t h e c h r i s t i a n m i s s i o n a r y e n t e r p r i s e i n w i e l d i n g
t h e p o l i t i c a l and s o c i a l f o r c e s i n T h i a l a ; a n d . t o a s s e s s i t s
performance a's a n a g e n t of s o c i a l change.
The scope of t h i s s t u d y encompasses t h e e n t i r e I h i a l a
town, i n t h e I h i a l a L o c a l Government Area ( L .G . A o ) of
Anambra S t a t e ,
The t ime span of t h e s t u d y i s 198-1970. . I t is, however,
p e r t i n e n t kc s t a t e whir t h e s t u d y t a k e s 1908 as i t s p o i n t o f
d e p a r t u r a and 1970 as i t s t e r m i n a l date.. The f i r s t m i s s i o n t o
e s t a b l i s h i n I h i a l a ( t h e Church M i s s i o n a r y S o c i e t y , here+fb , r
r e f e r r e d t o as t h e C .M,S,) , a r r i v e d i n 1908, Tha t was
n o t , i n f a c t , t h e y e a r t h e m i s s i o n a r i e s 'first came t o I h i h .
Reverend f a t h e r V i c t o r ~ u h a z e of t h e ~ o k n C a t h o l i c M i s s i o n
(R,C.M.) had e a r l i e r v i s i t e d i n 1906. T h i s was d u r i n g h i s
e x p l o r a t i o n of t h e I g b o h i n t e r l a n d , . B u t ' s i n c e h i s m i s s i o n was
p u r e l y e x p l o r a t o r y , no m i s s i o n s t a t i o n was e s t a b l i s h e d and he
d i d n o t win c o n v e r t s ,
The s t u d y t e r m i n a t e s i.n 1970 w i t h t h e formal a l i e n a t i o n
of t h e main medium of e v a n g e l i z a t i o n namely, t h e schoo l . The
government of t h e E a s t C e n t r a l S t a t e of N i g e r i a f o r m a l l y and
f o r c i b l y took o v e r t h e m i s s i o n s c h o o l s by i ts 1970 E d u c a t i o n .
E d i c t . Tha t e v e n t i s a l a n d mark i n t h e l o c a l m i s s i o n a r y h i s t o r y .
4 Methodology and P e r i o d i z a t i o n
The approach t o t h e s t u d y i s b o t h c h r o n o l o g i c a l and
thematic. . I t combines d e s c r i p t i o n and c r i t i c a l a n a . l y s i s of
e v e n t s based on f a c t u a l i n f o r m a t i o n a v a i l a b l e * t h e s t u d y ,
The stirdy i s d i v i d e d i n t o two main p e r i o d s , v iz : The
b e g i n n i n g of t h e c h r i s t i a n m i s s i o n a r y e n t e r p r i s e ; 1908-1920 ;
and t h e p e r i o d ,. of grcwth and expansion of t h e miss ions : 1920-
1970. However t h e e v e n t s of t h e p e r i o d between 1967-1970 a r e
v e r y remarkable( . because of t h e i n f l u e n c e of t h e N i g e r i a n c i v i l
c r i s e s on t h e e h r i s t i a n m i s s i o n a r y e n t e r p r i s e i n I h i a l n ,
S t r u c t u r a l l y , t h e s t u d y i s a r r a n g e d i n seven c h a p t e r s .
The f i r s t c h a p t e r examines t h e problem s t u d i e d , t h e purpose and
scope , methodology and p e r i o d i z a t i o n , l i t e r a t u r e r ev iew and
s o u r c e s a v a i l a b l e f o r t h e s tudy , The second c h a p t e r h i g h l i g h t s
t h e g e o g r a p h i c a l l o c a t i o n and p h y s i c a l f e a t u r e s of Ih ia la ,
a s p e c t s of s o c i o - p o l i t i c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n , ph i losophy and
r e l i g i o n and e x t e r n a l r e l a t i o n s of I h i a l a p r i o r t o th 'e
i n t r o d u c t i o n of C h r i s t i a n i t y . C h a p t e r t h r e e examines t h e
beg inn ing of t h e c h r i s t i a n m i s s i o n a r y e n t e r p r i s e from 1908-
1920, wi th a n eye a t t h e i n i t i a l r e a c t i o n s of t h e p e o p l e
towards C h r i s t i a n i t y , .
l?he f o u r t h c h a p t e r h i g h l i g h t s t h e growth and development
. of t h e c h r i s t i a n m i s s i o n s from 1920-1970. I t e q u a l l y exarnines
t h e e v a n g e l i s t i c s t r a t e g i e s of t h e missions..
The f i f t h c h a p t e r c r i t i c a l l y e v a l u a t e s t h e c h r i s t i a n
m i s s i o n s and I h i a l z s o c i e t y . I t d e a l s w i t h t h e c o n f l i c t
between C h r i s t i a n i t y and t h e soc ie ty ; . t h e problem of
i n t e g r a t i n g t h e c o n v e r t s i n t o t h e i d e a l s of C h r i s t i a n i t y ; ' t h e
r e l a t i o n s w i t h i n and between t h e v a r i o u s miss ionsO and f i n a l l y i >
t h e people& c u m u l a t i v e r e s p o n s e s t o these. c h a p t e r s i x
examines c o n t i n u i t i e s and changes i n t h e b e l i e f s a n d - c u l t u r a l
p r a c t i c e s of I h i a l a i n t h e f a c e of t h e o n s l a u g h t of C h r i s t i a n i t y .
C h a p t e r seven h i g h l i g h t s t h e c o n c l u s i o n t h a t emerges
from t h e s tudy.
d) L i t e r a t u r e Review
The e x i s t i n g s t u d i e s bn I h i a l a a r e reviewed t o show t h e
e x t e n t of t h e gap t h a t needs t o be f i l l e d by t h i s s tudy ,
"A' su rvey of t h e h i ~ t o r y of I h i a l a from t h e e a r l i e s t . 6 t i m e s t o 191OM, by C .O. I zuorah, s y n t h e s i z e s t h e v a r i o u s
t r a d i t i o n s on t h e o r i g i n of I h i a l a and c o n s i d e r a b l y d i s p e l s ,
t h e "Benin connect ion1I i n t h e t r a d i t i o n , . . " " I ts t e r m i n a l y e a r
of 1910 shows t h a t i t ended wi th t h e fo rmal i n t r o d u c t i o n of
c o l o n i a l r u l e i n t h e a r e a . Because of i t s scope and f o c u s , t h e
work gave no a t t e n t i o n t o t h e m i s s i o n a r y e n t e r p r i s e i n I h i a l a .
V i c t o r 0kuma i n "The r e i g n of Ch ie f Odimegwu Igwegbe
Oluoha I X of I h i a l a , 1 9 1 0 - 1 9 3 8 " , ~ p r o v i d e s a good a c c o u n t of
t h e t r a d i t i o n a l c h i e f t a i n c y i n s ' t i t u t i o n from t h e i n c e p t i o n
c o l o n i a l r u l e t o 1938. I t p r o v i d e s meagre i n f o r m a t i o n on t h e
r e l a t i o n s h i p between C h i e f Odimegwu Igwegbe and t h e v a r i o u s
miss ions . Again , because of i t s f o c u s , i t does n o t throw much
l i g h t on t h e n a t u r e of m i s s i o n a r y e n t e r p r i s e i n I h i a l a ,
R , U , Okeke, h a s w r i t t e n on "The coming of t h e Roman
C a t h o l i c church t o I h i a l a ; 1911-1960~1 .8. The s t u d y i s l i m i t e d
t o t h e a c t i v i t i e s of t h e Roman C a t h o l i c church t o t h e n e g l e c t
o f o t h e r missions..
"The k i s t o r y of C h r i s t i a n i t y i n I h i a l a L o c a l Government
Area: 1908-1$7711 if C.E. O b i ' s Bache lo r of A r t s degree p r o j e c t
r e p o r t . I t makes commendable e f f o r t a t r e c o n s t r u c t i n g t h e
m i s s i o n a r y h i s t o r y of I hia l .a , b u t it's concern w i t h I h i a l a ,
L o c a l government a r e a , minimizes i t s a t t e n t i o n t o t h e . c h r i s t i a n bw.
m i s s i o n a r y e n t e r p r i s e i n I h i a l ~ c ; . . G o n s e q u e n t l y , t h e a n a l y s i s
of t h e c h r i s t i a n m i s s i o n a r y e n t e r p r i s e i n I h i a l a a p p e a r s
s h a l l o w as l i t t l e e f f o r t wac made t o examine i t i n t i m e
p e r s p e c t i v e ,
The most v a l u a b l e a s p e c t of t h e s t u d y i s t h e v e r b a t i m
r e p o r t on o r a l i n f o r m a t i o n used f k t h e s tudy . The informnr . t s
who were eyc: w i t n e s s e s t o t h e beg inn ing of t h e c h r i s t i a n
m i s s i c n a r y e n t e r p r i s e i n I h i a l a a r e e i t h e r s e n i l e on a c c o u n t
of o l d age o r dead. The p r e s e n t s t u d y u t i l i z e s t h e s e r e p o r t s
i n r e s o l v i n g c o n f l i c t i n g o r a l information. .
C .C. Agbodike wro te o#The c h i e f t a i n c y i n s t i t u t i o n i n
I h i a l a from t h e e a r l i e s t t i m e s t o 196311, lo The t h e s i s of t h e
s t u d y i s t h e e v o l u t i o n of t h e c h i e f t a i n c y i n s t i t u t i o n and t h e
d i s p u t e s t h a t c h a r z c t e r i z e d i t up till 1963. The on ly
r e f e r e n c e made t o t h e c h r i s t i a n m i s s i o n a r y e n t e r p r i s e i s on
i t s impact on t h e c h i e f t :.j.ncy i n s t i t u t i o n ,
S e v e r a l books have been p u b l i s h e d on t h e " a c t i v i t i e s i n
t h e O n i t s h a c a t h o l i c Archd iocese . They d e s e r v e s p e c i a l
m e n t i ~ n b ~ c c - ~ l ~ s e of t h e i r r e l e v a n c e t o t h e s tudy. Sonle of
t h e s e i n c l u d e two of I.R.A. ~ z i g b o h ' s books on t h e C<).l.'iholic
church , v i z: U,bo C a t h a i c i s m : The O n i t s h a Connec t ion 1967- i984
( O n i t s h a , A f r l c a n a F e p pubibishers 1985) and Rornan Catholic-m
i n S o u t h e a s t e r n N i g e r i a : 1885-1931: &-s tudy i n Colorl&l
evangel ism ( O n i t s h a , Etukokwu P r e ~ ; , 1988) . While t h e former
p r o v i d e s a c r i t i c a l i n f o r m a t i o n on t h e c o n t r i b u t i o n of O n i t s h a
A r c h d i o c e s e t o t h e growth of I g b o k t h o l i c i s m and t h e o f f i c i a l
b t h o l i c p o s i t i o n on t h e major i s s u e s i n t h e p e r i o d s t u d i e d ,
t h e l a t t e r w i t h i t s l u c i d s t y l e and c r i t i c a l a n a l y s i s of
h i s t o r i c a l f a c t s , t p a c e s t h e h i s t o r i c a l development of t h e
Roman C a t h o l i c m i s s i o n i n s o u t h e a s t e r n N i g e r i a - up till 1931.
K g a i n , i t p r o v i d e s some i n f o r m a t i o n on t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n o f t h e
Roman C a t h o l i c m i s s i o n i n t h e I h i a l a axis.'' O t h e r books
i n c l u d e ; C . k . Obi ( e d . ) , P; Hundred Y e a r s of 6a thol l .c church i n
E a s t e r n N i g e r i a ( O n i t s h a , A'fricana-Fep P u b l i s h e r s 1985) ; V , . E L , ,
Nwosu ( ed.) ,. The C h t h o l i c church i n 0d . t sha : P e o p l e . P l a c e s and
, Events . (Onktsha , Etukokwu P r e s s 1985) and PouCObi Okpalaeket s
The R o l e of t h e Church i n N i g e r i a n E d u c a t i o n - i n t h e i i ~ h t of
V a t i c a n C o u n c i l II and 1()63 Code-,of Canon Law (Rome, Imprimataur?
1989) . The l a s t b m k p r o v i d e s t h e r e a c t i o n of t h e Roman
c a t h o l i c church t o t h e a t t e m p t s a t government t a k e o v e r of
s c h o o l s from 1956, when t h e a t t e m p t was f i r s t made t o 1970
when i t f i n a l l y m a t e r i a l i z e d .
Elochukwu Amauche' . a z i l s Church and P o l i t i c s i n E a s t e r n
N i g e r i a : 1q_45-1966: A S t u d y i n P r e a s u r e Group ~ o l i t i c a ( N i g e r i a ,
Macmil lan I?.ress, 1986) d e s c r i b e d t h e Roman ~ a t h o l i c - f r o t e s t a n t
r i v a l r y i n p r a c t i c e i n E a s t e r n Nigeria from 1945-1966.
The Angl ican church u n f o r t u n a t e l y l a c k s l i t e r a t u r e on
h e r a c t i v i t i e s . U n t i l enough i s pub1i:-;hed, i t w i l l l i k e l y
c o n t i n u e t o draw i n f o r m a t i o n on h e r a c t i v i t i e s from o r a l
50 s0urce .s . F o r t h e F a i t h T a b e r n a c l e Congrega t ion , t h e Jehovah ' s
U i t n e s s e s tind C h r i s t Holy miss ions .
F i n a l l y , t h e t h r e e l e a d i n g books on t h e c h r i s t i a n
m i s s i o n a r y e n t e r p r i s e i n N i g e r i a d e s e r v e s p e c i a l ment ion
b e c a u s e t h e y p r o v i d e t h e b a s i c i n f o r m a t i o n on t h e eEergence o f
a new e l i t e ; t h e m i s s i o n ' s s c r a m b l e f u r N i g e r i a ; and b i t t e r
r i v a l r i e s among t h e v a r i o u s m i s s i o n s i n I gbol'and. T h e s e books
a r e : J .A, A ' jay i , C h r i s t i a n M i s s i o n s i n N i ~ e r i a 1841-1891: The
Making of a new e l i t e (London: Longman P u b l i s h e r s 1965) ;
E.AD Ayandele , M i s s i o n a r y I n p a c t or? Modern N i g e r i a 1842-1914:
A' P o l i t i c a l and S o c i a l A n a l y s i s (London; Longman P v - b l i s h e r s
1966) ; and F.K. Ekechi : M i s s i o n a r y e n t e r p r i s e arid R i v a l r y i n
I g b o l a n d 1-8J7-1914 (London: F r a n k Cass, 1972)'.
The p ~ e s e n t s t u d y endeavours t o f i l l some of t h e g a p s
l e f t by t h e s e , works c.n t h e s t u d y of t h e c h r i s t i a n m i s s i o n z r y
h i s t o r y as i t a f f e c t s I h i a l a .
e l S o u r c e s
The m a t e r i a l s f o r t h i s s t u d y a r e ' o b t a i n e d f r o n b o t h
p r imary and secondary s o u r c e s . The p r imary s o u r c e s used a r e :
o r a l e v i d e n c e , a r c h i v a l m a t e r i a l s from t h e d a t i o n a l a r c h i v e s
a t Enugu, h n u t e s books, R e g i s t e r s and & c o r d s of t h e v a r i o u s
m i s s i o n s . The Minutas books p r o v i d e b i t s o f s p e c i f i c
i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t t h e Enugu a r c h i v e s d o e s n o t o f f e r , T h e s e
i n c l u d e m i n u t e s of synods , l a i t y c o u n c i l m e e t i n g s and
communiques on t o p i c a l s o c i e t a l i s s u e s . R e g i s t e r s p r o v i d e
t h e v a r i o u s cor respondences of t h e m i s s i o n s and i n f o r m a t i o n
on church membership,
The i n i t i a l problem i n t h e c o l l e c t i o n of o r a l d a t a was
i n t h e c h o i c e of a p p r o p r i a t e i n f o r m a n t s , b e i n g t h a t most o f
t h e w i t n e s s e s of t h e e a r l y m l ~ s l o n n r y d n t e r p r t s e wera dead o r
s e n i l e . T h i s , however, was over c'ome by t h e recommendations
from t h e r e l a t i v e s of t h e r e s e a r c h e r , p r i e s t s and e l d e r s of
t h e v a r i o u s miss ions
The q u e s t i o n n a i r e method, i n which a n s w e r s t o s t r u c t u r e d
q u e s t i o n s were f i u d by r e s p o n d e n t s , was n o t employed i n
f a v o u r of the4 i n t e r v i e w method. The g e n e r a l . p rocedure was t~
a l l o w each i n f o r m a n t t o s a y a l l h e o r s b e knew, remembered o r
was t o l d a b o u t t h e m i s s i o n a r y e n t e r p r i s e i n I h i a l a ,
The a r c k i v a l m a t e r i a l s threw l i g h t on the; c h u r c h - s o c i e t y
r e l a t i o n s t h a t came t o t h e n o t i c e of c i . v i l government,.
On t h e secondary s o u r c e s , a l a r g e number of r e J e v a n t
B a c h e l o r s , M a s t e r s and D o c t o r a l degree t h e s e s r e l a t i n g t o t h e
s u b j e c t were c o n s u l t e d . S p e c i a l p r o j e c t s from C o l l e g e s o f
education a t Awka, Nsugbe and Ower r i , and diploma e s s a y s and
p r o j e c t s of t h e depar tment of r e l i g i o n , l h i v e r s i t y of N i g e r i a
Nsukka, were . 9 . - a l s o u t i l i z e d , b e s i d e s j o u r n a l a r t i c l e s
and books. The n a t u r e and e x t e n t of t h e s e s o u r c e s a r e
i n d i c a t e d i n t h e n o t e s and b i b l i o g r a p h y ,
N o t e s
I. V.C. Uchendu, The I g b o of S o u t h e a s t e r n N i g e r i a (New York: H o l t , R i n e h a r t and Winstom, 1 9 6 5 ) , p. 23.
2. Quoted i n A,E. Af igbo , "Herber t Richmond pa lmer U d ~ n d i r e c t R u l e i n astern f i i g e r i a 1915-1928t'. J o u r n a l of t h e H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y of N i g e r i a (JI-ISN) I11 ( 1965) pb:X7.
3. V.A. Nwosu: '( ed,) The C a t h o l i c c h m c h i n O n i t s h a ; Peopl-e, P l a c e s and E v e n t s ( O n i t s h a : Etukokwu F r e s s , 1 9 8 5 ) , p.
4. An i n f o r m a l d i s c u s s i o n wi th J.B. Apakama, L e c t u r e r Department of H i s t o r y , A . 1 .C ,Em Owerr i .
5. E.A. Ayandele, N i g e r i a n H i s t o r i c a l Studies.(London: F r a n k Cass, 1979) , p. 168,
6. C.O. I z u o r a h , I1A Survey of t h e h i s t o r y of I h i a l a from t h e E a r l i e s t t i m e s t o 191011. (B.A. p r o j e c t , Department of Hist 'ory, U n i v e r s i t y of N i g e r i a , Nsukka ( U .N,N ,) 1976) .
7. V i c t o r Okuma, "The Re:l.gn of C h i e f Odimegwu Igwegbe Oluoha I X of I hia1.a 1910-193811. (N.C .E.. p r o j e c t Department of H i s t o r y , A'lvan Ikoku C o l l e g e of Educa t ion (A.1 .C .E,) Ower r i , 1977) .
8. R . U. Okeke, "The Coming of t h e Roman C a t h d l i c Church t n I h i a l a 1911-1960, @I .C .E. p r o j e c t A .I .C .E. Owerr i 1977) .
9, C . E. O b Z , "The H i s t o r y of C h r i s t i a n i t y i n I h i a l a L o c a l Government Area (L .G . A e ) 1908-1977". (B.A. p r o j e c t , Department of R e l i g i o n , U .N .F .]. 1978) .
10. C . C . Agbodike, "The C h i e f t a i n c y I v i s t i t u t i o r i i n I h i a l a From t h e e a r l i e s t t i m e s t o 1963". (M.A. t h e s i s , Department of H i s t o r y , U ,N . N , 1982) .
11. I .R.A. Ozigbol?, Roman C a t h o l i c i s m i n E a s t e r n N i g e r i a 1885-1331: A S t u d y i n C o l o n i a l Evangelism, ( O n i t s h a : Etukokwu P r e s s 1988) , p. 169,
CHAPTER I1 * THE PRE-MISSIONARY IHIALA SOCIETY ---*
T h i s c h a p t e r examines t h e I h i a l a s o c i e t y p r i o r t o t h e
i n t r o d u c t i o n of C h r i s t i a n i t y , I t s t u d i e s a s p e c t s of t h e
d i s p e n s a t i o n of j u s t i c e , methods of s o c i a l c o n t r o l and t h e
p o l i t i c a l s t r u c t u r e o f t h e t r a d i t i o n a l s o c i e t y , . ! A
The form and
n a t u r e of economic a c t i v i t i e s t h a t s u s t a i n e d t h e s o c i e t y a r e
exp la ined . Again , i t h i g h l i g h t s t h e t r a d i t i o n a l world view,
v a l u e s and c u l t u r a l p r a c t i c e s , t h a t impinge: . on t h e t e n e t s
and p r i n c i p l e s o f t h e c h r i s t i a n d o c t r i n e ,
Fur the rmore , i t examines t h e a n t e c e d e n t s of t h e c h r i s t i a n
missior .asy e n t e r p r i s e i n I h i a i a , th rough a n e x p o s i t i o n on h e r
e x t e r n a l r e l a t i o n s . I t s t u d i e s c e r t a i n i m p e r a t i v e s t h a t
p r e c i p i t a t e d h e r r o l e as t ,he c e n t r e f o r t h e d i s p e r s i o n of
C h r i s t i a n i t y t o h e r ne ighbours .
a> L o c a t i o n and P h y s i c a l F e a t u r e s
I h i a l a l i e s on t h e s o u t h e r n t i p of t h e Nor thern o r
O n i t s h a I g b o , I t s e r v e s a s t h e l i n k between t h e n o r t h e r n and
s o u t h e r n I g b o a r e a s , ' Thus , i t i s i n f l u e n c e d by t h e s o c i a l and
c u l t u r a l t r a i t s of t h e two zones,
I h i a l a town i s today t h e h e a d q u a r t e r s of I Hiala L o c a l
Government Area (L .G . k , ) cli" Anambra s t a t e . I t i s s i t u a t e d mid
way on t h e t r u n k ' A t road t h a t l i n k s O n i t s h a and Owerri . I t i s
bounded i n t h e n o r t h by O k i ja, i n t h e e a s t by Az ia and Mbosi,
i n t h e s o u t h e a s t by Ubulu I s i z o r , and t h e west by t h e Urasi
r i v e r . With a n e s t i m a t e d l a n d a r e a of a b o u t s i x t y s q u a r e
13
k i l o m e t r e s , t h a t i s d e f i n e d approx imate ly by t h e imag inary
l i n e s 5'411 and 5'52' n o r t h of t h e e q u a t o r , 6'51' and. 6'551
e a s t of t h e Greenwich m e r i d i e n , 2 h e r p o p u l a t i o n o v e r t h e '
y e a r s had beon (24 ,290)3 twenty f o u r thousand two hundred and \
.cut%
ninety* by 1953; 40, 1 9 8 ~ by 1963;; 8 9 , 7 8 0 ~ by t h e 1991
c e n s u s p r o v i s i o n a l f i g i ~ r e s .
The g r e a t e r p a r t of t h e town i s d n a. l e v e l land,'though
t h e r e a r e p l a c e s t h a t l i e on a n u n d u l a t i n g l a n d c h a r a c t e r i z e d
by deep v a l l e y s and r o l l i n g h i l l s r i s i n g t o a h e i g h t o f a b o u t
twenty mete:rsO6 The g r e a t e r p a r t o f t h e l a n d i s covered w i t h
t h i c k v e g e t a t i o n . Bu t owing t o kuman e x p l o i t a t i o n and a c t i v i t i e s
on l a n d , most o f them have g i v e n way t o open grass land. .
However, t h e banks of t h e major r i v e r , t h e U r a s i , and s t r e a m s
s t i l l m a i n t a i n a f l o u r i s h i n g v e g e t a t i o n .
I n t h e a r e a s c h a r a c t e r i z e d by deep v a l l e y s and r o l l i n g
h i l l s , l e a c h i n g and s u r f a c e e r o s i o n have produced deep g u l l i e s
t h a t t h r e a t e n s e v e r a l households.
The most. i m p o r t a n t r i v e r i n t h e town i s Urasi which
e m p t i e s inb t h e Oguta l a k e . The s t r e a m s i n c l u d e O m a s i , Akazi
and A t a i m i r i . The a r e a h a s two w a t e r f n l l , s , t h e Okpu and
Osugwudugwudu. These s t r e a m s and w a t e r f a l l s a r e f e e d e r s t o
t h e Urasi r i v e r .
b) Kspec ts of Socio-Y o l i t i c a l O r g a n i z a t i o n
The s o c k a l o r g a r d z a t i o n of I h i a l a r e f l e c t e d . t h e system of
k i n s h i p and m a r r i a g e wi th t h e i r network o f a g n a t i c and c o g n a t i u
r e l a t i o n s . The s o c i e t y was o r g a n i z e d i n p a t r i l i n e a g e s w i t k ~
s u c c e s s i o n based on t h e p r i n c i p l e of p r imogen i tu re . Polygyny
I was encouraged. Exogamy was t h e r u l e i n mar r i age , 7
I n I h i a l a , c l a s s and s o c i a l s ta tus were s t r a t i f i e d a l o n g
1 t h e l i n e s of d i a l a k f r e e b o r n , t h e ~ u j s l a v e ; and s o c i a l ou tcas t ,
@u:. The h i g h e s t p o l i t i c a l o f f i c e was t h a t of . Oluoha. Only
t h e a d u l t male of t h e f o u r dyna& l i n e a g e s were e l i g i b l e
f o r t h i s o f f i c e , 8
The s o c i o - p o l i t i c a l c r g a n i z a t i o n i n I h i a l a wac
h e i r a r c h i c a l l y grouped i n f o u r d i s t i n c t u n i t s , A u t h o r i t y f lowed
from t h e b a s i d u n i t , t h e n u c l e a r f a m i l y , x i , t h r o u g h . t h e
l i n e a g e t o t h e v i l l a g e group. A t t h e f i r s t t h r e e l c v e l s of t h e
s o c i . 0 - p o l i t i c a l o r g a n i z a . t i o n , l e a d e r s h i p w a s geronti)c@itic. D i r e c t
p a r t i c i p a t b r y democracy of a l l t h e a d u l t males was t h e r u l e ,
A t t h e f o u r t h l e v e l , p o l i t i c a l c o n t r o l was unwield3 - and
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e democracy was adopted .
The h a s i c s o c i o - p o l i t i c a l segment w a s a t t h e l e v e l of t h e
household o r n u c l e a r f ami ly . T h i s c o n s i s t e d of t h e man, t h e
head of t h e f a m i l y , h i s wives , c h i l d r e n and s o n s p c h i l d r o n
i n c l u d i n g h i s dependants . Ii e h e l d t h e - o f o , ' t h e t r a d i t L o n a 1
symbol of a u t h o r i t y , and a d m i n i s t e r e d :*the c u l t 01 t h e
a n c e s t o r s ,
The n e x t l e v e l of t h e socio- , :o l i t ica l s t r u c t u r e was t h e \
umunnak extended f a m i l y o r sublif ieage. I t was made up of a r'
number of n x c l e a r f a m i l i e s t h a t c l a imed a common a n c e s t r a l
f a t h e r . The head of t h e umunna was t h 2 okpara , t h e e l d e s t ."
s u r v i v i n g man i n t h e extended fami ly . He performed b o t h ,
r e l i g i o u s and p o l i t i c a l f u n c t i o n s .
I f howovcr, he was i n c a p a c i t a t e d by a g e o r a i l i n g h e a l t h
the pe r son n e x t t o him i n a g e r e p r e s e n t e d him i n f a m i l y and
p u b l i c f u n c t i o n s ,
Next a f t e r t h e s u b l i n e a g e vias t h e l i n e a g e o r q u a r t e r
orbe . T h i s comprised a number of s u b l i n e a g e s occupying a
dofinedi goo[~rvuph icn l ureu . Tho mcmbor~ of this group d i d n o t
c l a i m d e s c e n t from a common a n c e s t r a l f a t h e r . The s u b l i n e a g e s
tha t , made up t h e q u a r t e r s were grganked i n o r d e r of s e n i o r i t y ,
A s from t h i s s t a g e , t h e concep t of okpara a c q u i r e d s l i g h t
m ~ d i f i c a t i o n s . I n s t e a d of t h e e l d e s t s u r v i v i n g man i n t h e
l i n e a g e , t h e e l d e s t man i n t h e s e n i o r s u b l i n e a g e p rov ided t h e
moral and p o l i t i c a l l e a d e r s h i p . Kt; t h e ogbe l e v e l , t h e a g e
g r o u p s and nmanwu c u l t (masquerade) were used t o e n f o r c e t h e
d e c i s i o n s of t h e 0p;be assembly. P o l i t i c a l l e a d e r s h i p was
s e p a r a t e d from r e l i g i o u s and r i t u a l . f u n c t i o n s . The c h i e f
p r i e s t of t h e v i l l a g e d e i t y moderated i n r e l i g i o u s f e s t i v a l s ,
performed p r o p i t i a t o r y r i t e s and k e p t cus tody of t h e v i l l a g e
d e i t y s h r i n e , . 9
A t t h i s l e v e 1 , t h e r o l e of w o m e n , a s s o c i ~ t i o n otu umunwanyi was v e r y prominent . T h i s a s s o c i a t i o n comprised a l l
mar r i ed women t o t h e g roup and was headed by t h e woman m a r r i e d
i n t o t h e f a m i l y b e f o r e a l l o t h e r s ,
T h e h i g h e s t l e v e l o f s o c i o - p o l i t i c a l o r g a n i s a t i o n was
t h e town' obodo. I t . c o n s i s t e d of t h e . t e n q u a r t e r s i n I h i a l a .
The 0 l u o h a was t h e h i g h e s t p o l i t i . c a 1 o f f i c e , w h i l e t h e
h i g h e s t l a w making body a n d supreme a u t h o r i t y was t h e Oluoha-
i n - c o u n c i l . T h i s compr i sed t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f t h e
v i l l a g e s i n I h i a l a . The . r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f t h e f o u r d y n a e t i c
l i n e a g e s i n t h e c o u n c i l we re c a l l e d , t h e ~ n o k o b a r a e z e ~ " They
sat on b o t h s i d e s o f t h e o l u o h a d u r i n g t h e c o u n c i l ' s s e s s i o n s .
They wers d i s t i n g u i s h e d by t h e i r r e g a l i a . T h e i r c a p was
a d o r n e d w i t h two e x t r a e a g l e f e a t h e r s . T h e Op;buehit -- s
r e p r e s a n t e d t h e o t h e r l i n e a g e s .
The a d m i n i s t r a t i v e f u n c t i o n s c f t h e c o u n c i l were: t o
m a i n t a i n law a n d o r d e r i n t h e community; t o e n s u r e t h a t
c o r d i a l r e l a t i o n s h i p e x i s t e d among t h e v a r i o u s g r o u p s i n
t h e town, a n d be tween t h e town and h e r n e i g h b o u r s . I t
p a s s e d l e g i s l a t i o n s f o r t h e w e l l b e i n g of t h e
p e o p l e , and e n s u r e d t h e p r k ~ e r v a t i o n o f c u s t o m s and
t raci - i t i o n s . F u r t h c r r n o r c , i t was t h c hi .gher; t J u d i c i a l body.
d e c i s i o n of t h e c o u n c i l , r e s o r t was u s u a l l y made t o
T b i n i u k p a i o f Arochukwu. The d e c i s i o n o f t h i s o r a c l e - was f i n a l - a n d b i n d i n g on a l l t h e d i s p u t a n t s . 11
I n p r e - c o l o n i a l I h i a l a s q c i e t y , a g r i c u l t u r e was t h e
most i m p c ~ r t a n t economic a c t i v i t y . L a n d , t h e g r e a t e s t asset ..
i n a g r i c u l t u r e was commurid(y owned by t h e v a r i o u s o ~ b e .
T h e method o f l a n d u s e was s h i f t j n g c u l t i v a t i o n ; a p r a c t i c e
i n which l a n d w a s l e f t f a l l o w . f o r a number of y e a r s ,
r a n g i n g from t h r e e t o f i v e y e a r s . C r o p r o t a t i o n was
p r a c t i s e d . Y a m a a t e r n a t e d w i t h c a s s a v a . I n between yam
mounds, maize and cocoyam were c u l t i v a t e d . ' A s t h e c h i e f
c r o p , i t was r e g a r d e d as t h e " 1 g b o s t a f f o f l i f e ; l 2 a n d had
a d e i t y a s s o c i a t e d w i t h i t s c u l t i v a t i o n a n d consumpt ion . I t
w a s s o i m p o r t a n t as a n ezgnomic c r o p t h a t t h e s i z e of t h e
yam b a r n was a ma jo r i n d e x of w e a l t h and a f f l u e n c e i n t h e
t r a d i . t i o n a 1 s o c i e t y . 13
The main f a r m i n g t o o l s were hoes ' and d i g g i n g s t i c k s .
F r u i t t r e e s , l i v e s t o c k b r e e d i n g , h u n t i n g and f i s h i n g f e a t u r e d
p r o m i n e n t l y i n t h e economy. C r a f t s i n c l u d e d mat-making,
c a r v i n g and p o t t e r y m a n u f a c t u r e , R u t b e c a u s e of t h e
prominence a t t a c h e d t o a g r i c u l t u r e , t h e c r a f t s wore m a i n l y
p r a c t i s e d a f t e r c r o p c u l t i v a t i o n , T h e women of Uzoakwa
q u a r t e r were n o t e d f o r t h e p o t t e r y p r o d u c t s which t h e y .
s o l d t o t h e v a r i o u s q u a r t e r s and e x p o r t e d t o communi t i e s
o u t s i d e I h i a l a , They s o u r c e d t h e c l a y from t h e r i v e r i n e
s e c t i o n of O k i j a , 1 4
Farm and i n d u s t r i a l s u r p l u s e s were s o l d i n m a r k e t s i n
a n d o u t s i d e I h i a l a , Each v i l l a g e had i t s m a r k e t , b u t t h e
c e n t r a l marke t t h a t s e r v e d as t h e ' c e n t r e f o r a l l f a i r s ,
m a j o r f e s t i . v a l s a n d s o c i a l f u n c t i o n s was Nkwo Ogbe, I t hehd on 2.l t s r n a t e fiTP:wo marke t days. --.,
Women were a c t i v e l y engaged i n mat-making and t h e
p r o d u c t i ~ r i o f c a s s a v a , melon and cocoyam. T h e i r r o l e as
t r a d e r s was l i m i t e d t o I h i a l a . Long d i s t a n c e t r a d e w a s t h e
e x c l u s i v e p r e s e r v e o f men. They t r a d e d t o s u c h d i s t a n t p l a c e s
as Aboh, i n t h e p r e s e n t D e l t a s t a t e . IL5 Head p o r t e r a g e w a s .
t h e c h i e f means o f t r a n s p o r t i n g t h e goods , .
d) P h i l o s o p h y and R e l i c i o n
A good u n d e r s t a n d i n g of t h e r e l i g i o n a n d p h i l o s o p h y o f
I h i a l a w i l l b e o f i ~ m e n s e h e l p i n examin ing t h e c h r i s t i a n
m i s s i o n ' s e f f o r t a t , prosot(&xing. t h e s o c i e t y . I t w i l l b e
e a s y t o assess t h e e x t e n t c h r i s t i a n i d e a l s i m p i n g e d on t h e
t r a d i t i o n a l l y d e e p r e l i g i o n s s e n s e of t h e s o c i e t y . I n t h e
same v e i n , i t w i l l a s s i s t t o e v a l u a t e t h e r o l e o f C h r i s t i a n i t y
as a ' char,ge a g e n t ' . I t w i l l a l s o o f f e r g u i d e l i n e s as how t o
make C h r i s t i a n i t y more a d a p t a b l e t o t h e c u l t u r a l m i l i e u o f
I h i a l a s o c i e t y .
I n I h i a l a , : ' r e l i g i o n was c e n t r e d on t h e e x i s t e n c e o f
a supreme b e i n g , Chukwu. He i s t h e G v e a t God: a u t h o r o f
heaven a n d e a r t h a n d t h e u l t i m a t e r e a l i t y . A n o t h e r v a r i a n t
t o t h i s i s ' C h i n e k e ' God t h e c r e a t o r . 16
Next t o Chukwu was a p a n t h e o n o f g o d s o r d e i t i e s ,
namely, L a ( e a r t h g o d d e s s ) Igwe ( s k y god) , An~anwu . ( s u n god)
and A'madioha ( g o d o f t h u n d e r and l i g h t e n i n g ) . T h e s e g o d s
v a r i o u s l y r e l a t e d t o chukwu a n d most o f t h e t i m e , t h e y do
P h i s bi .dding. They were a g e n t s o f t h e supreme b a n g , ove r -
sesi+'ng s ~ s c i f i c a s p e c t s o f human l i f e .
A l a w e s t h e most s i g n i f i c a n t a n d c h e r i s h e d o f t h e - g o d s . I t was r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e l a n d w h e r e human b e i n g s
l i v e a n d f a r m . h h a t s h e s a n c t i o n e d c o n s t i t u t e d r i g h t a n d
hat s h e condemned & a s t a b o o . She was t h e g u a r d i h n o f t h e
p e o p l e s m o r a l i t y .
T h e b a s i s o f l a w i n t h e t r a d i t i o n a l I h i a l a s o c i e t y was
h i n g e d o n t h e d u a l p r i n c i p l e o f n a t u r a1 law O m e n a l a a n d
p u b l i c m o r a l i t y iwu obocio. V i o l a t i o n o f t h e n a t ~ r a l l a w
c o n s t i t u t e d s b o m i n a t i o n . Homiciae, s t e a l i n g of yam s e e d l i n g s
f r o m t h e tarnl, a d u l t e r y , e s p e c i a l l y i n c e s t here r e g a r d e d a s
a b c n l i r ~ a c i o n . htren s u c h o c c u ~ n e @ , p ~ o p i i i a t i o n became t h e
c o n c e r n o f a l l . I t was b e l i e u e d t h c ; t w i t h o u t s u c h , t h e
w h o l e coritn!uni t y wouici scrff e r t;ol,~e c a l k m i ty . T h i s i n s t i l l e d
fear ' i n t h e p e o p l e . ~t L V ~ ~ S this f e a r ~ t k ~ i b b l s f r o m t h e
gocis L t i a t moderated soc i a l b e t r a v i o u r i n I h i i l a .
, , . +lie .. iwu GLOCG, b n t t l e v t h r r ni.r.iCI c u n s i u t e c i ui s u c h
r u l e s s n d r e q i i i . a t i o r i s as w k r e ~ u r l t ~ . i v e c . i i j y trie p i . o p l e f o r
$ h e i r u a i l y l i r e ~ c t i v i t i e s . v i o l t i t ion of' such l a w s a t t r a c -
t e d fit-15s a n d cor'por a 1 pufii.5 h w e n t i n ri~os t cir'cunl:, t a n c e s .
The w i i e f in r e i n c i j r n i i t f o n m d l i f e-a t t r r - d e a t h was
r if c. I"he + e o g l c cor~ceivrxl an6 percciveci l i f e i;,,ld d e a t h
a s a cu:l t ; inuan~.
Q t h 2 r lesser s p i r i t s o f irnpor L a n c e were t:ie d n c e s t r a l
s?iriLs, T h e s p i r i t of the dead a n c e s t o r s ; tile l i v i n g d e a d .
li; L W ~ S t h e b e l i e f t h a t w h o e v e r l i v e d a g o o d l i f e o n e a r t h ,
r e c e i v e d p r o p e r buricjL a n d f u n e r a l r i t e s , would j o i n t h e
company o f t h e good c p i r i t s i n t h e n e x t w o r l d , a n d . f rom
t h e r e p r o t e c t t h e i r l i n e a g e s . Such a n c e s t o r s wore v e n e r a t e d .
They were r e g a r d e d as i n t e r c e s s o s s f o r t h e l i v i n g t o chukwu
a n d h a r b i n g e r s o f good f o r t u n e . Me%
There, however, s o u l s o f t h e d e c e a s e d who d i d n o t
a t t a i n t h a t happy s t a t e . They l i v e d i g n o b l e a n d m i s e r a b l e
l i f e w h i l e on e a r t h a n d did n o t r e c e i v e f u l l b u r i a l r i t e s .
They r ema ined unhappy, d i s c o n t e n t e d and roamed t h c wor ld o f
men, t o r m e n t i n g a n d h a r r a s s i n g peop le . They were t h e
m a l ~ v o l c n t , s p i r i t s t h a t c a u s e d havoc and d i s o r d e r i n t h e
s o c i e t y . IIThey come n e a r e s t t o t h e c o n c e p t i o n o f t h e J u d e o - '
C h r i s t i a n d e v i l u ' . 17
A l t h o u g h , t h e t r a d i t i o n a l r e l i c i o n i s t s d i . r e c t e d t h e i r
p r a y e r s t o t h e a n c e s t r a l s p i r i t s , t h e g e n e r a l b e l i e f was t h a t
t h e a n c e s t r a l s p i r i t s were t h e i n t e r m e d i a r i e s and i n t e r c e s s o r s
f o r t h e i r o f f s p r i n g s - a l i f e and chukvsu. They were a d d r e s s e d
as n d i nna nna ' a n y i h a ; n d i gboo, o u r f o r e b e a r s . T h i s means
t h a t t h e p r i n c i p l e of p r a y i n g t o chukwu t h r o u g h t h e a n c e s t r d
s p i r i t s was n o t u n l i k e t h e c h r i ~ . t i a n p r i n c i p l e o f p r a y i n g t o
God t h r o u g h t h e s a i n t s . S i m i l a r l y , t h e p r a c t i c e o f t h e
t r a d : i t i o n a l r e l i g i o n i s t s c a l l i n g upon t h e god o f t h e i r f c r e b e a r s
c h i n d i nr--a a n y i h a , i n t h e i r p r a y e r i s t h e same manner t h e
c h r i s t i a n s 'beckon Qpon t h e ' ~ o d o f Abraham, 1 ' s a a c an6 J a c c b l .
2 1
The most i m p o r t a n t d e i t y i n I h i a l a was t h e I J r a s i
d e i t y . I t was embodied In t h e U,Fask r i v e r . I t had a c h i e f
p r i e s t who was e q ~ m l l y t h e r e l i c i o u s head o f t h e c l a n .
A n n u a l l y , t h e town c e l e b r a t e d a f e a s t i n honour o f t h e d e i t y .
D u r i n g s u c h c e l e b r a t i o n s , s a c r i f i c e s were o f f e r e d t o i t s
s h r i n e by t n e p e o p l e i n a p p r e c i a t i o n ,, .of h i s . .benevolence i n
t h e p a s t a n d p r a y e d t o r more p r o t e c t i o n i n t h e f u t u r e . I n
t h e same manner , t h e y a s k e d f o r f o r g i v e n e s s f o r o f f e n c e s
t h e y commit ted.
A 1 1 o b j e c t s , a n i m a l s and i n d i v i d u a l s u s e d f o r a tonemen t
were d e d i c a t e d t o t h e d e i t y . I t was e q u a l l y t h e c u s t o d i a n
o f a l l t h e t o t e m a n i m a l s i n t h e town. Some o f s u c h a n i m a l s
i n c l u d e , t h e s a c r e d p y t h o n eke - u r u s i . , and a s a c r e d f i s h
l o c a l l y r e f e r r e d t o as %a. l8 I t w a s a n a b o m i n a t i o n t o h u r t
o r k i l l s u c h a n i m a l s . I f , however , t h e y w e r e , a c c i d e n t a l l y
k i l l c d , t h e y r e c e i v e d b u r i a l r i t e s a l m o s t comparab le t o
t h a t a c c o ~ * d e d a n i n d i v i d u a l .
A g a i n , i t was t h e c u s t o d i a n o f a l l s a c r e d g r o v e s . B u t
t h o s e n o t e d f o r t h e i r m a l e v o l e n t d i s p o s i t i o n o r u s e d f o r
dumping and t h e b u r i a l s i t e s f o l l p e o p l e who d i e d of s t r a n g e
' a i l m e n t s were n o t d e d i c a t e d t o i t , Such m a l e v o l e c t g r o v e s
(a.70 o h i a ) i n c l u d e d Tjhdengwu a n d k b o h a .
The s i g n i f i c a n c e of some of t h e m a j o r r e l i g i o u s
b e l i e f s a n d p r a c t i c e s a r e h i g h l i g h t e d t o show t h e d e e p
r e l i g i o u s s e n s e o f t h e peop le .
O D ~ U r u a k a : ' T h i s h a s an a n n u a l f e s t i v a l f o r c h i l d r e n
i n t h e a g e b r a c k e t o f t h r e e a n d f i v e y e a r s . I t i n v o l v e d
t h e f e a s t i n g o f t h e s e c h i l d r e n t o s u m p t u o u s m e a l s a t t h e
s h r i n e o i t h e u r a s i d e i t y t o p l a c a t e t he i r s o u l s a n d
d i s t r a c t them f r o m r e t u r n i n g t o t h e world b e y o n d , f r o m w h i c h
t h e y came. Isa O f o ; c o n s e c r a t i n g t h e o f o . T h i s was d o n e - t o e n h a n c e t h e p o t e n c y a n d e f f i c a c y o f t h e - o f o by s m e a r i n g
i t w i t h t h e blood o r t h e a n i m a l , u s u a l l y g o a t , s l a u g h t e r e d
f o r t h e p u r p o s e .
Z u s t u i i ~ a L y ueiieis U I ~ G p r a c t i c e s i n c l u d e t w i n m u r d e r ,
o g b a n j e a n d t h e k i l l i n g of b a b i e s t h a t c u t t h e u p p e r t o o t h
i i rs t . T h e s e were, h o w e v e r , d u e t o a p o o r k n o w l e d g e of
human k h y s i d l o g y . H e n c e h o r m o n a l m a l f u n c t i o n s here r e g a r d e d
a s a b o m i n a t i o n .
A n o t h e r d e i t y w h i c h h a d v o t a r i e s i n I h i a l a was t h e
I b i n i - u k s a b i , t h e l o r 1 9 j u j u o f aArochukwu, I t was m o s t l y
c o n s u l t e d f o r o r s c d l a r s e r v i c e s , e s p e c i a l l y o n matters
w h i c h were i e l t t o be b e y o n d t h e k e n of human k n o w l e d g e ,
I t was e q u a l l y c o n s u l t e d f o r c o n f l i c t r e s o l u t i o n .
P t is s u s p e c t e d t h a t its orsh ship permeated l h i a l a
w i t h t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of hro c o l o n i e s i n t h e f i r s t
q u a r t e r o f t h e e i g h t e e n t h c e n t u r y . 19
e) E x t e r n a l i < e l a t i o n s
The g r e a t e s t external f a c t o r t h a t s t i m u l a t e d t h 2
a c c e p t a n c e of c h r i s t i a n i t y i n l h i a l a here t h e f a l l - o u t
from h e r i n t e r n e c i n e w a r s w i t h U l i . T h i s war w h i c h s t a r t e d -
2 2
a t a b o u t 1092, r a g e d t o t h e d i s a d v a n t a g e o f I h i a l a t i l l
1903. To c o n t a i n U l i , s h e was c o n s t r a i n e d t o s e e k e x t e r n a l
a s s i s t a n c e t o p r o s e c u t e t h e war. F i r s t , t h e Abam w a r r i o r s ,
b u t t h e i r martial prowess c o u l d n o t w i t h s t a n d t h e s u p e r i o r
f i r e -power of U li t.roops. 20 A s a ] -ac t r e s o r t , s h e engaged
t h e s e r v i c e s of t h e West A f r i c a n F r c n t i e r F o r c e (WAFF)
s t a t i o n e d a t Aboh. U l i was f i n a l l y p u t t o f o u t i n 1903,
w i t h t h e i r a s s i s t a n c e . 21 T h i s caused I h i a l a t o be f a v o u r a b l y
d i s p o s e d t o t h e Europeans o r t h e i r a g e n t s , w i t h t h e hope
t o d e r i v e similar b e n e f i t s from such a s s o c i a t i o n . .
S e c o n d l y , O k i j a proved v e r y i n t r a n s i g e n t t o a11
a t t e m p t s by t h e m i s s i o n a r i e s and c o l o n i a l a g e n t s t o
e s t a b l i s h i n t h e a r e a . They f e a r e d t h a t such p r e s e n c e
would e r o d e t h e r i t u a l p r a c t i c e s t h a t c o n s t i t u t e d t h e i r
ma jo r s o u r c e of l i v e l i h o o d . T h i s e a r n e d h e r a m i l i t a r y
Ons laugh t by t h e c o l o n i a l force' . 22 The r e s u l t w a s t h e
d i v e r s i o n of i n t e r e s t t o I h i a l a , where t h e r e was a l e s s
a v e r s i o n t o t h e Europeans whether as c o l o n i a l a g e n t s o r
m i s s i o n a r i e s .
F i n a l l y , t h e c o n t e s t f o r t h e v a c a n t s t o o l of Oluoha
p r e c i p i t a t e d a ma jo r p o l i t i c a l upheava l i n I h i a l a a t t h e
end of t h e f i r s t decade of t h i s c e n t u r y . I n o r d e r t o
b o l s t e r up t h e i r c h a n c e s - t o t h e t h r o n e , t h e v a r i o u s
c o n t e n d e r s i n v i t e d , a l l i e d o r ~ f T e r e d t a c i t s u p p o r t t o e i t h e r
of t h e p remie r m i s s i o n s - t h e C.M.S. o r R . c . M . ~ ~ T h i s
g r e a t l y a f f e c t e d t h e c h r i s t i a n m i s ~ i o n a r y e n t e r p r i s e as t h e
m a c h i n a t i o n s of t h c ~ c c o n t e n d e r s polnr3.zsd t h o society
a l o n g denominational l i n e s . R i v a l m i s s i o n s s u p p o r t e d ~ i d
c a n d i d a t ea.
1. D a r y l l F o r d and C . I . J o n e s , The I b o and I b i b i o S p e a k i n g P e o p l e s o f S o u t h e a s t e r n FJi/ ;eria (London: I n t e r n a t i o n a l A f r i c a n I n s t i t u t e , 1957) , p. 10.
2. H a r o l d F a t t a r d , P h i l l i p s Modern C o l l e g e At las f o r A f r i c a (London, George and P h i l l i p s L t d , 1702) , p, 13,
3 P o p u l a t i o n Census of E a s t e r n F i ~ ; e r i a . . B u l l e t i n No. 7 ( O n i t s h a P r o v i n c e , Census S u p c t t e n d e n t Lagos , 1953) P. 14.
4. I h i a l a L o c a l Government A r e a o f f i c e f i l e No. 2 ~EO/78/vol.I1/15.
5. N a t i o n a l P o p u l a t i o n C ommissiorl (NPC) I h i a l a L oc5.1 Government A r e a , R e l e a s e Wo. 5, O c t o b e r , 1992.
6. N a t i o n a l A r c h i v e s , Enugu (N.A.E.) ONDIST 1/6/4 C . a 3 0 / 7 , 1908, P. 3.
7. F b a n a s o Odirrlegwu C . 85 y e a r s . Farmer i n t e r v i e w e d a t PI baralrpaka v i l l a g e , I h i a l a , 6.7.93.
8. M .G. Smi th , I h i a l a Chi.e;Ftai.ncy d i s p u t e . (Enugu, Government P r i n t e r , 1964) , p. 11..
9. K banaso Odimegwu, i n t e r v i e w c i t e d ,
1 . M .G. Smi th , L h i a L C h i e f t a l n c y d i s ~ u t e . . . , p. 12.
11. K.N. Oriyekwere, he Aro S e t t l e m e n t . i n I h i a l a H , ~ . C . E ; . p r o j ' e c t ,. Department of H i s t o r y , C o l l e g e of E d u c a t i o n , Awka, 1982) , p. 16.
3 . O k o r i e Osuagwu, C.@ y e a r s , f a r m e ~ / h e r b a l i s t , i n t e r v i e w e d a t Urnudara v i l l a g e , I h i a l a on 1 7 t h J u l y , 1993. Mbanaso Odimegwu i n t e r v i e w c i i ed.
14. ~ ~ a t r i c c O d i f e , C i r c a 90 y e a r s , housevrife/women l e a d e r , i n t e r v i e w e d a t Mbarakpaka v i l l a g e , I h i a l a 3 0 t h J u n e , 1993.
1 . C.O. I z u o r a h , '!A' Survey of t h e IT i s to ry of I h i a l a f rom t h e E a r l i e s t t i m e s t o l9aO1I (B.A. p r o j e c t , Depar tment of H i s t o r y , U n i v e r s i t y of PTigeria, Nsukka (UNM) 19761, p. 22..
1.6. C .I;. Mcelt, "The Re l . i c ion of Niger ia" A f r i c a X I V No* 3, p. 11.
17. I .F?.A. Ozigb*, Roman C a t h o l i c i s m i n S o u t h e a s t e r n I ~ l i g e r i a 1885-1931: A S t u d y i n c o l o n i a l E v a n g e l i s m ( ~ n i t s h a , Etukokwu P r e s s , 19881, p. 30.
18. O k o r i e Osuagwu; i n t e r v i e w c i t ed . ,
l o . K.Fl. O n y e h i e r e , "The A r o S e t t l e m e n t i n I h i a l a " ( ~ ~ ~ p r o j e c t , Depa r tmen t o f H i s t o r y , C o l l e g e o f E d u c a t i o n , Rwka 1982) , p. 17.
I I 20. C.O. I z u o r a h , I1A S a r v e y of t h e H i s t o r y ... , p. 27.
21. P.A. T a l b o t , P e o p l e o f S o u t h e a s t e r n N ic re r i a vo l .1 . (London: O x f o r d U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s ) , p. 274 ; C.E. O b i , ''A: H i s t o r y of C h r i s t i a n i t y i n I h i a l a L.G.A. 1908-1977. (B.A. p r o j e c t , Depa r tmen t o f R ~ S - i g i o n , c l ~ .N .N,) 1378) , p. 24.
22. Oguanobi Nwachukwu, C i r c q 85 y e a r s , f a r m e r , i n t e r v i e w e d a t Ubahu O k i j a on J u l y 10, 1993.
23. Solomon A s i k a , C i r c a 68 y e a r s , bus ines sman , i n t e r v i e w e d a t N d i e z i k e v i l l a g e , T h i a l a on 9 t h J u l y , 1993; Brendan Odimegwu C i r c a 70 y e a r s , r e t i r e d h e a d m a s t e r , i n t e r v i e w e d a t Mbarakpaka v i l l a g e I h i a l - a on 2nd J u l y , 1793.
CHAPTER 111: TF?E REGII\!I\TIMG O F CHRISTTAW MISSIONARY . . ,. . .. FNTERPRLSE IT; I H I A L A : 1908 - 1920
- , . . . . ~ .. - a . . T h i s c h a p t e r examines t h e ' c i r c u m s t a n c e s s u r r o u n d i n g
t h e adven t of t h e t w 3 c h r i s t i a n m i s s i o n s t h a t p r o s e l y t i z e d .
I h i a l a a t t h i s per iod . I t t r a c e s thsn.from t h e i n c e p t i o n of
t h e i r a c t i v i t i e s i n I g b o l a n d till t h e y g r a d u a l l y +.meated
I h i a l a , Fur the rmore , t h e i n i t i a l r e a c t i o n s of t h e p e o p l e
towards C h r i s t i a n i t y i s h i g h l i g h t e d .
a ) The Ahgl ican Church ( C .Mas,) 1908-1920
The Angl ican Church m i s s i o n a r y e n t e r p r i s e i n I gboland
was championed by t h e Church M i s s i o n a r y Soci 'e ty (CMS) . They
began i n ~ u l y 1857 w i t h t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of a m i s s i o n
s t a t i o n a t O n i t s h a by Reverends S.A. Crowther and J . Z . T a y l o r ,
t o g e t h e r w i t h some o t h e r t e a c h e r s and e v a n g e l i s t s from
S i e r r a Leone. F o r t h e f i r s t twenty y e a r s of t h e o p e r a t i o n
of t h e miss ion a t O n i t s h a , t h e European t r a d e r s on t h e N i g e r
co -opera ted w i t h t h e miss ion . L a . t e r , t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p
t u r n e d s o u r due t o r a c i a l p r e j u d i c e s , and by 1877, t h e
miss ior fs ' s i t u a t i o n began t o d e t e r i o r a t e c Two y e a r s after,
Rev. Crowther ceased t o be t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r of t h e mission.
I n 1890, Crowther'c a u t h o r i t y o v e r i t f i n a l l y c o l l a p s e d .
The s i t u a t i o n was s a l v a g e d and r e - o r g a n i z e d by H .H. Dobinson.
With t h e a r r i v a l of A r c h i ~ a c o n T.J. Dennis i n 1895, t h e
m i s s i o n embarked on a v i g o r o u s p o l i c y of expansion. The
towns around O n i t s h a became p r o s e l y t i z e d b e f o r e t h e end o f
. t h e decade. -
With t h e B r i t i s h p e n e t r a t i o n o f I g b o l a n d e a r l y i n
t h e t w e n t i e t h c e n t u r y , t h e C.M.S. moved a t t h e h e e l s of
B r i t i s h t r o o p s i n t o I gbo h i n t e r l a n d . Expanding southwards ,
i t reached I h i a l a i n 1908. 2
T h e r e a r e s e v e r a l g a p s and c o n f l i c t s i n t h e a c c o u n t s
on t h e a d v e n t of t h e C.M.S. m i s s i o n a t I h i a l a , However, a l l
t e n d t o a g r e e *ha t i t was th rough t h e e f f o r t s of i ts a g e n t ,
Rev. FOG, Payne, a West I n d i a n , t h a t t h e m i s s i o n e s t a b l i s h e d
t h e f i r s t s t a t i o i ? , A.nd a l o c a l n o t a b l e , ksoegwu Nwanakezi
of Amamumu v i l l a g e T h i a l a i n v i t e d him. iY r e c o n c i l l e d .' L
v c r s i o n i s a t t e m p t e d he re .
Rsoegxu Nwanakczi i n v i t e d Rev, FOG. Payne from O n i t s h a
where t h e C .M,S. m i s s i o n had a l r e a d y e s t a b l i ~ h e d a ' s t a t i o n ,
Ilo reques ted Rev. F.G. Payne t o ctart; a stat:i!)n a t T h i a l a
and o f f e r e d h i s r e c e p t i o n chamber, obi, t o be used by t h e
m i s s i o n till i t wac a b l e t o b u i l d a church?:.; :' . % . .
S e v e r a l r e a s o n s accoun ted f o r t h e Asoegwu Nwanakezi 's
i n v i t a t i o n of Rev. F.G. Payne. I t would seem t h a t h i s
c o n t a c t w i t h t h e Europeans a t Aboh, where h e t r a d e d and t h e
f e a r of t h e u p h e a v a l s fiYom t h e p u h i t i v e e x p e d i t i o n ( U l i -
4 I h i a l a p a t r o l of 1908-1909) made him : a s s o c i a t e c l o s e l y
w i t h t h e m i s s i o n a r y as a s i g n o f f r i e n d l i n e s s and
s o l a d a r i t y w i t h t h e c o l o n i a l f o r c e . T h i s would t h e r e b y
a v e r t a n o c s l a u g h t of t h e c o l o n i a l f o r c e s on I h i a l a ,
Moreover, he had come i n x o n t a c t w i t h o r had knowledge of
t h e u s e of t r o o p s of t h e West A f r i c a n F r o n t i e r F o r c e
(VJAFF) a g a i n s t communit ies h o s t i l e t o t h e B r i k i s h . He
e n l i s t e d t h e i r a s s i s t a n c e to 'ens ' t h e p r o t r a c t e d U l i - I h i a l a
w a r i n I h i a l a t s f a v o u r i n 1903. T h a t drew a t t e n t i o n of t h e
c o l o n i a l army t o I h i a l a . Asoegwu Nwanakezi and two o t h e r s
were a p p o i n t e d w a r r a n t c h i e f s and t h e r e b y became members o f
t h e H a t i v e Cour t a t ~ b o h . 5
L a t e i n 1908, Rev. F.G. Payne f o r m a l l y e s t a b l i s h e d a
s t a t i o n i n dsoegwu Nwanakezit s componnd, T h e r e upc:~, i t
a t t r a c t e d t h e f i r s t s e t of c o n v e r t s i n I h i a l a which i n c l u d e d ,
J a r u i s Udechukwu, James Anyake , E z e k i e l N z e l i b e and R i c h a r d
Onwuchekwa. 0 t h e r s were; P e t e r b , Emmanuel and L a z a r u s Odi f e ,
Edward Okez ie , Moses Agbodike, T h e o p h i l u s Nganwuchu, J eremiah
Obi and N a t h a n i e l A s i k a , e t c . 6 I n 1909, Rev. Payne, w i t h
t h e a s s i s t a n c e of t h e s e c o n v e r t s , a c q u i r e & t h e s a c r e d g r o v e
Udengwu, a3 j a c e n t t o C h i e f A'soegwu Nwanakezit s compound f o r
a permanent s t a t i o n . I t was c l c a r e d i n t h e same y e a r by
t h e Conver ts . A church/school . ' '-, was b u i l t , Rev.
F.G. Payne c a l l e d i t S t . S i l a s t church/school s t a t i o n I h i a l a ,
~e p o s t e d a r e s i d e n t schoo l / church t e a c h e r , Timothy Anuekgnwa
from O b i n o f i a O j o t o , t o t h e s t a t i o n . 7
I n December 1910, some of t h e c o n v e r t s , James Anyake. , P e t e r Odi f e , R i c h a r d Onwuchekwa and E z e k i e l N z e l i b e were
b a p t i z e d i n t h e s t a t i o n by Rev. F.G. Payne. T h i s w a s t h e
8 f i r s t bapt ism a t t h e s t a t i o n ,
However, Pev. T.C. Fayne c o n t i n u e d t o v i s i t t h e
s t a t i o n from h i s O n i t s h a b a s e t i l l t h e mid 1910s when h i s
m i s s i o n a r y a c t i v i t i e s g r a d u a l l y moved towards Owerr i as t h e
C.M.S. m i s s i o n made f o r a y s i n t h a t d i r e c t i o n . 9
The S t . S i l a s ' church/school . ..- ' .-: remained t h e o n l y
s t a t i o n of t h e Angl ican church i n I h i a l a t i l l 1917. C o n v e r t s
from t h e o t h e r v i l l a g e s a t t e n d e d church and s c h o o l a t t h e
. S t . S i l a s l s t a t i o n . The church/school t e a c h e r and t h e s e - e a r l y C o n v e r t s p layed a f m d a m e n t a l r o l e i n e v a n g e l i z i n g t h e
v a r i o u s v i l l a g e s i n I h i a l a . They o r g a n i z e d t h e uka eke
evangel ism d&ing which emphasis was l a i d on t h e need f o r t h e
p e o p l e t o j e t t i o ~ a 1 t h e i r t r a d i t i o n a l b e l i e f s and p r a c t i c e s ,
l i k e r e i n c a r n a t i o n , t w i n murder, 3 c a s t e sys tem, i d o l s , e t c
f o r t h e i d e a l s 'of C h r i s t i a n i t y . They encouraged t h e more
y o u t h f u l non-conver ts t o embrace s c h o o l s and churches s o as
t o b e n e f i t from t h e deveiopments of t h e c o l o n i a l s i t u a t i o n . 10
. . . The e a r l y c o n v e r t s showed marked .' :;- : . . . . . . . .
f a n a t i c i s m towards t h e f a i t h . They renounced a l l t h e i r
wives b u t one , d e s t r o y e d t h e i r i d o l s openly , d e s e c r a t e d
s a c r e d p l a c e s and d e f i l e d t h e s a n c t i t y of t h e nmanwu c u l t .
These were i n d i c a t o r s t o t h e c o n v e r t s growing a n t i p a t h y
towards t h e t r a d i t i o n a l : : . b e l i e f s and p r a c t i c e s . Not al l .
c o n v e r t s d i d j o i n i n t h e d e s e c r a t i o n of such h c r e c ! p l a c e s ,
though. The more y o u t h f u l c o n v e r t s improved on t h e i r
e d u c a t i o n and t o o k employment w i t h t h e . m i s s i o n as t e a c h e r s
and c a t e c h i s t s . 12
S t . � ark's Church TJmudara 1917 . . . , . , . ,
The f i r s t o f t h e o u t s t a t i o n s t o s p r i n g o u t of S t .
S i l a s c h u r c h was S t . Mark's Umudara i n 1917, through t h e
p a t r o n a g e of two prominent aen i n t h e ' v i l l a g e , J a c o b
Onyemuze and Benneth I lechukwu. Benneth I lechukwu o f f e r e d
h i s p r i v a t e l a n d f o r t h e o u t s t a t l o n and was h i g h l y
i n s t r u m e n t a l t o t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of a market c l o s e t o t h e
church. T h e i r pr imary aim f o r a t t r a c t i n g t h e church was t o
p u t a n end t o t h e i n c o n v e n i e n c e ~ s u f f e r e d by t h e c o n v e r t s
i n t r e k k i n g t h e l o n g d i s t a n c e t o S t . S i l a s t church.
R e s i d e s , t h e r e was t h e need t o b r i n g d-evelopment c l o s e t o t h e
v i l l a g e . Hence, t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of t h e market c l o s e t o t h e
church. 13
The Roman C a t h o l i c Miss ion: 1911-1920
I h i a l g l h a d t h e f i rs t c o n t a c t w i t h t h e RmC.Me i n March
1906 d u r i n g Rev. F r , V i c t o r Duhazet s e x p l o r a t i o n of I g b o
h i n t e r l a n d . S i n c e h i s t a s k was t o e x p l o r e t h e i n t e r i o r , no
s t a t i o n was e s t a b l i s h e d i n t h e town. The a c c o u n t s of t h e
p e o p l e OR t h e a d v e n t of t h e R.C.Me a r e s i l e n t on t h i s event .
However, r e c o r d s l e f t by Rev. F r . Duhaze c o n t a i n v a l u a b l e
informat i .on on t h e st.at6 of t h e town a d h e r a t t i t u d e towards
t h e whiteman and C h r i s t i a n i t y . I t ; i s p robab le t h a t he,
v i s i t e d when t h e wounds i n f l i c t e d by t h e U l i - I h i a l a . war were
s t i l l f r e s h as he r e c o r d e d t h a t I t . . . j u s t l i k e t h e i r '
ne ighbours a t Okid ja ( s i c ) they ( I h i a l a ) d i s t r u s t e d t h e
71 list ' . l4 To show t h e a t t i t u d e of t h e p e o p l e toward^
C h r i s t i a n i t y , h e recokded t h a t a f t e r he met w i t h t h e l e a d e r s
of t h e community, t h e y became qu i ' t e p l e a s a n t . . . and promised
t o p u t up two s c h o o l s i n t h e i r townI1. 15
The R.C .Ma was f o r m a l l y e s t a b l i s h e d i n I h i a l a i n
K p r i l 1911. T h e r e a r e s e v e r a l g a p s and c o n f l i c t s i n t h e
a c c o u n t s on t h e g e n e s i s of t h e mission 's a c t i v i t i e s i n I h i a l a ,
b u t a l l t e n d t o a g r e e on two po in t s : Rev. F r . Alphonsus B i n d e l
b rough t t h e m i s s i o n t o I h i a l a ; t h e s t z t i o n was l o c a t e d a t
E z i q m i v i l l a g e b e f o r e i t was t r a n s f e r r e d t o t h e p r e s e n t s i t e
a l o n g t h e Oni tsha-Owcrr i road. A r e r o n c i l e d v e r s i o n is
a t t e m p t e d here .
B d e l e g a t i o n of E z i a n i &LL?ge of I h i a l a i n v i t e d
Rev. F r . Alphonsus 'B inde l from h i s b a s e a t Ozabsllu t o
e s t a b l i s h a s t a t i o n i n t h e i r v i l l a g e . On a r r i v a l i n k p r i l
1911, he was h o s t e d i n O h a j i o b i Nwachukwu' s house who a l s o
o f f e r e d h i s t o t h e m i s s i o ~ a r y . l6 T h i s new miss ion
r e c e i v e d wide a c c e p t a n c e from t h e people. According t o Rev,
F r . B i n d e l 1 s r e c o r d s , t h e E z i a n i peop le denounced members of
t h e i r q u a r t e r t h a t p a t r o n i z e d t h e Angl ican church. l7 T h i s
view a p p e a r s t o be a d i s t o r t i o n of t h e r e a c t i o n of E z i a n i
peop le towards t h e i r ne ighbours who a t t e n d e d t h e ~ n ~ l i c a n
church. I t would a p p e a r t o be a r e f l e c t i o n of t h e r i v a l r y
t h a t . c h a r a c t e r i z e d t h e r e l a t i o n s between bo th m i s s i o n s a t
that_ time,,
A s t h e number of c o n v e r t s grew, they o f f e r e d p a r t of
t h e i r communal l a n d f o r a permanent s i t e of t h e miss ion.
Two mud houses w i t h t h a t c h e d r o o f s were e r e c t e d t h o r e t o
s e r v e as t h e c h u r c h j s c h o o l and teacher 's house. However
O h a j i o b i Nwachukwut s house remained t h e Rev. F ~ S . g u e s t
h o u u o whonover ho v i f k t b d . 18
I n May, 1911 t h e s c h o o l was opened w i t h on ly t e n %
c h i l d . r e n present; , b u t t h e n o t a b l e s i n t h e v i l l a g e promised
t o send i n more c h i l d r e n as soon as work i n t h e farm e a ~ e d
o f f .I9 Rav. F r . Alphonsus B i n d e l app oinked Maur ice Okolo
a s t h e f i r s t r e s i d e n t t e a c h e r w h i l e h e o c c a s i o n a l l y v i s i t e d
from Ozubulu till t h e Ozubulu p r i e s t ! s r e s i d e n c e w a s
t r a n s f e r r e d t o I h i a l a i n 1927. The l h i a l a s t a t i o n was
c a l l e d S t . Martids E z i a n i , I h i a h . 20
With t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of t h e Oni tsha-Owerr i t r u n k 1A' t
r o a d i n 1912, Rev. F r . B i n d e l r e q u e s t e d a c e n t r a l and more
s t r a t e g i c s i t e on t h e road f o r t h e s t a t i o n . A p o r t i o n of
l a n d p a r t l y owned by Uzo;skwa and Mbarakpaka v i l l a g e s was
chosen. The name f o r t h i s new s i t e g e n e r a t e d a h e a t e d
c o n t r o v e r s y . Each q u a r t e r i n s i s t e d t h a t t h e s t a t i o n s h o u l d
t a k e a f t e r i ts name. To p l e a s e b o t h p a r t i e s , Rev.Fr. R i n d e l
chose a n e l ~ t r a l name. He asked , and W ~ S t o l d , t h e name of
t h e k i n d c f g r a s s tk.at grew a t t h e s i t e . He a d v i s e d l y
c a l l e d t h e p l a a e Odc-ata (where t h e a> g r a m grew) a f t e r
t h e name of t h e p l a n t t h a t @ow I n - the p lace . Thus, t h e
s t a t i o n was t r a n s f e r r e d t o a new s i t e . The s t a t i o n t h e n
became S t . ~ a r t i ' n s church/school Odaa ta , I h i a l a .
I n 1913, t h e p l o t of l a n d occup icd by t h e Odoata
s t a t i o n was expanded. An a d d k t i o n a l 14.070 a c r e s of l a n d
was i n c o r p o r a t e d i n t o it. T h i s p l o t of l a n d was l e a s e d a t
t h e c o s t of one c k i l l i n g p e r annum, f o r n i n e t y - n i n e y e a r s .
Ch ie f Odimegwu Igwegbe (Oluoha IX) s i g n e d on b e h a l f of h i s
peop le w h i l e Rev. F r . Alphonsus B i n d e l appended on b e h a l f of
t h e R.C.M. The deed s t a t e d t h a t owners of t h e l a n d on which
t h e s t a t i o n was b u i l t would i n a d d i t i o n , r e c e i v e e d u c a t i o n
t u i t i o n f r e e ' i n t h e s t a t i o n 1 s s c h o o l a s p a r t of t h e
compensat ion f o r t h e u s e of t h e i r l and . 22
On 2 0 t h J u n e 1914, t h ~ R.C.M.. i n I h i a l a s u f f e r e d a
major s e t back, Rev, F r , B i n d e l r e c e i v e d a l e t t e r which
c o n s c r i p t e d ,him i n t o t h e A l l i e d F o r c e s a t Cotonou. He l e f t
immedia te ly , 23 However, t h e job o f . e v a n g e l i z a t i o n
remained i n t h e hands of t h e church/school t e a c h e r s t i l l he
r e t u r n e d i n 1918. I t wou.ld seem t h a t no Rev. F r , was p o s t e d
t o r e p l a c e Rev, F r . Alphonsus B i n d e l . H i s a s s i s t a n t i n
t h e Ozubulu f r o n t i e r , Rev. F r . George B O ~ ~ S & & h e a l t h b roke
down i n 1914, and he had t o r e t u r n t o Europe, d e s p i t e t h e 24 war, 'I'iiis development a f f o r d e d t h e c a t e c h i s t - t e a c h e r e
i n t h e Romzn C a t h o l i c n i s s i o n an. o p p o r t u n i t y t o make more
meaningful impac t on t h e e v a n g e l i z a t i o n of I h i a l a ,
T h e Roman C a t h o l i c Church g a i n e d a m a j o r f0o . t -ho ld i n
I h i a l a i n t h e p e r i o d be tween 1911- 1920 . An o u t s t a t i o n was.
e s t a b l i s h e d . I n 1918 J o h n Abadom f rom 0 n i h s h a was d r a f t e d
t o opon u r;i;trL.Lon ut: llmuozuuwalu.
S t . P a u l ' a C h u r c h I1 rnuozo:lw:~J.a: 1-91.8
T h i s was t h e f i r s t o u t - s t a t i o n t o grow o u t o f t h e
( O d o a t a ) .Be . Martirk c h u r c h s t a t i o n . A' p r o m i n e n t c h i e f a n d
n7,v - t i t l e h o l d e r , Nwabu'gwu I zundu i n v i t e d t h e m i s s i o n 'b
the v i l l a g e , Through h i s e f f o r t , a small h u t was e r e c t e d
t o s e r v e a s t h e c h u r c h b u i l d i n g . IIe o f f e r e d one of t h e
h o u s e s i n h i s cpmpound as t h e t e a c h e r s h o u s e t i l l o n e was
b u i l t i n t h e s t a t i o n p r e m i s e s , 2 5
T h e r e i s need t o p u t t h e a d v e n t of t h e R.C.M. i n
I h i a l a i n a b e t t e r h i s t o r i c a l p e r s p e c t i v e . R.U. Okeke i s
o f t h e view, t h a t E z i a n i v i l l a g e was c h o s e n ' as t h e
i n i t i a l s i t e f o r t h c m i s s i o n b e c a u s e , ".., i t i s t h e
l e a d e r o f a l l t h e v i l l a g e s i n T h i a l a t t . 26 ~ h i ' i a s s e r t i o n
d o e s n o t a g r e e w i t h t h e h i e r a r c h i c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e
v i l l a g e s i n I h i a l a . Umudioha v i l l a g e i s t h e sen ior ' . 27
Tfie E z i a n i v i l l a g e was c h o s e n b e c a u s e s h e *nt:
t h e d e p u t a t . i o n t h a t i n v i t e d Rev; F r . B i n d e l :'-, - . .. ; t o
I h i a l a . F u r t h e r m o r e , t h e y h o s t e d him and o f f e r e d t h e i r
communal l a n d b e f o r e t h e m i s s i o n s t a t i o n was t r a n s f e r r e d
t o t h e p r e s e n t s i t e .
Aga in , C ,E. O b i o p i n e d t h a t C h i e f 0dirnep;v& Igwegbe
( O l u o h a I X ) i n v i t e d Sev. F r . A l p h o n ~ u s B i n d e l t o I h i a l a .
i n o r d e r t o p r o j e c t h i s i n f l u e n c e and enhance his c h a n c e s
t o t h e v a c a n t s t o o l o f O luoha , He c o n t e n d e d t h a t C h i e f
Odimegwu Igwegbel s m o t i v e was t o c o u n t e r t h e g rowing
p o p u l a r i t y o f t h e o p p o s i n g camp l e d by Aroegwn Nwanakezi ,
t h e p a t r o n o f t h e A n g l i c a n church . 20
T h e r e i s no doub t t h a t C h i e f Odimegwu a s s o c i h t e d
w i t h t h e R.C.M. t o b r i g h t e n h i s c h a n c e s of e l e c t i o n i n t o
w i t h f a v o u r i t i s m t o t h e R.C.M. a n d a r a b i d h a t r e d f o r t h e
A n g l i c a n s i n I h i a l a . A v i v i d example 'was t h e d e p o s i t i o n
o f C h i e f Asoegwu Nwanakezi f rom t h e I h i a l a N a t i v e c o u r t .
T h i s a r o u s e d t h e a n g e r o f t h e A n g l i c a n s t a t i o n t e a c h e r , who
compla ined t h a t i n a p p o i n t i n g new c h i e f s i n t h e town, t h e
government p u t i n c h i e f s who were s y m p a t h e t i c t o t h e
Roman c a t h o l i c s , ' ' " In . . ? a c t t 1 , o b s e r v e d t h e t e a c h e r , I t t h e
new c h i e f s . a l r e a d y show d i s t i n c k f a v o u r t o t h e C a t h o l i c s . . . 11 29
I t would seem t h a t C h i e f Odimsgwu d i d n o t i n v i t e
Rev. F r . A l p h o n s u s B i n d e l t o I h i a l a . I f h e d i d , as C.E.
O b i c l a i m e d , h e would have l o c a t e d t h e s t a t i o p .m h i s
v i l l a g e Mbarakpaka r a t h e r t h a n E z i a n i . I t was t h e
E z i a n i d e p u t a t i o n t o Ozubn lu t h a t i n v i t e d Rev. F r .
A lphonsus ' B i n d e l t o T h i n i a , The z e a l o u s s u p p o r t and
p a t r o n a g e C h i e f Odimegwu g a v e him o b s c u r e d t h e s i g n i f i c a n c e
37
of t h e E z i a n i d e p u t a t i o n t o Ozubulu and , t h e i r r o l e i n
i n v i t i n g t h e R.C .M . t o I h i a l a ,
c ) The I n i t i a l R e a c t i o n s of t h e P e o p l e Towards C h r i s t i a n i t v
The a r r i v a l of t h e f i r s t two m i s s i o n s , t h e C.M.S. and
R O C O M . i n I h i a l a c o i n c i d e d w i t h t h e fo rmal i n t r o d u c t i o n of
c o l o n i a l r u l e i n t h e a r e a . A d a t i v e Court was opened a t
I h i a l a i n 1909. 30 The f e a r of t h e o n s l a u g h t of t h e
c o l o n i a l f o r c e s had made t h e peop le f a v o u r a b l y d i s p o s e d
towards t h e m i s s i o n a r i e s . Again, t h e u t t e r d e f e a t of t h e
. P o W W . ~ U L : U l i i n 1902/03, by t h e West A f r i c a n F r o n t i e r
F o r c e t i g h t e n e d t h e f e a r of t h e p e o p l e i n t h e a r e a towards
t h e whiteman. 31 F u r t h e r m o r e , i n d i g e 9 e s of I h i a l a who
engaged i n l o n g d i s t a n c e t r a d e had found t h e s a l u t o r y
changes i n t r o d u c e d by t h e m i s s i o n a r i e s i n such p l a c e s and
t h e dec imat ion- of communit ies h o s t i l e t o t h e c o l o n i a l army,
and s o , s t r o v e f o r t h e i r town t o b e n e f i t from such
developments and a v e r t t h e gruesome e x p e r i e n c e of m i l i t a r y
conques t . 32 I t was i n t h e l i g h t of t h e above t h a t t h e
p e o p l e r e l a t e d c o r i i a l l y w i t h t h e c h r i s t i a n m i s s i o n ~ s i a
i n I h i a l a ,
The r e a c t i o n s of t h e peop le towards C h r i s t i a n i t y
v a r i e d . The c h r i s t i a n message seemed t o have':'made no
i m p r e s s i o n On t h e v a s t m a j o r i t y . I t c o u l d be t h a t such
p e o p l e c o u l d fa thom n o t h i n g of t h e t e a c h i n g on e t e r n a l
l i f e , t h e T r i n i t y , V i r g i r ~ ' b i r t h and worsh ip o f God i n
s p i r i t . S i m i l a r l y , t h e y c o u l d n o t comprehend.why one onter
s h o u l d t u r n the,,cheek t o a n a s s a i l a n t . T h e y . h a r b o u r e d
s t r o n g d o u b t s on t h e c h r i s t i a n message. However, a few
seemed t o . h a v e embraced t h e f a i t h . 33 y e t , t h e m a j o r i t y
d i d n o t oppose t h e m i s s i o n a r i e s . T h i s was p r o b a b l y
b e c a u s e o f t h e s c h o o l s t h e m i s s i o n a r f - e s e s t a b l i s h e d . I t
would a p p e a r t h a t i t endea red t h e p e o p l e t o w a r d s
C h r i s t i a n i t y and in fo rmed t h e i r g e n e r o u s a c t o f g i v i n g o u t
l a n d t o t h e m i s s i o n a r i e s . V i l l a g e s r e m o t e l y l o c a t e d from
t h e s t a t i o n s s e n t s e r i e s of d e p u t a t i o n s t o t h e p r i e s t s t o
open s c h o o l s and c h u r c h e s f o r t h e e d u c a t i o n o f t h e i r
c h i l d r e n . Some wea l thy i ~ l d i g e n e s even made o f f e r s 0.f l a n d
and h o u s e s t o t h e m i s s i o ~ a r i e s i n o r d e r t o a t t r a c t them. 34
A v i v i d example was t h e c o n t r i t u t i o n of B e n e t h I lechukwu
t o t h e e s 5 a b l i s h m e n t o f a n & I g l l c a n church / schoo l a t
Umudara v.i l l a g e .
HoweVv.er, some i n d i g e n e s opposed t h e c h r i s t i a n
m i s s i o n s . B u t t h e f e a r o f t h e c o l o x i a l s i t u a t i o n i n which
I t h e y s t o o d t h e r i s k o f a p p r e h e n s i o n i n t h e ~ a t i v e c o u r t ,
r e s t r a i n e d them from open ly c h a l l e n g i n g t h e m i s s i o n a r i e s and Conver ts . They c o u l d n o t a t t a c k o r s e e k t o f o r c i b l y e x p e l 1
t h e m i s s i o n a r i . e s from t h e town. They were t h u s c o n s t r a i n , e d
t o swallow t h e s p k n t h e y upnkdd b v e n t , ; on t h e
m i s s i o n a r i e s and c o n v e r t s , 3 5
39 MOTES
F.K. E k e c h i , C h r i s t i a n M i s s l o n a r y E n t e r p r i s e and R i v a l q i n Ig ,bo land: 1957-1914.(London; F r a n k Cass 1972) p.6.
P h i l i p Okwuosa, c i r c a , 80 y e a r s , r e t i r e d c i v i l s e r v a n t i n t e r v i e w e d a t M b a r a k p k a v i l l a g e , I h i a l a , 1 4 t h J u l y , 1993. Venn F. E r i o b u n a , 58 y e a r s , Archdeacon I h i a l a A n g l i c a n Archdeaconry . I n t e r v i e w e d a t S t , S i l a s t c h u r c h p a r s o n a g e , I h i a l a , on 1 6 t h J u l y , 1993; Solomon A s i k a , 68 y e a r s , bus ines sman , i n t e r v i e w e d a t N d i e z i k e v i l l a g e , I h i a l a on 9 t h J u l y , 1993.
P h i l i p Okwuosa, i n t e r v i e w c i t e d .
1'1 .R.T. M i l n e , " I n t e l l i g e n c e R e p o r t on A c h a l l a g r o u p 1933 ( N a t i o n a l A r c h i v e s , Enugu, (NA'E) O D l l 9 vol .11 ONIIIST 7/1/10) , 1-1. 13.
C .E. O b i l l A h i s t o r y o f C h r i s t i a n i t y i n I h i a l a L .G,A. 1 9 0 8 - 1 9 7 ~ 1 ~ ( B .A. R e l i g i o n s p e c i a l p r o j e c t , I Jn f ive r s i t y o f N i g e r i a , 'Nauklca (UNM) 1978) , p. 2 5 ; P h l l i p Okwuosa, i n t e r v i e v i ' c i t e d .
T h e o p h i l u s Nganwuchu, i n t e r v i e w e d i n C.E. C b i , "A H i s t o r y . I I o f C h r i s t i a n i t y . . . , p. 145; P h i l i p Okwuosa and
, . F. E robuna , i n t e r v i e w c i t e d .
T h e o p h i l u s Nganwuchu, i n t e r v i e w e d :In C .E. 0 b i , l l A h i s t o r y I I of C h r i s t i a n i t y . . . , p. 146.
P h i l i p Okwuosa, . . F. Er iobuna ' , i n t e r v i e w s c i t e d .
P h i l i p Okwuosa, i n t e r v i e w c i t e d ; T h . e o p h i l u s Nganwuchu, i n t e r v i e w e d i n C .E. O b i , "A H i s t o r y of C h r i s t i a n i t y
11 ... , p. 146. -.
P h i l i p Okwuosa, . F. E r i o b u n a a n d Solomon f t s i ka : i n t e r v i e w s c i t e d .
. F. R r i o b u n a , i n t c r v i e w c i t e d .
P h i l i p Okwuosa a n d - F. E r i o b u n a , i n t e r v i e w s c i t e d . M b a l a s o Odimegwu, c i r c a 09 y e a r s , farmerLcommunity l e a d e r i n t e r v i e w e d i n Mbarakpaka v i l l a g e , 6 t h J u l y 1993.
S o l o m o ~ , Ibekwe , c i r c a 7 2 y e a r s , r e t i r e d c i v i l s e r v a n t i n t e r v i e w e d a t Umudara v i l l a g e , 22nd J u l y , 1993, and F. E r i o b u n a i n t e r v i e w c i t e d .
14. J .Po J o r d a n , B i s h o p Shanahan of S o u t h e r n N i g e r i a . ( ,Dublin, E l o P r e s s r e p r . 1771) , p. 39.
15. J .Po J o r d a n , B i shop Shanahan of S o u t h e r n N i g e r i a . . . 11
P. 39.
16. Rrenden Odimegwu c i r c a 70 y e a r s ; r t d . headmaster , i ~ . t e r v i e w e d i n M barakpaka v i l l a g e , I h i a l a , on 2nd/3rd J u l y , 1993.
17. "Mission Diary" quo ted i n R o u e Okeke, "The Cornin of t h e Roman C a t h o l i c Church t o I h i a l a 1911-196011 fNCE p r o j e c t , Dept. of H i s t o r y , A.I.C.E. Ower r i 1 9 7 8 ) , p. 18.
18. Brendan Odimegwu, i n t e r v i e w c i t e d ; S y l v e s t e r Edebeatu , 58 y e a r s , s c h o o l t e a c h e r , i n t e r v i e w e d a t Obodoawo v i l l a g e , I h i a l a on 1 2 t h J u l y , 1993; A l f r e d Eze , c i r c a 68 year ' s , r t d . c i v i l s e r v a n t . I n t e r v i e w e d a t E z i a n i v i l l a g e , I h i a l a on 4 t h J u l y , 1993.
19. "Mission Diarytt quo ted i n R..U. Okeke, "The Coming of t h e Roman C a t h o l i c Church . . . " p. 20.
20. S y l v e s t e r Edebeatu and A l f r e d Eze; i n t e r v i e w s c i t e d .
2 Brendan Odimegwu, S y l v e s t e r ~ d e b e a i u and A l f r e d Eze , i n t e r v i e w s c i t e d . Cf a l s o R o U . Okeke, "The Coming of t h e Roman C a t h o l i c Church , . . . I t , p. 17;D..E. O b i ,
I I '!A H i s t o r y of C h r i s t i a n i t y . . . , p. 42,.
22. A photocopy of t h e Deed of t h i s l e a s e was made a v a i l a b l e t o t h e r e s e a r c h e r by Brendan 0,dimegwu on 3 r d J u l y , 1493.
23. I1Mission Diary" qu.oted i n R.U. Okeke, "The coming of I1 t h e Roman C a t h o l i c Church ... , p. 23,;
24. . I .R.A. Ozigboh, Roman C a t h o l i c i s m i n S o u t h e a s t e r n N i ~ e r i a 1885-1931: A' S t u d y fin c o l o n i a l evangelism. ( O n i t s h a , Etukokivu P r e s s 1988) , .p. 67.
25. Raphael ~ k w u k $ k a h c i r c a 72 y e a r s , r t d . c i v i l s e r v a n t , i n t e r v i e t e d a t Umuezeawala v i l l a g e , I h i a l a on 2 9 t h J u n e , 1993.
Okeke, "The Coming of t h e Roman C a t h o l i c Church . . . I t ,
Po 24.
Smith , Ch ie f ta-incy d i s p i l t e i n 'I h i a l a . (Enugu Government P r i n t e r 1963;) , p. 44; C .C . Agbodbke, "The, C h i e f t a i n c y I n s t i t u t i o n i n I h i a l a from t h e Farlie~t T j m e s to l Q h Y t - ( M - A , t h e s i s - D e n t . .. nf
c.E. O b i , "The H i s t o r y of C h r i s t i a n i t y ...I1, p. 22. . ,
F.K. Ekech i , I t C h r i s t i a n M i s s i o n a r y E n t e r p r i s e and r i v a l r y i n I g b o l a n d 1851-191fj. ( L ondon: F r a n k Cass, 19721, p. 217.
W .R .T. M i l a e u I n t e l l i g e n c e r e p o r t on A c h a l l a g roup 1933. ( N , A . E . O D 1 1 9 V o l . I1 ONDIST 7/1/10) , p.14..
P.A. T a l b o t , I'l'he P e o u s s o f So-n N i , z e r i n v n l , 1-T, (London, Oxford U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s 1926) , p. 205.
Brendan 0 dimegwu; M b a l a s o 0 dimegwu, P h i l i p Okwuosa, and '. F. Er iobuna , i n t e r v i e w s c i t e d .
O k o r i e Osuagwu, 80 y e a r s , f a r r n e r / h e r b a l i s t i n t e r v i e w e d a t Urnudara v i l l a g e , I h i a i a , 1 7 t h Ju l -y , 1993.
M b a l a s o ,Odimegwu, P h i l i p Okwuosa, i n t e r v i e w s c i t e d ,
Solomon I bek?.~e, ' _ F. Er iobuna and P h i l i p Okwuosa; i n t e r v i e w s c i t e d .
P h i l i p Okwuosa; Brendan Odimegwu, and ' Fa Er iobuna; i n t e r v i e w s c i t e d .
CHAPTER IV: PERTOD OF GROWTH AND RXPAMSION OF THE MISSTONS: 19.20- r c i 7 0 ~
T h i s c h a p t e r examines t h c g rowth a n d deve lopment of
t h e c h r i s t i a n m i s s i o n s i n I h i a l a up u n t i l 1970. I t w i l l
a l s o h i g h l i g h t t h e deve lopment o f t h e c o n v e r t s , some
p rob lems of t h e m i s s i o n a r y e n t e r p r i s e and t h e e v a n g e l i s t i c
s t r a t e g i e s 0.f t h e m i s s i o n s .
a ) - The A n g l i c a n Church ( T h e C.M .S.) 1920-1970
Thi .3 p e r i o d marked t h e e x p a n s i o n and e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f
t h e A n g l i c a n c h u r c h i n t h e nooks a n d c r a n h i e ~ o f I h i a l a . 1 t
a l s o saw t h e deve lopment o f c o n v e r t s i n number a n d i n t h e i r
a d h e r e n c e t o t h e i d e a l s of C h r i s t i a ~ i t y . Most t o o k
employment w i t h t h e m i s s i o n a s t e a c h e r s and c a t e c h i s t s .
Much l a t e r , i n . 1956, a n i n d i g e n e , Rev.. E. I l o g u was
o r d a i n e d a p r i e s t . They s e r v e d i n t h e v a r i o u s
communi t i e s i n I g b o l a n d , e s p e c i a l l y t h e O w e r r i a r e a . The
c o n t r i b u t i o n s o f a few o f them a r e s t i l l r e c o u n t e d i n t h e
c h r i s t i a n m i s s i o n a r y h i s t o r y of s u c h communi t ies . F o r
i n s t a n c e , t h e c o n t r i b u t i o n s o f 2 ames Anyake a n d T h e o p h i l u s
Nganwucliu t o t h e growth o f t h e A n g l i c a n c h u r c h i n M b i e r i
i s s t i l l remembered i n t h e town. 1
These t e a c h e r s and c a t e c h i s t s were t h e e l i t e t h a t
emerged i n I h i a l a . . Though, they were n o t t h e most
frnan~i'd.kyj s t a b l e , t h e i r s u g g e s t i o n s on m a t t e r s
concerning I h i a l a and t h e church were h i g h l y regarded.. l a
The q u a l i t y of t h e c o n v e r t s equa l ly grew. Those
i n t h e employ of t h e mi s s ions laboured hard t o keep up
t o t h e church r u l e s and standard, F a i l u r e t o keep the^ -,
s t anda rd o f t e n r e s u l t e d i n summary d i s m i s s a l from t h e
mission1 employment,. They shunned polygyny and t i t l e
taking,, bu t most could n o t r e s i s t i n i t i a t i o n i n t o t h e
, nmanwu (masquerade)" c u l t , The miss ion was no t t o o keen on
t h e enforcement of t h e ban of t h e c u l t among t h e conve r t s ,
The c o n v e r t s o u t s i d e t h e employ of t h e miss ions were
f r e e r t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e t r a d i t i o n a l ceremonies,. I t w a s
from t h i s ca t ego ry of c o n v e r t s t h a t emerged people who
i n i t i a t e d t h e a g i t a t i o n f o r t h e r e s t o r a t i o n o f some
t r a d i t i o n a l p r a c t i c e s l i k e polygyny and t i t l e - t a k i n g among
t h e conv.erts. 3
Two o t h e r developments of n o t e occurred" i n t h e period.
The Angl ican church i n I h i a l a acqu i r ed autonomy from Bnewi
d i s t r i c t i n 1954. I n 1963, Oki ja . d i s t r i c t was carved o u t
from I h ia la .
S t , ~ b e n e z e h Church Ose-Akwa: 1936
The es tab l i shment o f a T r a d i n g pos t ( beach) by t h e
Uni ted h f r i c a n Company (UAC) at A'kwa i n 1932, a t t r a c t e d a n
immigrant popu la t ion t h a t gave t h e v i l l a g e a me t ropo l i t an
outlook, I t was t h e need f o r a church t o s e r v e t h e
popula t ion t h a t gave b i r t h t o t h e o u t s t a t i o n i n 1936.
With t h e c l o s u r e of b u s i n e s s a c t i v i t i e s i n t h e
beach i n t h e e a r l y 19508, mast o f t h e immigrants l e f t and
t h e o u t s t a t i o n exper ienced a dwindling fortun,e.- However, >,
t h e few i n d i g e n e s who were of t h e k n g l i c a n church managed
t o s u s t a i n it.. Its numerical s t r e n g t h became abysmally
low. T h i s was f u r t h e r ~ ~ ~ ~ e d by t h e preponderance of
t h e Roman c a t h o l i c c h r c h a d h e r e n t s I n t h e v i l l a g e * 4
D i s t r i c t S t t t u s f o r I h i a l a : : 1954
U n t i l 1954, t h e towns i n t h e p r e s e n t I h i a l a L.G.A.
c o n s t i t u t e d p a r t of t h e Nnewi d i s t r i c t of t h e d iocese of
t h e Niger.. T h e ' p r i e s t r e s i d e n t a t blnewi had p a s t o r a l r i g h t s
end d u t i e s over t h e area.. He made recommendations t o t h e
Bishop o n t h e e s t ab l i shmen t of new o u t s t a - t i o n s , t h e
p o s t i n g s o f o u t s t a t i o n a g e n t s and t h e g r a n t i n g of s t a t i o n
s t a t u s . K-number of o u t s t a t i o n s made up a s t a t i o n which
was headed by a catechis t . . The I h i a l a - s t a k i o n had its
headquart tsrs and a r e s i d e n t c a t ~ c h i s t a t t h e St . Silas*
church, I h i a l a ,
I n 1954 when t h e s t a t i o n yas g ran ted ei; d i s t r i c t
s t a tu s , . Okfja f e l t i t could use t h e i n f l u e n c e of i t s
i n d i g e n e s i n t h e d iocese t o win t h e headqua r t e r s of t h e
new d i s t r i c t . . T h i s caused a major r i f t i n t h e new d i s t r i c t
as I h i a l a w a s cons t r a ined t o c o n t e s t f o r t h e l o c a t i o n of
t h e d i s t r i c t headquu.rters i n h e r town.. Unknown t o I h i a l a ,
o k i j a . had e a r l i e r g o t wind of t h e grtantifiy of t h e new
and made p r e p a r a t i o n s t o t grab' t h e headquarters..
T o f a c i l i t a t e t h i s , i t b u i l t a h o i s e which i t would
p r e s e n t a13 t h e d i s t r i c t parsonage at a. s i te a l o n g t h e
Onitsha-Qwerri t r u n k 'li" road, and i n s t i g a t e d a contest
f o r t h e l o c a t i o n of t h e d i s t r i c t headquar te rs , k s t h e
c o n t e s t became f i e r c e , i t p re sen ted t h e house 61s t h e
parsonage, Qn t h i s ground, i t argued t h a t I h i a l a d i d n o t
have a house b e f i t t i n g a p r i e s t and t h a t S t , S i l a d s t a t i o n
w a s n o t l o c a t e d a t a s t r a t e g i c p o i n t i n t h e torn. But,,
u n f o r t u n a t e l y f o r Oki ja , t h e parsonage it b u i l t w a s
i s o l a t e d from any e x i s t i n g Angl ican church. With t h e s e
arguments, Okija had hoped t o a t t r a c t t h e parsonage, b u t i t
f a i l e d i n i ts a t t empt t o use St,. Mary's church as t h e
d i s t r i c t headquar te rs . . T.ho S t , S i l a s t s t a t i o n was - 5 p r e f e r r e d by t h e a a t h o r i t i e s c.oncerned.
The c o n f l i c t gene ra t ed by t h i s u n f o r t u n a t e c o n t e s t
rill b.e examined i n . g r e a t e r d e t a i l l a t e r ,
T h e first p r i e s t of t h e d i s t r i c t , Rev, C-,& Emelugg
l i v e d i n t h e parsonage b u i l t at Okijs whi l e S t , , S i l a s
church was made t h e d i s t r i c t h e a d q ~ ~ t e r s , . T M s caused
l o t s of l o g i s t i c problems f o r t h e p r i e s t , . I t was
d i f f i c u l t f o r him t o run h i s s e c r e t a r i a t a t S t , S l l a s '
s t a t i o n from Okijec, Moreover, h e could n o t o rgan ize t h e 6 F r i d a y morning c l a s s i n any of t h e o u t s t a t i o n s i n t h e d i s t r i c t ,
A
However, t h e new s t a t u s added impetus t o t h e
a c t i v i t i e e of t h e Knglican church i n I hiala.. Rev.
Emelugo devotqd h i s energy t o t h e establ ishment of more
o u t - s t a t i o n s and embrrked on i n t e n s i v e evangel iza t ion ,of
t h e towns i n t h e d i s t r i c t . Through h i s f r i e n d l i n e s s w i t h
all, t h e denominations notwithstanding,, t h e r i v a l r y and
ha t red among t h e members of t h e primary missions were
considerably reduc ed.. 7
411 Sa in t s .C hurch, Oaboro: 1957
T h i s out staltion.w&s es tab l i shed as p a r t of t h e
scheme by t h e Pngl ican church i n I h i a l a t o extend t h e
church t o t h e remotest p a r t s of t h e t-own and$o . .. f i rmly
e s t a b l i s h h e r s e l f i n t h e religious map of Ihiala. . Spec ia l
o f f e r i n g s were organized every f i r s t Sunday of t h e month
a t S t . Silasg e t a t i o n t o raise funds f o r t h e out s t a t i o n . .
I n d i v i d u a l s a l 8 ~ made donat ions too, Eor inrstance,, b e
stephen Ndurue, at veteran of t h e second world war,, made
commendable f i n a n c i a l cont r ibut ion towardo t h e r e a l i z a t i o a
of t h e project .
The at tempt t o e s t a b l i s h t h i s o a t s t a t i o n proved very
s ~ ~ c e s s f ~ l ~ The out s t a t i o n a t t r a c t e d many new converts, 8 e s p e c i a l l y from members of t h e t r a d i t i o n a l r e l ig ion*
S t , stephen's Church, 1960 . . . - . . . . . . . I , . . . 1 . . . . . .
.,.
The i d e G P t o e s t a b l i s h t h i s out s t a t i o n was conceived
a t t h e 1954 Annual General Meeting of S t , S i l a s ' church
s ta t ion , . Severa l reasons accounted f o r t h a t , F i r s t , t h e r e
was t h e need t o e s t a b l i s h t h e Anglican church a t a.
s t r a t e g i c poin t t h a t would a t t r a c t t h e v a t t e n t i o n . of
passers-by t o t h e presence of t h e mission i n the town,
Secondly, t h e growing metropol i tan na tu re of I h i a l a i n t h e
1940s and 19506, demanded t h a t an out s t a t i o n be e s t a b l i s h e d
t o serve t h e urban cen t ree9 Algain., t h e 1088 of t h e
parsonage o f , t h e new d i s t r i c t on t h e grounds of remote
l o c a t i o n of t h e church s t a t i o n from t h e urban cent re ,
prompted t h e I h i a l a Anglican church members t o open t h e out-.
s t a t i o n , To t h a t e f f e c t , sn s i t e i n Hdiezike v i l l age , . a long
t h e Oni tsha-Orerr i t runk road raa chosen,
Unfortunately, t h e s t a t u s of t h e new o u t - s t a t i o n
nea r ly generated a; f i e r c e s t r i f e , Members of t h e h g l i c a x
church from Ndiezike v i l l a g e demanded t h a t t h e s t a t i o n
headquarters be t r a n s f e r r e d t o t h e new out s t a t i o n , On t h e
o the r hand, membess of t h e church from. Mbarakpaka vAllage,
where t h e parent s t a t i o n was loca ted , objec ted t o t h i s
idea, They i n s i s t e d t h a t t h e church should r e t a i n i ts
o r i g i n a l locat ion,
T h i s brought a.problem t h a t nea r ly shook t h e very
foundation of t h e Anglican church i n I hipla.. T h i s d i6pute
w a s amicably resolved.. T.he s t a t i o n s headquarters at
Mbarakpaka.v.illage w a s retained. Alfter much delay, a 1ke uu P f f i t ion
church teacher wa-a posted to,, i p 1960. 10
The na tu re and e f f e c t of t h i s c o n f l i c t w i l l be
examined i n g r e a t e r depth later.
S t , ~ n d r e u ' s Church. ~bodawo: 1962
The St . ~ n d r e d s church Obodawo w a s e s t ab l i shed in'..
1962, Members of t h e church pursued t h i s end with g r e a t
zeal; and made donat ions both i n cash and kind towards t h e
church ma jec t and church- teachers-house. kgain, s p e c i a l
o f f e r i n g s were made a t r e g u l a r i a t e r v a l s f o r t h e development,
The g r e a t e s t problem of t h e out s t a t i o n was t h e
preponderance of e a t h o l i c s i n t h e v i l lage , . I t remained t h e
most numerically weak of all t h e h g l $ c a n o u t - s t a t i o n s in .
I hiala;. l1
Okija. D i s t r i c t carved out from I hialstl. D i s t r i c t . 1963
The inc reas ing number of c o t v e r t s c a l l e d f o r t h e
creakion of new d i s t r i c t s t o ease t h e work of t h e p r i e s t and
br ing t h e church nearer t o t h e grass-roots,. P o l l t i u a a n d .
c lannish i n t e r e s t s equal ly played a;. major role , . The
i n t e r play of t h e s e f a c t o r s gave b i r t h t o t h e balkmizai t ion.
of I h i a l a d i e t r i c t i n 1 ~ 6 3 . 1 ~
Right from t h e day O k i j a s f a i l e d t o grab t h e d i s t r i c t
headquarters , i t made e f f o r t s t o achieve a d i s t r i c t
s t a t u s , I t used t h e prominent p o s i t i o n held by he r
indigenes on. t h e diocesan hierarchy t o a: g r e a t advantage 13 and i n 1963, i t w a u :m ski zz d i s t r i c t . .
On t h e p a r t of t h e Anglican church community i n
I h i a l a , t h i s development woas c big r e l i e f and l i b e r a t i o n
from t h e sway of an i n f l u e n t i a l partder,14 I t glaxi l j
embraced i t , and i n December 1963, t h e d i s t r i c t counci l
i n s t i t u t e d an ad-hoc committee t o work out moda l i t i e s f o r
t h e deaelopnent'of t h e d i s t r i c t , . Thi6 conunittee w a s .
mandated t o inst-te a s tanding committee t h a t would over-
s e e t h e cons t ruc t ion of a new church bui ld ing and a house
b e f i t t i n g a p r i e s t , . I n December, 196hSi a fund-rais ing
ceremony was organized f o r t h i s purpose, Work omboth
p r o j e c t s , t h a t i s t h e church and parsonage, s t a r t e d in.
January 1965, The church and parsonage were consecrated by
t h e l a t e Biehop LS.. Ueodike i n November 1967.15
b) . The GProwth of the R,C,M.. S t a t i o n i n Ih i a l ac : 1920-1970
The RoCoM* s t a t i o n a t I h i a l a acquired g r e a t prominence
i n t h i s period,. The chief reason f o r t h i s was t h e south--
wards expansion of t h e Bzubulu p r i e s t s ' res idence which
gave ascendancy t o t h e Ih ia la s t a t i o n and a t t r a c t e d Roman
Cathol ic i n s t i t u t i o n s t o t h e town,
The Ozubulu P r i e s t f FJ Reeidonce bansf e r red t o I hia3-a: 1927
A's s t a t e d e a r l i e r , Rev, Fr. Alphonsus 'Bihadel
eupervised t h e I h i a l a e t a t i o n from h i s Ozubulu residence.
The work of evangel izing t h e o h b e t a t i o n r e s t e d on n a t i v e - - . <- ; .. a.
a g e n t s - t e a c h e ~ & t e c h i ~ t ~ . They conducted c a t echiam
claases f o r t h e converts.
The g r o a t demand f o r teacher-catec 'his ts and t h e eouth-
WHY^ expansion of t h e Oeubulu missionary ou t t r eaah gave
prominence t o I hiala. s i n c e I h i a l a en joyed a c e n t r a l and
e t r a t eg ic pos i t ion , ' monthly re-unione of t eachers i n t h e
~ z u b u l u Q a t h o l i c d i s t r i c t were held there. l6 w i t h time,
-1hiala was pre fe r red t o Ombulu a s bee t su:i.ted for t h e
p r i e s t e residence. I t would seem t h a t t h i s d t x l s i o n was
taken $.n 1923 as R U V ~ Fr. Bindel began t o b u i l d an .
extremely l a r g e missionary house a t St. Martin'a s t a t i o n i n
tha t year. 1% June, 1927 t h e O ~ u h u l u ~ e e i d e n c e wan
tranef e r red t o I hiala.17
The Development of R.C.M. I n s t i t u t i o n s in Ihia la
In 1930, t h e foundation s tonasof St. Martids church
and achaol were l a i d , t h e y were o f f i c i a l l y consecra ted 'by
Biehbp Shanrnhari on 12 th November, same year. Rev. 'Fr. Griccr
of t h e bnua mission bbcame t h e manager o f t h e schoole i n
Ih ia la . The St . ~ a r t i i s school was exclus ive ly f o r boyn
while t h e gir ls ' primary ~ c h o o l (.convent) served t h e 1 8 educational d e s i r e o of a i r l e .
The tramsfer of t h e Ozubulu r e s i d e n c e t o I h i a l a
a a s i s t b d i n no slnall measure i n p l a c i n g i h i a l a . at t h e
fore-ground of Roman C a t h o l i c a c t i v i t i e s i n Igboland.
S e v e r e l i n s t i t u t i o n s of t h e Roman C a t h o l i c miss ion were -- s i t e d i n t h e town, viz: a h o s p i t d (Our Lady of Lourdes)
1933; ar seminary school (Holy Ghost J u n i o r a t e ) . 1953; cmr
Elementary T e a c h e r s T r a i n i n g e o l l e g e , 1954. I t w a s t h e
headqua r t e r s of t h e Congregation of t h e S i s t e r s of
Immazulake H e a r t of Mary till i t waue t r a n s f e r r e d t o Urua l lm
On. 1 8 t h h a g u s t 1933, t h e R.C.M,. r e p r e s e n t e d by t h e
R t , Rev. Bishop C h a r l e s Heerey a p p l i e d t o t h e s e c r e t a r y of
t h e Gouthern Provinces , ria. t h e Res iden t Onitsha1 province
f o r lease of l a n d t o b u i l d a. miss ionary s i s t e r s ' r e s i d e n c e
i n I hiah. . The l e a s e was t o l a a t f o r a. pe r iod of n i a s t y - , ..
n ine yeare , a t a n agreed r e n t of one s h i l l i n g p e r annum.
The names and abode of proposed g r a n t o r s wi th whola t h e
terme were nego t i a t ed , r e r e XJAsigwe,. t h e o k ~ a r a i of
Umuadohihi of hamumu q u a r t e r s and one Kichzael ~ a d u b u i n ~ i .I9
The $ec re t a ry , Sou the rn flr.orinces, cons idered t h e
r e n t of one s h i l l i n g p e r anndm : tt g r o s s unde rp r i c ing
when.compared wi th rents; pa id on t h e same o r about t h e
same ac reage of l and , and f o r t h e same purpose, e lsewhere
i n Igboland.. He r a t h e r sugges ted a . r e n t of f i v e pounds 20 ( 5 5 ) p e r annum.. T . h i s wcie accep ted by both p a r t i e s *
52
However, be fo re t h e l e a s e wao gran ted , t h e Res iden t
Oni tsha. p rov ince r a i s e d o b j e c t i o n s on. t h e purpose f o r t h e
u s e of t h e :.land.. He found " o t h e r miss ionary purposest8 21
rogue and a m b i g b u s , and 4 ~ ~ c . d f o r c l a r i f i c a t i o n , 9:'' .:- .
I n ep l e t t e r t o Bishop C h a r l e s Heerey, through t h e D i s t r i c *
O f f i c e r , On i t sha , t h e R e s i d e n t doubted i f h e could
approve of it,. as he f ea red , i t might i n c l u d e 'na t ive8
r e s i d e n c e which was unacceptable. He demanded i t s 22 replacement wi th at more l u c i d phrase,
I n i ts rep ly , . t h e miss ion s t a t e d t h a t o t h e r
miss ionary pu rposes t , i nc luded boarding house f o r g i r l s ;
orphanage, h o s p i t a l and dispensary wi th r e s i d e n c e s f o r t h e
s t a f f of each, With t h i ~ c l a r i f i c a t i o n , t h e l e a s e w a s
sea l ed , 23
The s e a l i n g of t h e l e a s e and a c q u i s i t i o n of t h e l a n d
set i n . motion. a, proces s t h a t l e d t o t h e developpent of the,
p r e s e n t s i te of Our Lady of.'Lourdos ho8pita;l. IQ i n i t i a l l y
accommoda'ted t h e d i spensa ry /hosp i t a l , t h e convent,
marr iage t r a L n i n g c e n t r e and r e s i d e n c e f o r thm Congregak:ion
of t h e k i t s te re of t h e Immaculate Yeart of M.ary,. Proceeds
from t h e annuaa church h a r v e s t were i n v e s t e d i n t h e
development of t h e s i t e .
The Girls' primary school ( convent). was founded i n
Kugust 1933. With t h e expansion of t h e h o s p i t a l , i t w a s
phased o u t i n 1963.. I t s bu i ld ing was taken. over by t h e
hosp i t a l , I t served as t h e out -pa t ien t department of t h e
24: hospital . .
~n 1936,. Bishop Char les H eerey, through pro tocol
~.3570/36 of 23rd oc tober , 1936, obtained permiseion from
H i s Eminence t h e Cardina l P re fec t of t h e Propaganda F i d e '
i n Rome t o start t h e Congregation of t h e S i s t e r s of
Immaculate Heart of Mary.. On 7 t h October, 1937, H i s Grace,.
Bishop Heaaey, through a. l e t t e r t o t h e Mother super io r of
t h e Holy Rosary S i s t e r s I h i a l a , formally decreed t h a t t h e
diocesan congregation of t h e S i s t e r s of t h e Immaculate Hear t
of IQry be erec ted under t h e d i rec t ion . of t h e S i s t e r s of Our
Lady of t h e Most Holy Rosary. The s i s t e r s were charged t.o
t ake c a r e of t h e s i c k , t h e t r a i n i n g o f t h e women Prt t h e
marriage t radning c e n t r e ( S t , b n e s ) t o be es tab l i shed by
t h e Holy Rosary s i s t e r s , and education of t h e ch i ld ren i n
t h e schools.. I n 1939, t h e marriage t r a i n i n g cen t re , St .
h n e ' s, was es tab l i shed by tha Holy R o s a ~ y S i s t e r s , 25
The Congregation grew gradual ly as two a s p i r a n t s
were admitted each year,. between 1940 and 1943.. I n 1943,
~ 1 ~ h o ~ ~ C ' h a r l e s ~ H e e r e y began work on a paece of land acquired
a;t Urual la - f o r t h e N o v i t i a t e of t h e C,ongregation,- la. 1944,
t h e p r o j e c t was completed and Novices were t r a n s f e r r e d
, t h e r e from Ihia la . . I i t h t h i s development, Our Lady of
Lourdes Hosp i t a l f i n a l l y took over We f a c i l i t i e s of
o the r i n s t i t u t i o n s t h a t shared p rembes with it..
The S i s t e r s ' r e s i d e n c e was r e t a i n e d by t h e s i s t e r
nurses" a t t a c h e d t o t h e h o s p i t a l , 26 The sme gea r , 1944
t h e R,C:.M, a p p l i e d f o r t h e ex t ens ion of t h e h o s p i t a l
under t h e Na t ive Lands A c q u i s i t i o n Ordinance Cap 89,
The l e a s e wae e e a l e d on 1 3 t h J u l y , i ~ 4 6 . The g r a n t o r s t o
t h e land inc luded , Benedic t I g b o e l i , Stephen I g b o e l i and
S tephen I wuchukwu. 27
The R ,C,M, con t inued its expansion and e s t ab l i shmen t
of i n s t i t u t i o n s i n I h i a l a , Through t h e i n s t r u m e n t a l i t y
of Rev,. F r , J o r d a n , t h e Holy Ghost J u n i o r a t e was b u i l t i n
1952, I t formal ly took off i n J a n u a r y t h e fo l lowing year
with th i r t y - seven boys.. The f i r s t s e t of t h e p ioneer
s t u d e n t s were orda ined p r i e s t s i n 1965,. They i n c l u d e Rev,.
F r s , P,. C binna kguh, I , Eze, F, Okonkwo and &. Onyeneke. 28
The Cathol ic . miss ions house ( B i n d e l House), w a s
fo rmal ly handed over t o t h e Holy Ghost f a t h e r s on 16 th
J anua ry 1953,
I n 1954,. an Elementary Teacher T r a i n i n g c o l l e g e was
opened i n I h ia la , . T h i s c o l l e g e producod Grade Three
C e r t i f i c a t e ts&chers , . I t was, however, phasqd o u t i n 1963
due t o t h e expansion of t h e J u n i o r a t e Seminary and t h e
i n c r e a s i n g u n a t t r a c t i v e n e s s i n t h e c a l i b r e of manppwer i t
produced, 29
I n 1967, I h i a l a > added a n o t h e r f e a t h e r t o h e r c a p o f
g r e a t n e s s i n I g b o Ca tho l i c i sm, The I g b o based N i g e r i a n
p r o v i n c e of t h e Holy Ghost F a t h e r s was c o n s t i t u t e d i n
Kugust 1967 w i t h i ts h e a d q u a r t e r s a t S t . ~ a r t i & church. 30
The O u t - S t a t i o n s of t h e ROC O M , i n I h i a l a T i l l 1970
S t C h r i s t o p h e r ' s Church Okohia: 1925
The need t o b r i n g t h e catec 'hism c l a s s e s c l o s e t o
t h e door s t e p s of a l l t h e c o n v e r t s i n t h e town gave b i r t h
t o t h i s o u t s t a t i o n i n 1925. I t was s i t u a t e d i n t h e p l o t
of l a n d donated by S tephen I lechukwu. 31
St . ~ e t e r k Church Oawu-Aniocha 1938
T h i s o u t - s t a t i o n was of t h e g r e a t e s t impor tance
and s i t n i f i c a n c e among t h e o u t - s t a t i c n s of St, . M a r t i n s
church , I h i a l a . I t i s l o c a t e d i n Ogwu-Aniocha i n t h e
p r e s e n t Ogbaru L o c a l Government A'rea.
The d i f f i c u l t t e r r a i n of t h e town made communication
w i t h h e r n e i g h b o u r s ve ry arduous.. I t was e a s i e r f o r t h e
R o C e M , a d h e r e n t s i n t h e town t o a t t e n d church s e r v i c e s
a c r o s s t h e Urasi r i v e r t o I h i a l a t h a n p a s s th rough t h e
t o r t u o u s network of c r e e k s and water-ways t o A t a n i ,
S t . ~ a r t i & s t a t i o n b o l d l y f a c e d t h i s c h a l l e n g e , and i n
1938, an o u t - s t a t i o n was e s t a b l i s h e d i n t h e town, 3 2
S t . . G r e ~ o r y ' s Church Ose k,kwa, 1939
T h i s o u t - s t a t i o n was e s t a b l i s h e d t o s e r v e t h e
immigrant p o p u l a t i o n t h a t worked at t h e beach e s t a b l i s h e d
by t h e U ,LC,. a t kkwa, I t remained one of t h e most
f l o u r i s h i n g n o u t - s t a t i o n s ' i n I h i a l a till t h e e a r l y 1950s
when t h e beach w a s s h u t down. 33
c)', The F a i t h Tabernac le C'ongregation Church: 1933 - 1970
The advent of t h e F a i t h Tabernac le Congregation
church d i f f e r e d from t h a t of t h e main-l ine mi s s ions - t h e
k n g l i c a n and Roman Cathol ic churches. I t h a s no h i s t o r y
of organized evange l i za t ion p roces s t h a t g r a d u a l l y
permeated I h i a l a i from o t h e r p a r t s of Igboland , no r d i d i t
win a d h e r e n t s among t h e t r a d i t i o n a l r e l i g i o n i s t s , h l l of
them wers secondary conve r t s , having e a ~ l i e r been
conver ted t o C h r i s t i a n i t y by e i t h e r of t h e primary
miss ions , e s p e c i a l l y t h e k n g l i c a n church,
I ts advent i n I h i a l a r evo lves around an ind iv idua l , .
Ben jamin Onwuchekwa, H ~ E b iog raph ica l s k e t c h i s r e l e v a n t
and necessa-ry i n any aStsmpt t o have a b e t t e r g r a f ? of t h e
advent and a c t i v i t i e s of t h e F a i t h Tabernac le congrega t ion
church i n I hiala:, 34
Ben jamin Onwuchekwa, was amongst t h e e a r l i e s t
c o n v e r t s t o C h r i s t i a n t t y i n I h i a l a . ~e acqu i r ed h i s
primary educa t ion a'; I h i a l a and Obosi , and l a t e r a t t e n d e d
t h e S t . kndrew' s Teacher ' s Co l l ege Oyo, There, h e
acqu i r ed t h e b a s i c t each ing q u a l i f i c a t i o n a t t h a t time.
He l a t e r jo ined t h e s taff of t h e Dennis Memorial Grammar
S c h o o l (DIYGS) Oni tsha , . which had e a r l i e r been e s t a b l i s h e d
i n 1925; ' w h i l e h e t a u g h t t h e r e , h e e n t e r e d i n t o
cor respondence w i t h t h e F a i t h T '9bernac le c o n g r e g a t i o n
church based i n P h i l a d e i p h i a , U n i t e d States o f America,
I n t h e process, h e d e f e c t e d t o t h e F a i t h T a b e r n a c l e
Congrega t ion church,
I n 1933, h e o f f i c i a l l y r e s i g n e d h i s appointment
w i t h t h e D,M,G,S,, and r e t u r n e d home t o e s t a b l i s h t h e ,
F a i t h T a b e r n a c l e Congregat ion church - I h i a l a ; .
Dur ing i t s e a r l y y e a r s , t h e F a i t h T a b e r n a c l e
Congrega t ion church a t t r a c t e d a l a r g e number o f c o n v e r t s ,
They were l a r g e l y drawn from t h e d i s c o n t e n t e d members o f
t h e b n g l i c a n church. G r a n t s and f i n a n c i a l a s s i s t a n c e
from t h e p a r e n t m i s s i o n o v e r s e a s was e f f e c t i v e l y and
j u d i c i o u s l y u t i l i z e d . k. p l o t of l a n d o p p o s i t e t h e
p r e s e n t s i t e of t h e Ni erim 3 Telecommunicat ion CFJ~TEL)
s t a t i o n was a c q u i r e d f o r t h e m i s s i o d s s c h o o l and church,
I n 1940,, t h e s c h o o l a d m i t t e d h e r f i r a t s e t of pupils..
B u t owing t o t h e economic depresis ion caused by t h e
Second World War, t h e f i n a n c i a l a s s i s t a n c e from Xmerica:
c e a s e d t o f l o w i n , I n 1946, t h e s c h o o l was s h u t down..35
The f o u n d e r was compelled t o s e e k employment w i t h t h e
F a i t h T a b e r n a c l e Congregat ion m i s s i o n in t h e Ngwa 1 - -
This mieeion a s s e n t i a l l y remained an a f f a i r f o r
t h e Onwuchekwa family and a f e w decampees from t h e
Anglican church i n I h i a l a . I t s u f f e r e d i t s g r e a t e s t set-
back w i t h t h e dea th of t h e founder i n 1952.. The b e l i e f
i n f a i t h h e a l i n g was t h e g r e a t e ~ t bane t o i ts e o w t h
and expansion i n I hiala , .
d) The Johovah' s Witnesses Mission: 1948
The Jehovah' e b k t n e s s e ~ miss ion was brought t o
I hia la . . i n about 1948 by one ~ $ 1 jdh Onyekwuluje, rho '
h a i l e d from Omuma i n t h e Oru L.G,k~., o f I n o s ta te . . He
i n i t i a l l y s e t t l e d at Om-A'kwa.. From t h e r e , he preached
t o t h e v m i o u s v i l l a g e s i n Ihia la . . H i s i n i t i a l conver t s .
were drawn f rom s e t t l e r s a t Ose-kkwa.. When t h e t r a d i n g
pos t was f i n a l l y s h u t down, I h i a l a ind igenes , who had
become a d h e r e n t s of t h e f a i t h took t h e church t o t h e i r
n i l lages . .
I n 2953, S o ( p m e n Ndubuisi volunt.sered die house acs t h e Ungdom H a l 1 or venue f o r studies. . T i l l then,
t h e numerical s t r e n ~ t h of t h e c o n v e r t s t o t h e chure'h w a s
very low.. I n 1956, glchq+d Onwuchekwa ( b r o t h e r o f t h e
founder of t h e E a i t h Tabe rnac l e . congrega t ion church):'
I h i a l a : . s t a r t e d ano the r Kingdom H a l l i n Mbarakpaka v i l l a g e . 36
The church won many converts. . T h i s remained t h e most
g l o r i o u s pe r iod of t h e church.
Unfortunately, most of t h e adherents of t h e
mission began t o decamp.. Jooeph Onauchekwa blamed t h i s
on t h e i n a b i l i t y of most adherents t o l i v e up t o t h e .
s tandard of c h r i s t i a a : l i f e s e t by t h e s c r i p t u r e s and a.
consuming p;assion.. f o r mundane things. 37 Some decamgeee
and members of t h e o t h e r C h r i s t i a n missions blamed i t
on t h e r a d i c a l d o c t r i n e and extreme sec tar ian ism of t h e
church which put some adherents under severe pressure
from family members and relations. . 38 The resea rcher
confirmed t h i s with t h e experiences i n h i s family. . I t
took g r e a t pressure fro,m h i s f a t h e r and uncles t o end h i s
grand mothe& adherence t o t h e Jehovah' s W.itnesses church
i n t h e l a t e 19508..
I n 1967, t h e two kingdom h a l l s were merged. The
one a t S D h m Hduhuisi'sj house survived t h e nerg- 39 ,
T h i s w a s t h e s ta te of t h e mission tiil 1970..
e)l The C h r i s t Holy Church (Odozi Obodo)., 1968
T.he C h r i s t Holy Church (Odozi Obodo) w a s t h e f i r s t
indigenous miss ion t o p r m e a t e I h i a l a . . I t reached t h e
town i n 1968,. at t h e hea t of tho N.igerian c i v i l oaisis
IBrothert C.hike Okeke from Ymichi, brought t h e
church:. I t f i r s t s t a r b d es a prayer group t o provide
succour t o t h e p r i v a t i o n s on t h e people due t o t h e
Nigerian c i v i l c r i s f s, L a t e r , it matamorph~sed i n t o a
church.. He worked on t h e p reva i l ing psychology of t h e
p,eople t o a t t r a c t adheren ts , The emphasis on. h e a l i n g
meditsvtion.,, t h e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of v i s i o n s and t he , ,
s c r i p t u r e e p u l l e d t h e members of the , Anglican and
Ca tho l i c churches t h a t formed t h e nuc leus of t h e mission,
Its member6 were, however, drawn most ly from t h e azed
a d w e a k minded i n t h e soc i e ty ,
The a d h e r e n t s of t h e mi~s ion&*re ; n c d by t h e
presence of re fugeeo i n I h i a l a du r ing t h e c i v i l w a r , 40
f The c i v i l War Y e a ~ s : 1967-1970
The a c t i v i t i e s of t h e c h r i s t i a n miss ions , e s p e c i a l l y
t h e R.C.M., and p a r t l y t h e AngU.cm'church i n I h i a l i
dur ing t h a c i v i l war showed t h e a b i l i t y of t h e churches
t o c a t e r f o r t h e w e l f a r e of t h e people, They were
committed t o t h e s p i r i t u a l , m a t e r i a l and p h y s i c a l well-
being of a l l and sundry, i r r e s p e c t i v e of c reed ,
denomination o r b e l i e f . .
The CmITAS I n t e r n a t i o n a l , through t h e Romau
c a t h o l i c church provided t h e b a s i c n e c e s s i t i e s which t h e
economic blockade n d l i c y of t h e F e d e r a l Government
depr ived t h e s e c e s s i o n i s t s . R e l i e f m a t e r i a l s of c l o t h e s ,
- b l a n k e t s and food i t e m s with high p r o t e i n con ten t s , d rugs
end salt were made a v a i l a b l e t o t h e people, The S t .
~ar t infs church w a s t h e i n i t i a l c o l l e c t i o n c e n t r e f o r a l l
t h e d l ? . a g e s i n . I h i d a . The Rev, Er.. i n t h e s t a t i o a
worked o u t
materials
m o d a l i t i e s f o r t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n of t h e s e
t o d i f f e r e n t v i l l a g e s , down t o t h e consumers, 41
Each village was a s s i g n e d a . s p e c i f i c day o f t h e r e e k i n
which i t c o l l e c t e d i ts a l l o c a t i o n o f t h e r e l i e f materials . The v i l l a g e church t e a c h e r and t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f t h e
p a r t i c u l a r v i l l a g e a s s i s t e d %n o r g a n i z i n g t h o s e who came
t o c o l l e c t t h e r e l i e f st t h e c e n t e r i n f i l e s and s h a r e d
t h e m a t e r i a l s t o them, 42
I n i t i a l l y , t h e food m a t e r i a l s were cooked at t h e
s t a t i o n under t h e s u p e r v i s i o n of t h e r e s i d e n t p r i e s t and
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s from t h e v a r i o u s v i l l a g e s , who s h a r e d i t
o u t t o t h e v a r i o u s v i l l a g e s on s p e c i f i c days. B u t t h i s
method g e n e r a t e d l o g i s t i c problems which made t h e v i l l a g e s
r emote ly l o c a t e d from t h e s t a t i o n t o demand t h e i r own
p o r t i o n of t h e s e food i t e m s i n t h e i r raw s t a t e , . T h i s was
b a s i c a l l y due t o t h e haza-sds i n t r e k k i n g t o t h e c e n t r e as
t h e f e d e r a l t r o o p s r e c k l e s s l y and r u t h l e s s l y a t t a c k e d
c i v i l i a n s e t t l e m e n t s , 43
T.he ,CA'IZITAS checked t h e m o r t i l i t y o f c h i l d r e n ia.
t h e form.. Those who s u f f e r e d from m a l n u t r i t i o n
( k r a s h i o k o r ) - were a i r l i f t e d t o Gabon where t h e y r e c e i v e d
medica l treajltment and improved d i e t , . They were brought
back a f t e r t h e c i v i l w a r , Those r h o c o u l d n o t b e air-
l i f t e d as t h e U l i a i r p o r t became i n c r e a s i n g l y u n w e , were
r e h a b i l i t a t e d i n t h e R e d Cross c e n t e r at S t , . I f a r t i n k church,44
62
T o enhance h e a l t h c a r e d e l i v e r y , t h e e x i s t i n g
h e a l t h c a r e i n s t i t u t i o n s were used t o complement t h e
s e r v i c e s of Onr Lady of Lourds hospi ta l . . The CARITAS
through t h e c a t h o l i c miss ion e s t a b l i s h e d r e fugee c h p e
f o r people d i s p l a c e d i n t h e i r v a r i o u s communities i n
I gboland. The S t , . There& s primary school Uzoakwa and
S t , P a l ' 8 church UmuezeawaSa3 were used f o r same purpose, 45
The World Counci l of Church (WCC)' through t h e
Anglicam church, e s t a b l i s h e d a; r e l i e f c e n t e r a t t h e S t .
S i l a d primary school. T h i s c e n t e r d i d n o t f l o u r i s h aa
much as t h e S t . M a r t i & r e l i e f c e n t e r because of pauc i ty
of m a t e r i a l s and food i tems. f l ' a k members of t h e Angl ican
church as w e l l as o t h e r mi s s ions and t h e non-converts
r e l i e d on t h e Ca tho l i c c e n t e r s f o r r e l i e f material^.. 46
The most impor tan t a s p e c t of t h e r e l i e f s e r v i c e s
rendered by t h e miss ion was t h e manner denominational
d i f f e r e n c e s were je t t i soned. . 41 rece ived r e l i e f m a t e r i a l s
from t h e v a r i o u s r e l i e f c e n t e r s i r r e s p e c t i v e of
denomination, The r e s e a r c h e r remembers when as a t o d d l e r
he c a r r i e d bowl t o c o l l e c t food from t h e v a r i o u s r e l i e f
c e n t r e s i n t h e town,
&ot.ber i s s u e of g r e a t import t o t h e c h r i s t i a n ,
missionary e n t e r p r i s e i n I h i a l a w a s t h e enactment of t h e
Pub l i c Education Ed ic t of 1970.47 T h i e e d i c t I o m l L y
and F o r c i b l y took over t h e missions ' and p r i v a t e agency
schoo l s i n t h e defunc t East C e n t r a l S t a t e , t h e miss ions
had used t h e s choo l s t o attrakt uonve r t s and propaga te
t h e i r d o c t r i n e , By t h e f o r c e of t h i s Edic t , t h e government
s u c c e s s f u l l y implemented a po l i cy i t conceived s i n c e 1956,
bu t cou ld no t b r i n g i n t o e f f e c t owing t o s t i f f o p p o s i t i o n
48 from t h e miss ions , and f o r f e w of l o s s of c r e d i b i l i t y , ,
By t h e time t h i s e d i c t was enacted, and t h e mi s s ions
"unceremoniously elbowed o u t of t h e educa t iona l a r ena ,
no s e c t i o n of t h e s o c i e t y concerned came o u t s i g n i f i c a n t l y
i n t h e i r d e f e n c d ~ . ~ ~ I n Ihialau, t h e Roman C a t h o l i c s
could only pu t up what seemed t o be a f e e b l e o p p o s i t i o n
compared with t h e p r e s s u r e e a r l i e r mounted on t h e
government of t h e de func t Eas t e rn Region a g a i n s t t h e
a t t e m p t t o e x p r o p r i a t e missions ' schools.. T h i s was
a-qparently due t o t h e f e a r of r e p r i s a l s from t h e m i l i t a r y
j u n t a i n power and t h e d i s l o c a t i o n s of t h e s o c i e t y by
t h e N ige r i an c i v i l cr38is. The h g l i c a n s , however, gaxe
i t m t a c i t suppor t , The F a i t h Tabewnaecle Congregation,
t h e Jehovahs' Wi tnesses and Q h r i s t ffLoly Church missions '
adherents welcomed it, They appeared t o have brea thed re
s i g h of r e l i e f from t h e f o r c i b l e t eaohing and impos i t i on
of the d o c t r i b o of t h e miss ions whose schoo l s they
a t tend,.% T h i s w a s made p o s s i b l e by t h e governments
p o l i c y a g a i n s t d0ctrin.J. t e a c h i n g s i n schools..
64
The m@or e f f e c t of t h e p o l i c y was t h e
l i b e r a l i z a t i o n o f admission i n t o t h e s choo l s ) p u p i l s
could be admi t ted i n t o s choo l s i r r e s p e c t i v e of c r eed and
denomin&ion. But i n p r a c t i c e , most p a r e n t s of t h e
Angl ican amd C a t h o l i c denominat i o n s p r e f e r r e d t o send
t h e i r wards and c h i l d r e n t o s choo l s o r i g i n a l l y owned by
t h e i r own denomination. 51 Xn examination of t h e
management of t h e s choo l s r e v e a l s t h a t t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e
heads of t h e major miss ions s choo l s i n t h e town have
c o n s i s t e n t l y been of t h e denominations t h a t e s t a b l i s h e d
them. Some of t h e o l d denominational f e a ' t u r e s a(nd
f l a v o u r s of t h e miss ions a r e still manifes ted i n t h e s e
schools ,
g) E v a n g e l i s t i c S t r a a t e ~ i e s of t h e Mis s ions
The e v a n g e l i n t i c s t r a t e g i e s d i f f e r e d i n t h e v a r i o u s
missions, . While t h e main l i n e miss ions adopted s i m i l a r
s t r a t e g i e s , t h e non main-line miss ions d id n o t adopt some
of t h e s e s t r a t e g i e s , T h i s could be explained by t h e
d i f f e r e n c e s i n d o c t r i n a l p o s i t i o n s of t h e missions,. F o r
i n s t a n c e , t h e f a i t h Tabernac le Congregation church8 s
b e l i e f i n f a i t h hea l ing and a b s t i n e n c e from drugs and
medicine a r e i n c o n s i s t e n t wi th t h e u s e of medical
f a c i l i t i e s as in s t rumen t s of evange l iza t ion ,
Home V i s i t a t i o n - k11 miss ions i n I h i a l a
adopted t h i s s t ra tegy . . I t was equa l ly t h e primary method
e m p l o y e d by t h e m i s s i o n s t o win t h e i r e a r l i e s t s e t of
c o n v e r t s . I t i r l v o l v e d v i s i t s to t h e v a r i c u s h o d s e i i o l d
k n i t s i n t h e town. D u r i n g such v i s i t s , t h e church
t . e a c h ~ r i m p r e s s e d t h e c k r i s t i z n rrbe5s&9e o n the p e o p l e .
I n t h e v e r y e a r l y s t a g e s o f h i s a c t i v i t i e s i n
I h i a l a , R E V . P a y n e e m p l o y e d h i s meagre r e s o u r c e s of t h e
I g b o l a n s u a y e t o a g r e a t sdvantac,e. tic w e n t t o t h e
d i t f e r e n t h o u s e h o l d s p r e a c h i n g t o t h e p e c p l e t o l l b i a k u t e
Jesus k'unu n k e e ndu e b e b e ~ ~ ~ , ( c o m to J e s u s and h a v e
e t e r n a l l i f e ) , using his r i g h t nand t o g e s t i c u l a t e
"ndu ebebeu. Cn t h e p a r t 2f t h e H.C.M., F r . B i n d e l
s p o k e t h r o u g h a n i n t e r p r e t e r t i l l h e d e v e l o p e d m a s t e r y
o f t h e Igbo l a n g u a g e . 53
The s e c o n d a r y m i s s i o n s e q u a l l y a d o p t e d t h i s
s t r a t e g y . B u t b e c a u s e t h e y a r r i v e d l o n g a f t e r t h e
a o c t r i n e a n d c e r t a i n r e l i g i o u s o b s e r v a n c e s o f t h e main
l i n e m i s s i o n s h a d t a k e n f i r m roo t s among t h e c o n v e r t s ,
t h e i r home v i s i t a t i o n s were more i n v o l v i n g . I n i t i a l
v i s i t s were f o l l o w e d u p by y e t more c o - o r d i n a t e C v i s i t s
d u r i n g w h i c h t h e d e p t h o f t h e Holy s c r i p t u r e s were
e x p l o r e d . 54
T h e J e h o v a h ' s w i t n e s s e s m i s s i o n , more t h a n a n y
o t h e r g r o u p , a d o p t e d t h i s s t r a t e g y . I t r e m a i n e d h e r
most e f f e c t i v e i n s t r u m e n t of e v a n g e l i s m .
i i ) Open Abr P reach ing
T h i s stral tegy was.employed by t h e main l i n e missions.
The h g l i c a n church adopted uha eke evangelism.. was
a1 r e s t day i n I h i a l a , people a b s t d n e d from farm work,
On t h e Sundays t h a t f e l l on market day, c o n v e r t s
ga the red a t t h e church premises and a f t e r a b r i e f p raye r
went t o aj. s p e c i f i e d s e c t i o n of t h e town t o preach and
s i n g at t h e v i l l a g e square , Such a E l ~ ~ g . s w e r e , however,
informed i n advance of such v i s i t s , U f t e r t h e open & r e
p reaching, t h e a o n v e r t s organized i n ' g r o u p s and went i n t o
55 v a r i o u s s e c t i o n s of t h e v i l l a g e f o r evangelism,
i i i ) School and Technica l Educa t ion
The u s e o f educa t iona l i n s t i t u t i o n s as key f a c t o r ifi
e v a n g e l i z a t i o n was recognized e a r l y enough by t h e v a r i o u s
mi s s ions i n Ihiai la. The t h r e e m i ~ s i o n s , viz: t h e
kng l i can , Roman h t h o l i c and F a j t h T a b e r n w l e Congregatiom
churches , who employed it,. c l o s e l y a s s o c i a t e d i t with t h e
church, They recognized t h a t young c o n v e r t s would
a c q u i r e t h e rudiments of l i t e r a c y through t h e school and
t hus , g a i n e a a i e r and r e a d i e r a c c e s s t o t h e p r in t ed word
of ~ o d . 56 Moreso, s choo l s o f f e r e d o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r t h e
c o n v e r t s t o b e n e f i t from t h e new o r d e r i n t roduced by
co lon ia l i sm; pa id eplployment as c l e r k s i n t h e l a r g e
commercial f i r m s an'd government depar tments ; c a t e c h i s t s
and primary schoo l t e a c h e r s ; and,most important ly ,
u n r a v e l t h e mystery of the 'whi toman ' s t knowledge
( o a k knowledge) . & b o w a l l , t h e s c h o o l w a u t h e most e f f e c t i v e
avenue f o r t h e p r o p a g a t i o n o f t h e d o c t r i n e and dogmatic
t e a c h i n g s of t h e v a r i o w mission^, Through i t , t h e m i s s i o n 5
c l o s e l y s u p e r v i s e d t h e conduct of h e r young c o n v e r t s , a n d
i n t h e p r o c e s s , checked d e f e c t i o n t o r i v a l m i s s i o n s ,
B u t u n f o r t u n a t e l y , t h e miss ions ' p o l i c i e s o n
e d u c a t i o n were r a t h e r lop-s ided , None of them embarked
on secondary s c h o o l s , The R,C,M, which made a t t e m p t s t o
e s t a b l i s h what appeared l i k e colleges, se t up a n
Elementary Teachess T r a i n i n g Col lege and a seminary f o r
t h e t r a i n i n g o f p r o s p s c t i v e c l e r g y men, The secondary
s c h o o l s e s t a b l i s h e d i n t h e town were through i n d i v i d u a l
e f f o r t s . M r , . G i l b e r t Okeke was t h e p r o p r i e t o r o f t h e R~bbot
C d l e g e s w h i l e l a t e J u d e Eze e s t a b l i s h e d t h e S t , J u d e s
GmmercialCollege which i s o p p o s i t e t h e Abbot Boys C o l l e g e , .
h o t h e r r e l a t e d s t r a t e g y was t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of
t e c h n i c a l workshops f o r t r a i n i n g t h e youths . Rev, F r ,
E i n d e l employed t h i s , I t was i n h i s workshop t h a t t h e
f i r s t s e t of a r t i s a n s - mechanics, c a r p e n t e r s , masons and
d r i v e r s i n I h i a l a were t r a i n e d , T h e i r s k i l l was used i n
c o n s t r u c t i n g ",Bindel's House" at S t . M a r t i n s p r e m i s e s and
t h e f i r s t s e t o f b lock house6 i n Ih ia la ; .
i v ) . Welfa re S e r v i c e s - H o s p i t a l s and G i f t s
The u s e o f w e l f a r e s e r v i c e s i n e v a n g e l i z a t i o n was
a d o p t e d on ly by t h e R,C,M,. and t h e Abgl ican church. The
Jehovah t s W i t n e s s e s and C h r i s t Holy Church (Odoz i obodo)
m i s s i o n s d i d n o t e s t a b l i s h h e a l t h c a r e i n s t i t u t i o n s ,
The Fad t h Tabernache Congrega t ion church ' s b e l i e f i n
f a i t h heaZing and a b s t i n e n c e from d r u g s c o u l d n o t p e r m i t
h e r t o own cne,
6:s e a r l y as 1928, t h e R,C,M,. had e s t a b l i s h e d a n
orphanage and d i s p e n s a r y a t E z i a n i v i l l a g e . The orphanage
t o o k c a r e of abandoned b a b i e s - t w i n s , b a b i e s who f i r s t c u t
t h e t o o t h of t h e upper jaw and t h o s e whose mothers d i e d on
t h e i r d e l i v e r y e t c , The d i s p e n s a r y a d m i n i s t e r e d d r u g s on
t h e s i c k and first a i d t o t h e wounded. The h e a l t h - c a r e
s e r v i c e s r e n d e r e d by t h e R,C,M, was f u r t h e r improved w i t h
t h e opening o f Our Lady of Lourdes h o s p i t a l i n 1933.
T h e s e i n s t i t u t i o n s , no doubt , p rov ided a most
u s e f u l and n e c e s s a r y need a t t h a t t ime , and t h e p e o p l e were
g e n e r a l l y t i n r e s t r a i n e d by c u l t u r a l i n h i b i t i o n s i n t h e i r
p a t r o n a g e of them, T h i s was o b v i o u s l y due t o t h e e f f i c a c y
o f t h e d r u g s and t r e a t m e n t r e c e i v e d a t t h e h o s p i t a l . 47
Rev, F r , B i n d e l used g i f t s of al.:luring m a t e r i a l s t o
a t t r a c t c h i l d r e n t o t h e Roman C a t h o l i c church. He p r e s e n t e d
them w i t h g i f t s of e x q u i s i t e n a t u r e such as uweets , l o o k i n g
g l a s s e s and c l o t h e s . These minor p r e s e n t s won t h e
a d m i r a t i o n of t h e people, and t h e c h i l d r e n developed -
b9
, o b s e s s i o n f o r t h e p o s s e s s i o n o f s u c h g i f t s . The d e s i r e
f o r t h e s e g i f t s l u r e d them t o t h e R.C.M.. Even p a r e n t s in
t h e A n g l i c a n d e n o m i n a t i o n encouraged t h e i r c h i l d r e n t o
g e t t h e i r s h a r e of s u c h g i f t s ( d a s h ) f rom Rev. F r . B i n d e l . 58
V) Use of O b 2 e c t s o f Worsh ip
The Roman C a t h o l i c m i s s i o n s e e ~ n e d t o h a v e
u n d e r s t o o d t h e r e l e v a n c e o f symbols i n t h e r e l i g i o u s
w o r s h i p o f t h e p e o p l e , They encouraged t h e u s e o f t h e
c r u c i f i x and r o s a r y as &ds:in ' worship.. T h e p e o p l e on
t h e i r p a r t saw t h e s e o b j e c t s as a l t e r n a t i v e s t o t h e
t r a d i t i o n a l r e l i g i o u s symbols. .The s c a p u l a r wovnon t h e
neck s e e m i n g l y s e r v e d t l ~ m as ' a m u l e t s 1 , The u s e o f t h e s e
o b j e c t s g a v e t h e R.C .M. some r e s e m b l a n c e as t h e t r a d i t i o n a l
r e l i g i o n .
Thc! o t h e r m i s s i o n s , however, were u n e q u i v o c a l i n
t h e i r c o m d m n a t i o n o f t h e s e p r a c t i c e s . They t e n d e d t o
a s s o c i a t e s u c h o b j e c t s and t h e Roman C a t h o l i c c h u r c h with
i - do la t o r y . 59
vi) Use of T r a c t s and L e a f l e t s
T h e Jehovah's W i t n e s s e s m i s s i o n more t h a n any o t h e r
m i s s i o n s d o p t e d t h i s s t r a t e g y . I t r e q u i r e d some d e g r e e
o f 1 i t e r a . c ~ on t h e p e o p l e t o a d m i r e t h e i m p o r t o f t r a c t s
and l e a f l e t s made a v a i l a b l e by t h e m i s s i o n . T h e s e
m a t e r i a l s which p r i m a r i l y e x p l a i n e d as well as p r o p a g a t e d
t h e d o c t r i n e o f t h e Jehovah 's w i t n e s s e s were a v a i l e d
a t a token f e e ,
T h e Awake magazine i s n o t e d f o r i t s high
l i t e r a r y s t a n d a r d and i n d e p t h a n a l y s i s on s o c i a l a n d
s c i e n t i f i c matters, However, s m e o f t h e s e a n a l y s e s
t e n d t o b e t o o s e c t a r i a n t o b e a p p r e c i a t e d by t h e
a d h e r e n t s o f o t h c r m i s s i o n s ,
T h e d e g r e e t o which t h e s e t r a c t s and l e a f l e t s won
c o n v e r t s w a s d i f f i c u l t t o q u a n t i f y . A' few of t h e
a d h e r e n t s a d m i t t e d t h a t t h e y became c o n v e r t e d t h r o u g h ,
t h o i n f l u a n c o of t h c ~ o mu t o r i u l n , 60 .
1. S.B.C. Anyanwu, "The growth of t h e N a z a r e t h E n g l i c a n Church, Ohohia, M b i e r i v . A: paper p r e s e n t e d a t t h e Diamond J u b i l e e c e l e b r a t i o n of N a z a r e t h A n g l i c a n church Ohohia, M b i e r i , August 1992.
la. P h i l i p Okwuosa, c i r ca , 80 y e a r s , r e t i r e d c i v i l s e r v a n t , i n t e r v i e w e d a t Mbarakpaka v i l l a g e , I h i a l a 1 4 t h J u l y , 1993..
2. P h i l i p Okwuosa, i n t e r v i e w c i t e d ; Solomon P s i k a 67 y e a r s , Businessman, i n t e r v i e w e d a t N d i e z i k e v i l l a g e , I h i a l a , 9 t h J u l y , 1993.
C .
3. F.. E r iobuna , 58 y e a r s , Amhdeacon, I h i a l a A h g l i c a n A'rchdeaconry, i n t e r v i e w e d a t S t . S i l a s parsonage , I h i a l a , 1 6 t h J u l y , 1993..
4. P h i l i p Okwuosa, i n t e r v i e w c i t e d .
5.' 'k. Erobuna , i n t e r v i e w c i t e d and J o h n Kanu c i r c a 68 y e a r s , r e t i r e d church t e a c h e r , i n t e r v i e w e d a t A'kwa v i l l a g e , I h i a l a 1 8 t h J u l y , 1993..
6.: l?. Er iobuna , i n t e r v i e w c i t e d .
7. P h i l i p Okwuosa, i n t e r v i e w c i t e d .
8. Robinson U zowulu, 69 y e a r s , r e t i r e d c i v i l s e r v a n t , i n t e r v i e w e d a t N d i e z i k e v i l l a g e I h i a l a , 9 t h J u l y , 19930
9. C.E.. Obi,. "The h i s t o r y of c h r i s t i a n i t y i n I h i a l a LOG-.k,. 1908-1977".. ( B O A . p r o j e c t , Dept. o f R e l i g i o n U e M .No. 1978) 9 . pe- 26. . \
10. P h i l i p Okwuosa and Solomon A'sika; i n t e r v i e w s c i t e d .
11.. IY\l'c.t3& I bekwe, r t d . c i v i l s e r v a n t , i n t e r v i e w e d a t Qbodoawo v i l l a g e , I h i a l a 1 3 t h J u l y , 1993; T h e o p h i l u s Ngamwuchu i n C .E,. Obi, . "The H i s t o r y o f ! . p,. 148,
12. F. Eriobunz, i n t e r v i e w c i t e d ,
13. P h i l i p Okwuosa, i n t e r v i e w ci ted, .
14. F. Er iobuna and Solomon As ika ; i n t e r v i e w s c i t e d .
1 5. F. Br iobuna and P h i l i p Ckwuosa', i n t e r v i e w s c i t e d ,
H. Mdigwe, quoted i n R.U.. Okeke, "The Coming of t h e . Roman Ca tho l i c mission t o I h i a l a 1911-1960"
(N.C.E.. p r o j e c t , Dept. of His tory , N,I,C,$,. Owerri, 19771, PO 27.
Brendan Odimegwu, 70 years , r e t i r e d headmaster, interviewed a t I h i a l a . 3rd Ju ly , 1993, Boniface I gboanugo, c..73 years , r e t i r e d cbukk c l e r k , interviewed a t Uzoakwa v i l l a g e , I h i a l a - on 27th J u l y , 1993,
R,U,. Okeke,. "The Coming of t h e Roman c a t h o l i c mission ...!I, p. 16.
Nat ional k c h i v e s Enugu ( N.A' .Em.) Op 731, ONDIST 12/1/54 t tApplicat ion f o r l e a s e of land at I h i a l a f o r conver ts and schoolsH 1933-1954; schedule I ,
S e c r e t a r y ' s o f f i c e , southern provinces t o t h e r e s i d e n t Onitsha province 19/9/33 SP 10/70/7 (R .A"!.E.. OP 731 ONDIST 12/1/34) .
The Resident Onitsha Province t o Bishop Char les Heerey OD1 48/37 of 27th March, 1934. (N.A'I.E.. OP 731 ONDI ST 12/1/504) ,
The Resident, O n i t s h a province t o t h e D i s t r i c t o f f i c e r (D.0,) Onitsha D i s t r i c t 0 ~ / 7 3 / 3 2 (N.X:.E.. OP 731 ONDIST 12/1 /34) .
D.0.. t o Resident, Onitsha province OD/148/41; 9 t h May, 1934 (N.A.E. OP 731 ONDIST 12/1 /p4) .
Boniface Igboanugo, in te rv iew c i t e d , and R.U.. Okeke, "The coming of ... !' p, 32,.
Boniface Igboanugo, in terv iew c i t e d and Sy lves te r Edebatu, 56 years , school teacher , interviewed a t Obodoawo v i l l a g e , I h i a l a on 1 3 t h J u l y , 1993,
Boniface I gboanugo, in terv iew cited, .
k s s i s t a n t D i s t r i c t O f f i c e r , Nnewi, - Onitsha Province t o t h e Resident Onitsha province ~IV/2/33/30; 1 2 t h December, 1944 (N .A?.EI OP/731, ONDIST/ 12/1/94)
R.U., Okeke,. "The Coming of . . .", p.. 28,
as. 30.
Boni face Igboanugo, i n t e r v i e w cited. .
Boniface Igboanugo,' S y l v e s t e r Edebatu; i n t e r v i e w s c i ted, .
S y l v e s t e r Edebatu, i n t e r v i e w cited.,
Boniface Igboanugo, i n t e r v i e w c i t e d ,
Boniface Igboanugo, i n t e r v i e w c i t ed , , J o n e s Onwuchekwa, 73 years, r e t i r e d headmaster ,
i n t e rv i ewed art Mbarakpaka vk l l age , I h i a l c 1 7 t h J u l y , 19930
C h r i s t i a n Onwuchekwa, 55 yea r s , c i v i l s e r v a n t , i n t e rv i ewed at and J o n e s Onwuchekwa, i n t e r v i e w c i t e d ,
Joseph Onwuchekra, 72 y e a m , businessman, in te rv iewed at I h i a l a , 1 8 t h J u l y , 1993..
P e t e r Onwuchekwa, c i r c a , 65 y e a r s businessman, '
in te rv iewed at I h i a l a , 1 0 t h hugust , 1993, (Be decamped from t h o Jehovah ' s Witnessgs church i n 1959) . P h i l i p Okwuosir, i n t e r v i e w c i t e d and Sydney Odi fe , 65 y e a r s , fmmer , in te rv iewed a t I Y barakpakaa v i l l a g e , I h i a l a 2nd J u l y , 1993.
Joseph Onwuchekwa, i n t e rv i ew c i t ed , .
Joseph Onwuchekwa, i n t e r v i e w c i t e d . Samuel Madubugwu, 55 year%, P a s t o r , C h r i ~ t Holy church
(Odoz$ mo), in te rv iewed a t Ih ia la 6 t h Mug. 199.3.
Brendan Odimegwc and Boniface I gboanugo; i n t e r v i e w s c i t e d .
S y l v e s t e r Edebatu and Boniface Igboanugo; i n t e r v i e w s c i t e d .
Boniface I gboanugo, i n t e r v i e w c i t e d , S y l v e s t e r Edebeatu, i n t e rv i ew c i t e d . Boniface Igboanugo, i n t e r v i e w c i t e d . P h i l i p Okwuosa, Boniface Igboanugo; i n t e r v i e w s c i t e d .
P u b l i c Education E d i c t of Eas t C e n t r a l S t a t e , 1970, E d i c t Po, 2 of 1971,.
-E,C, Amucheazi, Church and P o l i t i c s i n E a s t e r n : A S t u d y i n P r e s s u r e Group
p w d k : ? a c n L i l l a n 1986) , p. 120.
A,E,. & f i g & , "The M i s s i o n , the S t a t e and E d u c a t i o n i n S o u t h e a s t e r n Niae r i a l l . i n E, Fashole-Luke ( ed,). C h r i s t i a n i t y in - indepknden t - ~ l , q e r i a o on don; Rex C o l l i n s , 1978) ,. p. 126.
B o n i f a c e I gboanugo, P h i l i p Okwuosa., J o n e s Onwuchekwa amd J o s e p h Onwuchekw&,' i n t e r v i e w s c i t e d .
Brendan Odimegwu, S y l v e s t e r Edebeatu and ' F .. Eriobu- i n t e r v i e w s c i t e d ,
B e a t r i c e O d i f e, c i r c a , 90 y e a r s , housewif e/women '
l e a d e r , i n t e r v i e w e d a t Mbarakpaka v i l l a g e , I h i a l a , 3 r d J u l y , . 1993..
Brendan Odimegwu, i n t e r v i e w cited..
J o s e p h Onwuchekwa, i n t e r v i e w c i t e d , '
T h e o p h i l u s Nganwuchu i n C.E.. O b i , "The h i s t o r y of C h r i 6 t i a n J . t ~ . . . I1, p,. 43; P h i l i p Okwuosal i n t e r v i e w cited..
W,R.T,- Milne, l l In te l J . igence R e p o r t on I i c h a l l a G'roup" , 1935 ( N . A , E , . 00 199 ~01.11, ONDIST 7/l/lO)', p.17,
M banaso Odimegwu, c i r c a 90 y e a r s , farmer/community l e a d e r , i n t e r v i e w e d at I h i a l a , 2nd J u l y , 1.993. O k o r i e Osuagwu c i r c a 8 5 y e a r s , h e r b a l i s t / f a rmer , i n t e r v i e w e d at Umudara v i l l a g e 1 7 t h J u l y , 1993.-
E', Eriobuna, P h i l i p Okwuosa; i n t e r v i e w s c i t e d , .
F, Er iobuna , P h i l i p Okwuosa, J o s e p h Onwuchekwaf interview^ c i t e d ,
J o s e p h Onwuchekwal, i n t e r v i e w c i t e d , B e n e t h Okwmkwo, c i rca , 50 y e a r s , t r a d e r , i n t e r v i e w e d act N d i e z i k e v i l l a g e , I h i a l a , 2 0 t h J u l y , 19543.
CHAPTER V: THE CHRISTIAN MISSIONS ATID I . IHIALA SOCIETY
T h i s c h a p t e r examines t h e i n t e r a c t i o n of t h e
c h r i s t i a n miss ionary e n t e r p r i s e w i t h t h e t r a d i t i o n a l vajlue
systems of I h i a l a and t h e problems a s e o c i a t e d wi th
i n t e g r a t i n g t h e f o r c e s gene ra t ed by t h i s c o n t a c t , I t
s t u d i e s t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h i n and between t h e v a r i o u s
miss ions , The people% responses t o t h e s e are equa l ly
highlighted. .
a3 C o n f l i c t Between C h r i s t i a n i t y and t h e S o c i e t y
The c h r i s t i a n miss ionary e n t e r p r i s e meant a c o n t a c t
of two c u l t u r e s and world views; christianity-cum-western
v a l u e s w i t h t h e I h i a h t r a d i t i o n a l r e l i g i o n and va lue
systems, Unfor tuna te ly , t h e m i s s i o n a r i e s showed remarkable
contempt f o r t h e b e l i e f systems and c u l t u r e of t h e people,
and consequent ly endeqvoured t o supplan t them with t h e
c h r i s t i a n i d e a l s . T h i s genera ted some c o n f l i c t . I t is
t h i s a r e & of c o n f l i c t t h a t forms t h e focus of t h i e .
s e c t i o n of t h e study.
P o l w y n x
Polygyny, a che r i shed t r a d i t i o n i n I h ia la , w a s t h e
p r a c t i c e i n which a man marr ied more t h a n one wife, The
a b i l i t y t o marry s e v e r a l wives ~ !a i sed t h e s o c i a l m a l e of
t h e i n d i v i d u a l male i n r e l a t i o n t o h i s monogamous o r
c e l i b a t e neighbourml The number of wives a man could
marry was snmeosure of h i s d f l u e n c e , Moreover, t h e
s u b s i s t e n t n a t u r e of t h e t r a d i t i o n a l a g r i c u l t u r e demanded
a l a r g e l a b o u r f o r c e t o work on t h e farms,. T h i s made
polygyny, and s u b s e q u e n t l y , l a r g e families i m p e r a t i v e ,
A'gain, t h e h i g h ra te o f i n f a n t m o r t a l i t y c o n s t r a i n e d m e n , t o
marry s e v e r a l wives t o r a i s e l a r g e f a m i l i e s w i t h t h e hope
4J t h a t a good number m u l d survive,adulthood,
Bu t t h e m i s s i o n a r i e s had a n e g a t i v e o p i n i o n of t h i s
p r a c t i c e . They equa ted polygyny w i t h a d u l t e r y and
conce ived i t as Itan o f f e n c e a g a i n s t t h e l a w of God, and
t h e r e f o r e i n c a p a b l e of ameliorat ion. .112 To them, i t
r e p r e s e n t e d t h e d e p t h o f t h e p e o p l e s immora l i ty , They
a d o p t e d v e r y uncompromising a t t i t u d e towards t h e p r a c t i c e ,
and made i t compulsory f o r t h e c o n v e r t s t o d i s m i s s a l l
t h e i r wives b u t one,.
I r o n i c a l l y , t h e first m i s s i o n a r i e s l o s t s i g h t o f t h e
f a c t t h a t by compel l ing t h e c o n v e r t s t o renounce dl t h e i r
wives b u t O ~ R , t h e y d e s t r o y e d t h e f a b r i c s of t r a d i t i o n a i l
f a m i l y l i f e . Some c h r i s t i a n s who t r i e d t o r e h a b i l i t a t e
t h e t r a d i t i o n a l ~ ~ b o ' v a l u e sys tem f rom t h e damages i n f l i c t e d
upon i t by t h e c h r i s t i a n m i s s i o n a r i e s a rgued a l o n g t h i s l i n e . 3
Ozo T i t l e - J n s t i t u t i o n
I n t h e t r a d i t i o n & I h i a l a s o c i e t y , so l . id p e r s o n a l
achievement was a mark o f g r e a t n e s s . I t was measured by
t h e number of t i t l e s an i n d i v i d u a l c o u l d t a k e from t h e
h i e r a r c h y of s o c i a l t i t l e s i n t h e town.. The a o was t h e
77
c h i e f t i t l e open t o a l l male t o a t t a h t h e h i g h e s t
s o c i a l s t a t u s .
The oz_o w a s a,. s o c i a l a s s o c i a t i o n i n t o which men
were i n i t i a t e d , w i t h one of t h e i r wives i n v a r i o u s s t a g e s
wi th very expensive ceremoniese4 I t could t a k e as much
as a;l lif$s sav ings t o t a k e t h e h i g h e s t &o t i t l e , The
most impor tan t e l i g i b i l i t y c r i t e r i o n
moral r e c t i t u d e of t h e i n d i v i d u a l . 5
l e d a ho ly l i f e , upheld t h e mora l i t y
f o r t h e t i t l e w a s t h e
The ozo t i t l e h o l d e r s - of t h e l a n d and
observed a l l r i t u a l s of t h e town, I t d i d no t , however,
bestow r e l i g i o u s r o l e on i t s holders ,
D r . Egboh has a p t l y desc r ibed t h e s o c i o - p o l i t i c a l
s i g n i f i c a n c e of t h e a o t i t l e h o l d e r s t hus ;
Ozo t i t l e ho lder occupiee a p o s i t i o n i n - Igboland comparable t o t h e peerage of t h e Eng l i sh s o c i e t y wi th same s o c i a l p r e s t i g e as "Lordw i n t h e s o c i e t y , . .6
But whatever w w i t s s o c i a l and economic s ign i f icance , !
t h e f i r s t m i s s i o n a r i e s educated t h e c o n v e r t s t o have
nothing t o do wi th i t , They seemed t o have a! consensus
op in ion t h a t ~ o %s idola tZousf8 , because of c e r t a i n
r i t e s a s s o c i a t e d wi th t h e i n i t i a t i o n i n t o it..
The proper p l ace f o r t h e &o t i t l e i n s t i t u t i o n
among t h e c o n v e r t s remained a- kno t ty problem f o r t h e
main l ine denominations,. T h e i r members i n s i s t e d on t h e
c o n t i n u i t y of t h e system.. The J ehovah8 s Witnesses,
F a i t h T a b e r n a c l e Congregat ion and C h r i s t Holy church
(Odoz i 0bod0) c h u r c h e g a d h e r e n t s remained s o l i d l y opposed
t o t h e i n s t i t u t i o n , . .;
K i l l i n g of Twins and t a b o o B a b i e s
The b e l i e f sys tem o f any s o c i e t y i s a, r e f l e c t i o n
o f i ts c o n c e p t i o n of t h e s e e n and unseen ~ r o r l d . ~ In
I h i a l a , it was c o n s i d e r e d u n n a t u r a l f o r human b e i n g s t o
bear o r d e l i v e r more t h a n one st a t ime ; o n l y lower
a n i m a l s l i k e dogs, c a t s , g o a t s e tc c o u l d have m u l t i p l e
b i r t h . 4 woman who gave b i r t h t o t w i n s would, t h e r e f o r e ,
need a. s p e c i a l c l e a n s i n g s a c r i f i c e and t h e t w i n des t royed ,
O t h e r w i s e , t h e l a n d t h u s abominated would i n c u r t h e
wra th o f t h e a n c e s t r a l s p i r i t s , 8
In t h e same v e i n , b a b i e s who c u t t h e upper t o o t h
first were k i l l e d o r dumped i n t h e e v i l f o r e s t t o d i e f o r
abominat.ing t h e l a n d ,
The first m i s s i o n a r i e s t h a t e v a n g e l i z e d I h i a l a
a d v i s e d t h e newly c o n v e r t e d t o d i s c o u n t e n a n c e t h i s custom
and k e e p t h e i r t w i n s and t h o s e t h a t c u t t h e upper t o o t h
first, B a t h e r t h a n a c c e p t t h e a d v i c e of t h e m i s s i o n a r i e s ,
some c o n v e r t s c o n t i n u e d w i t h t h e t r a d i t i o n a l p r a c t i c e f o r
f e a r t h a t f a i l u r e t o do s o might a t t r a c t ominous
consequences. However, t h e c o n v e r t s and s t a t i o n t e a c h e r
at; S t . :;.'.lasf s t a t i o n , resculed and r e h a b i l i t a t e d one o f
s u c h c h i l d r s n e 9 The R.C .M. t ook a s t e p f u r t h e r by b u i l d i n g
o rphanages where such c h i l d r e n were r e h a b i l i t a l t e d , . -
F u n e r a l 0 b s e q u i e s
I n I h i a l a , t h e o b s e q u i e s of a n e l d e r l y and t i t l e d
pe r son t o o k two s t a ~ e s . The f T r s t was t h e i n t e r m e n t , i t
d i d n o t r e q u i r e e l a b o r a t e ceremonies , The second u s u a J l y
t o o k p l a c e i n a b o u t one y e a r o r i e s s , depending on t h e
p r e p a r e d n e s s o f t h e be reaved fami ly , The e s s e n c e of t h e
second r i t e , t h e p e o p l e b e l i e v e d , w a s t o g r a n t t h e s p i r i t
of such d e p a r t e d e l d e r l y p e r s o n a; c o m f o r t a b l e res t w i t h
t h 6 a n c e s t o r s ? i n t h e l a n d of a n c e s t r a l b l i s s , from
where h e saw t o t h e we l l -be ing of h i s c h i l d r e n on e a r t h .
Secondly , i t was done t o s e v e r r e l a t i o n s between t h e
l i v i n g and t h e dead.. k11 s o c i a l g r o u p s t o which t h e dead
h i t h e r t o be longed s e v e r e d all1 forms o f a s s o c i a t i o n and
r e l a t i o n s w i t h him at such ceremonies. A7>gain,, i t a f f o r d e d
t h e r e l a t i v e s , f r i e ~ , d s and w e l l w i s h e r s a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o
e x p r e s s t h e i r g r i e f and p r e s e n t g i f t s t o t h e bereaved
f a m i l y i n r e c i p r o c a t i o n o f similar g e s t u r e s sarlier 10
extended t o them o r i n e x p e c t a t i o n . a ~ ' t h e m .
The p r o p e r t y of t h e deceased would n o t b e s h a r e d
among h i s c h i l d r e n i f t h i s second r i t e was n o t performed.
Moreso, t h e ex tended f a m i l y (umunna) and members of
v a r i o u s s o c i a l g r o u p s t o which t h e deceased had belonged
would be h a r r a s s e d and to rwen ted by t h e s p i r i t as i t had
n o t s e t , t l e d down w i t h o t h e r a n c e s t r a l s p i r i t s or f o r m a l l y
s e v e r e d r e l a t i o n s w i t h h i s socia.1' p e e r s a l i v e . 11
The f irst m i s s i o n a r i e s encouraged t h e c o n v e r t s n o t
t o perform such r i t e s f o r t h e dead r e l a t i v e s -or
p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e r e c i p r o c i t y o f g i f t s p r e s e n t e d t o
bereaved f r i e n d s and r e l a t i v e s , . I n f a c t , t h e conve , r t s
were f o r b i d d e n t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n any o f t h e f u n e r a 2 rites
t h a t come a f t e r t h e i n t e r m e n t . The m i s s i o n a r i e s
e r r o n o u s l y c a l l e d i t ' second b u r i a l ' as i f t h e c o r p s e was
b u r i e d a: second t ime,
Osu C a s t e System
T h e a u were t h e l o w e s t i n t h e s o c i a l h i e r a r c h y o f
I h i a l a . They were den ied o f dl forms o f s o c i a l r e l a t i o n s
and a s s o c i a t i o n w i t h t h e f r e e b o r n , because t h e i r
p r o g e n i t o r s were d e d i c a t e d t o t h e major d e i t i e s i n t h e
town. I t was, f o r i n s t a n c e , a n abomina t ion f o r t h e
f r e e b o r n t o marry o r have s e x u a l i n t e r c o u r s e w i t h them;
t o a t t e n d t h e same s o c i a l f u n c t i c n s o r s e e k s a f e t y i n t h e i r
house even when t r a d e d by a n a s s a i l a n t ,
The m i s s i o n a r i e s preached a g a i n s t t h i s s o c i a l
i n e q u a l i t y and i n j u s t i c e , They used t h e b i b l i c a l s t o r y
bf St . Pau's encoun te r w i t h C o r n e l i u s t h e c e n t u r i o n , 1 4 t o
t e a c h t h a c o n v e r t s n o t t o r e g a r d p e o p l e as u n c l e a n o r
s o c i a l o u t c a s t s , and a d v i s e d them t o j e t t i s o n t h e , p r a c t i c e , .
Nrnanwu C u l t (Masquerade;
The nmanwu i s a r g u a b l y t h e c u l t of t h e a n c e s t r a J
s p i r i t s animated and p e r s o n i f i e d . They a p p e a r e d i n
c o r p o r e a l form as masquerades and were v e n e r a t e d by a l l .
Only t h e i n i t i a t e s p a r t i c i p a t e d i n t h e c u l t a c t i v i t i e s .
I t s e r v e d as a n i n s t r u m e n t of s o c i a l c o n t r o l and a s o u r c e
of e n t e r t a i n m e n t and r e c r e a t i o n .
The m i s s i o n a r i e s encouraged t h o c o n v e r t s t o d e f i l e
t h e s a n c t i t y o f t h e i n s t i t u t i o n by open ly s t a t i n g t h a t
t h e nmanwu had a human form. They a d v i s e d t h e c o n v e r t 6
n o t t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e c u l t a c t i v i t i e s o r submit
themse lves t o i t s s o c i a l c o n t r o l ,
R i t u a l 0 bservanc e s
I t amounted t o a r i t u a l p o l l u t i o n of I h i a l a i f one
w i l f u l l y o r a c c i d e n t a l l y h u r t o r k i l l e d t h e ! iQ~veJ pythor,,
eke ura:&, a n d a s p e c i e of fish l o c a l l y c j i l e d =a.
These c r e a t u r e s , among o t h e r s , were r e g a r d e d as s a c r e d
because, t h e p e o p l e b e l i e v e d , t h e y embodied t h e s o u l of
t h e i r communal u n i t y and s o l i d a r i t y . Custom and t r a d i t i o n
p r e s c r i b e d t h e a p p r o p r i a t e s a c r i f i c e which t h e person
who k i l l e d o r h u r t such a n i m a l s o f f e r e d t o p r o p i t i a t e
t h e gods.
The e a r l i e s t m i s s i o n a r i e s encouraged t h e c o n v e r t s
n o t o n l y t o k i l l such a n i m a l s , b u t hunt them f o r food as
well:. They used God1 s i n j u n c t i o n t o P e t e r t o , " a r i s e
k i l l and e a t . . ." , a n d S t . P a u l ' s i n s t r u c t i o n t o Timothy
t o d i s c o u n t e n a n c e l lsuch t e a c h i n g s ( t h a t ) o r d e r them t o
a b s t a i n from f o o d s which God c r e a t e d ..., f o r e v e r y t h i n g
God c r e a t e d i s good . . . " , l7 t o t e a c h t h e c o n v e r t s
n o t t o a b s t a i n from such an imals ,
clear in^ S a c r e d Groves and E v i l F o r e s t s
Some g r o v e s and f o r e s t s i n I h i a l a were n o t e d f o r
t h e i r malevolence. 'They were d e d i c a t e d t o t h e major
d e i t i e s i n t h e town'. A s a r e s u l t , th.ey were n e i t h e r
c u l t i v a t e d n o r t h e t r e e s i n them e x p l o i t e d f o r domest ic
fuel. . They s e r v e d as dumping s i t e s f o r p e o p l e whc had
' b a d dea ths ' and were g e n e r a l l y r e f e r r e d t o as e v i l fores t . . 19
The f i r s t m i s s i o n a r y t o e s t a b l i s h i n I h i a l a , R e v .
F.G,. Payne, o f t h e C.M.S. m i s s i o n was g i v e n one of such
s a c r e d g r o v e s -. t h e Uden~wu, t o b u i l d h i s s t a t i o n .
Bu t t h i s g e n e r o a s and h o s p i t a b l e g e s t u r e o s t e n s i b l y
s i g n i f i e d r e j e c t i o n . The p e o p l e b e l i e v e d t h a t t h e
m i s s i o n a r y and h i s c o n v e r t s would s u f f e r some c a l a m i t y i f
athey f e l l t h e t r e e s i n t h e grove. B u t w i t h f a i t h and
d e t e r m i n a t i o n , t h e c o n v e r t s c l e a r e d t h e g r o v e w i t h o u t
any i n c i d e n t o f d e a t h o r i l l - h e a l t h on t h e i r f a m i l i e s .
Consequen t ly , t h e y c l e a r e d o t h a r g r o v e s i n t h e town a
t h e y had developed s t r o n g d o u b t s on t h e potency o f t h e
ominous powers they had be l i eved such g roves
possessed.
O the r T r a d i t i o n a l F e s t i v a l s a n d Ceremonies - A l m s s t a l l a s p e c t s of human a c t i v i t i e s i n t h e
t r a d i t i o n a l I h i a l a s x i e t y ~ . W e i t s s o c i a t e d w i t h r i t e s ,
ceremonies and f e s t i v a l s . The e a r l i e s t m i s s i o n a r i e s
branded them I u n c h r i s t i a n 1 and discouraged t h e c o n v e r t s
from p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n them,. Prominent among t h e s e
f e s t i v a l s were t h e i f e j o k u , t h e c e l e b r a t i o n i n honour of
t h e god of yam f e r t i l i t y . T h i s was done s h o r t l y before .
t h e c u l t i v a t i o n of t h e c rop ; isa ofo; consec ra t ing t h e of0 t o enhance i ts e f f i c a c y ; iba mkpa, f a t t e n i n g t h e maidens,
ime o b i umuaka, mo l l i fy ing t h e s p i r i t 'of c h i l d r e n , and
t h e new yam f e s t i v a l , 20
T h e ~ e f e s t i v a l s were c e l e b r a t e d i n t h e v i l l a g e
s h r i n e op t h e s h r i n e of t h e p a r t i c u l a r d e i t y a s s o c i a t e d
w i t h each .of them,.
b3, The Problem o f I n t e g r a t i o n
The c h r i s t i a n miss ionary e n t e r p r i s e involved t h e
convers ion of t h e i n d i v i d u a l o r group of people from
p rev ious ly he ld b e l i e f system t o a new one, based o n
C h r i s t i a n i t y , C e r t a i n t r a d i t i o n a l p r a c t i c e s which formed
t h e b a s i s of t h e peoples b e l i e f c o n s t i t u t e d s tumbling
b locks t o t h e f u l l a ccec t ance of t h e i d e a a s of C h r i s t i a n i t y .
T h i s posed t h e problem o f i n f u s i n g t h e c o n v e r t s w i t h t h e
c h r i s t i a n b e l i e f s y s t e m s as most o f them had t h e i r
c u l t u r a l p r a c t i c e s and v a l u e sys tem d e e p l y r o o t e d i n t h e
t r a d i t i o n a l r e l i g i o n and v a l u e system, T h e problems o f
i n t e g r a t i n g t h e c o n v e r t s t o t h e c h r i s t i a n i d e a l s f o m t h e
f o c u s o f t h i s s e c t i o n o f t h e s tudy.
N.s a l r e a d y no ted , some a s p e c t s of t h e t r a d i t i o n a l
v a l u e sys tems o f I h i a l a c o n f l i c t e d w i t h chr is t ian-cum-
w e s t e r n c u l t u r a l v a l u e s . T h i s p l a c e d some of t h e e a r l y
c o n v e r t s i n a c r u e l i l lenma; e t h e r t o embrace t h e new
r e l i g i o n #and be c u t o f f from t h e t r a d i t i o n a l s o c i e t y t h e y
had l a b o u r e d h a r d t o a c h i e v e h igh so..:ial s t a t u s o r
c o n t i n u e in t h e o l d sys tem and ' l ose t h e b e n e f i t s 3.n t h e
emergent s o c i e t y b rough t a b o u t by C h r i s t i a n i t y . T h i s
made some of t h e c o n v e r t s s c e p t i c a l o f C h r i s t i a n i t y , and
s o , r e v e r t e d t o t h e t r a d i t i o n a l r e l i g i o n and way o f l i f e .
O t h e r s embraced C h r i s t i a n i t y b u t c o u l d n o t shed a l l
a s p e c t s of t h e t r a d i t i o n a l l i f e opposed t o t h e i d e a l s of
C h r i s t i a n i t y , I n o t h e r words, t h e y e i t h e r compromised
some a s p e c t s o f t h e t r a d i t i o n a l b e l i e f o r a d a p t e d them
.: -.to C h r i s t i a n i t y . .
One i n s t a n c e cxf t h e problem of i n t e g r a t i o n i n t o
t h e i d e a l s o f C h r i s t i a n i t y was t h e c a s e of Madubugwu
Okwuosa, He was one o f t h e g r e a t men t h a t emerged s h o r t l y
b e f o r e t h e a d v e n t of t h e c h r i s t i a n m i s s i o n s i n I h i a l a ,
He had t a k e n t h e h i g h e s t x o t i t l e , and as e a r l y as 1914,
used c o r r u g a t e d i r o n s h e e t s t o r o o f h i s house,. He
m a r r i e d t h e e i g h t h - . w i f e t h e same y e a r h e embraced
C h r i s t i a n i t y . I n o r d e r t o r e c e i v e bapt ism, he denounced
a l l h i s wives b u t oce, and a l so , renounced a l l h i s -
t i t l e s , . He was b a p t i s e d as &.braham Madubugwu Okwuosa i n
1915. From t h e n , h e d i r e c t e d a l l h i . s e n e r g i e s towards t h e
growth o f t h e charch , p a r t i c i p a t e d i n a l l i ts ce remonies
and h e l d t e n a c i o u s l y t o t h e d o c t r i n e .
However, t h e need t o raise a : l a r g e f a m i l y b e f i t t i n g
h i s w e a l t h and s t a t u s , a n d t h e u r g e t o relate w i t h h i s
fo rmer s o c i a l p e e r s prompted him t o have a r e v u l s i o n o f he
a t t i t u d e a g a i n s t C h r i s t i a n i t y , I n 1917, , rever ted t o
t r a d i t i o n a l l i f e and b.egan t o r e c l a i m h i s former s o c i a l
t i t l e s . I n 1918, h e a g a i n m a r r i e d a n e i g h t h wi fe , b u t
u n f o r t u n a t e l y , d i e d o f t h e i n f l u e n z a of t h a t p e r i o d , 21
T h i s c a s e is n a t o n l y a n i l l u s t r a t i o n of t h e
problem of a c o n v e r t i n t h e e a r l y s t a g e s of C h r i s t i a n i t y
i n I h i a l a , b u t shows t h e problem o f u p r o o t i n g t h e c o n v e r t
from t h e c u l t u r e and environment he was d e e p l y r o c t e d in ,
.Abraham Okwuosa. was u n a b l e t o f i n d meaning i n t h e
c h r i s t i a n s o c i e t y and monogamous l i f e he had adop ted
f o r three y e a r s . Agein, i t shows ' the i m p r e s s i o n c h r i s t i a n
v a l u e s had on t h e cream of t h e s o c i e t y who embraced ban*
I t e q u a l l y shows how s l i g h t l y c h r i s t i a n v a l u e s and i d e a l s
sat' on some of t h e e a r l y c o n v e r t s .
A'gai'n, i t is w o r t h y - t o n o t e t h e paradox i n t h e
a t t i t u d e of t h e c h i e f upp porters and' p a t r o n s o f t h e
main l i n e m i s s i o r . ~ - C h i e f ksoegwu Nwanakez'i and Odimegwu
Igweghe f o r t h e Angl ican and C a t h o l i c churches , r e s p e c t i v e l y ,
None o f them embraced t h e c h r i s t i a n f a i t h d e s p i t e t h e i r
c l o s e a s s o c i a t i o n w i t h t h e s e miss ions . They ' r a t h e r c l u n g
s t r o n g l y t o t h e t r a d i t i o n a l r e l i g i o n , C h i e f Odimegwu
Igwegbe was s o r e s o l u t e a b o u t t h i s t h a t he a l lowed none
of h i s c h i l d r e n t o embrace C h r i s t i a n i t y o r a t t e n d s c h o o l s
i n h i s l i f e T h i s shows t h a t t h e y s u p p o r t e d t h e
c h r i s t i a n m i s s i o n s . f o r r e a s o n s e n t i r e l y o u t s i d e t h e
a d m i r a t i o n of t h e c h r i s t i a n v a l u e s and i d e a l s . kppasen t ly ,
t h e y found them u n s u i t a b l e for t h e t r a d i t i o n a l s o c i e t y
and t h e world t h e y knew, Kgoin, i t showed a t o t a . 1
r e j e c t i o n of t h e i d e a l s o f C h r i s t i a n i t y . .
N o n e t h e l e s s , some of t h e p e o p l e embraced C h r i s t i a n i t y
and w e s t e r n e d u c a t i o n , and made c a r e e r i n t h e o p p o r t u n i t i e s
t h e y o f f e r e d . Prominent among t h e s e were T h e o p h i l u s
Nghnwuchu, James A'nyake and P e t e r Odi fe . 23 They s e r v e d
as m i s s i o n s c h o o l - t e a c h e r s and c a t e c h i s t s i n s e v e r a l
communit ies i n I gboland, e s p e c i a l l y , t h e O w e r r i azbea:,
F o r i n s t a n c e , t h e c o n t r i b u t i o n s of James knyake t o t h e
growth ofi t h e Angl ican church i n M b i e r i a r e s t i l l
remembered i n t h e miss ionary h i s t o r y of t h e towne24
k n o t h e r a s p e c t ,,.' :; ;k'-~k?. t h e i d e a l s of hat
C h r i ~ t i a n i t y ~ f a i l e d t o p e n e t r a t e t h e s o c i e t y was t h e
osu c a s t e p r a c t i c e . The f r eeborn c o n v e r t s r e f u s e d t o - atssocia te o r r e l a t e wi th them,. The . m u i n I h i a l a d i d
no t e a s i l y embrace d h r i s t i a n i t y and western educat ion,
T h i s i n i t i a l pa s s ive a t t i t u d e was b a s ~ d on s h e e r
i n f e r i o r i t y complex and r i t u a l r e s t r i c t i o n s imposed on
them, I t took t h e persuas ion and coaxing o f . ; t h e f r eeborn
c o n v e r t s t o l u r e them t o church and schools , T h i s
accoun t s f o r t h e i r r e l a t i v e educa t iona l and econoqic
backwardness compared wi th what ob t a ined i n most o t h e r
p l a c e s i n ~ ~ b o l a n d ? However, i t is necessary t o s ta te
t h a t t h i s s i t u a t i o n appeared t o be p e c u l i a r t o I h i d a ,
The t r e n d seemed n o t t o accord w i t h t h e t h e s i s on t h e a u
r e c e p t i v i t y t o d h r i s t i a n i t y and educa t ion i n s e v e r a l 26 o t h e r calrrnunities i n T gboland.
P a r a d o x i c a l l y , t h e f r eeborn conve r t s , t o a l a r g e
e x t e n t p e r s i s t e d i n t h e d i s c r i m i n a t i o n a g a i n s t t h e o s u
d e s p i t e t h e r o l e they played i n l u r i n g them t o
. C h r i s t i a n i t y . The f r eeborn conve r t s , f o r i n s t a n c e ,
i n s i s t e d on a c lo sed marr iage a g a i n s t them, Mccording
t o P h i l i p Okwuoss;
The f r e e b o r n c o n v e r t s pe r suaded t h e a u t o a c c e p t C h r i s t i a n i t y s o as t o f r e e t h e m s e l v e s from t h e bondage o f t h e d e i t i e s , e n a b l e them t o r e c e i v e God ' s s a l v a t i o n and e d u c a t i o n 6r:self- improvement , b u t n o t t o r e l a t e w i t h them o r erase t h e s o c i a l stigma on them.27
Oral i n f o r m a t i o n from s e v e r a l s o u r c e s t e n d t o c o r r o b o r a t e
t h i s view. However, t h e J ehovah' 8 w i t n e s s e s seemed t o b e
t h e e x c e p t i o n s t o t h i s a t t i t u d e , . At. few of them m a r r i e d
t h e a u . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , t h e f r e e b o r n c o n v e r t s of o t h e r
denomina t ions j o i n e d w i t h t h e non-conver ts t o o s t r a c i z e
t h e o f f - s p r i n g s of s ~ c h c o u p l e s from t h e s o c i e t y ,
The d i s c r i m i n a t i o n a g a i n s t t h e x u and t h e social .
i n j u s t i c e they s u f f e r e d were s o k n t e n s e t h a t even t h e l a w
o f t h e d e f u n c t E a s t e r n N i g e r i a n gove:rnment, 29 a b o l i s h i n g
t h e a u p r a c t i c e s among t h e Tgbo c o u l d n o t p u t a n end t o
t h e p r a c t i c e i n I h i a l a ,
Kgain, t h e r o l e of t h e nmanwu c u l t as a n
i n s t r u m e n t of s o c i a l c o n t r o l , s o u r c e o f e n t e r t a i n m e n t and
r e c r e a t i o n s u r v i v e d a l l t h o a t t e m p t s made by t h e f i r s t
m i s s i o n a r i e s and some e a r l y c o n v e r t s t o s t i f l e it.
I n i t i a t i . o r r i n t o t h e c u l t p e r s i s t e d even among some of
t h e c o n v e r t s . However, t h e a d h e r e n t s of t h e J e h o v a h ' s
w i t n e s s o e and F a i t h T a b e r n a c l e Congrega t ion churches ,
r e f u s e d t o be i n i t i a t e d i n t o t h e c u l t , .
The c o n t i n u e d p r a c t i c e of polygynydato a g r e a t
e x t e n t , hamper t h e f u l l i n t e g r a t i o n of c h r i s t i a n :deals
i n some o:f t h e c o n v e r t s . U n f i l i ' i l l e d m a r r i a g e e x p e c t a t i o n s
compelled some c o n v e r t s t o t a k e a d d i t i o n a l wives , t h u s
v i o l a t i n g t h e r u l e a g a i n s t polygyny. The i s s u e of
polygyny among c h r i s t i a n s i n I h i a l a , and i n d e e d , t h e
e n t i r e I g b o l a n d , was made complex by t h e people ' s b e l i e f
i n t h e c o n t i n u i t y of t h e f a m i l y k i n e th rough male i s s u e s ,
and t h e i n d i s p e n s a b l e r o l e o f t h e o f f ' sp r ings as s e c u r i t y
t o t h e i r aged p a r e n t s . Hence c h i l d b e s s n e s s and f a i l u r e
t o produce male c h i l d compelled men t o take a d d i t i o n a l
wives. &gain, from t h e l 9%s , some c o n v e r t s j o i n e d
i s s u e s w i t h t h e i r v a r i o u s c h u r c h e s on t h e a b e r r a t i o n on
polygyny.30 They viewed i t from t h e I g b o p e r s p e c t i v e
which saw polygyny as a n e s s e n t i a l i n g r e d i e n t o f f a m i l y
l i f e . However, t h e J ehovahs W i t n e s s e s and F a i t h T a b e r n a c l e
c o n g r e g a t i o n c h u r c h e s ' a d h e r e n t s , d e s p i t e a l l odds
encoun te red i n t h e i r m a r r i a g e s , remained s o l i d l y a g a i n s t
t h e p r a c t i c e .
R e l a t e d t o t h i s was t h e problem t h a t a r o s e from
t h e a o t i t l e i n s t i t u t i o n . The e a r l y . m i s s i o n a r i e s showed
s t r o n g a n t i p a t h y towards t h e i n s t i t u t i o n r i g h t from t h e
i n c e p t i o n o f t h e i r a c t i v i t i e s i n ~ h i a i a . They t ended t o
a s s o c i a t e e v e r y t h i n g a b m t i t w i t h i d o l a t o r y and,
t h e r e f o r e , banned t h e c o n v e r t s from t a k i n g it. Most
t h e a o t i t l e h o l d e r s were .r 9
r e q u i r e d t o renounce i t be fo re they could be admi t ted
i n t o t h e church.
But t h e peop le ' s penchant f o r t h e &o t i t l e could
no t be e a s i l y wished away, Some i n f l u e n t i a l and w e l l
p laced C a t h o l i c s i n Igboland mounted i n e x o r a b l e p r e s s u r e s
on t h e church t o r e v e r s e h e r s t r o n g a n t i x o s tance.
The problem t h u s gene ra t ed became s o complex and
ru inous on t h e church t h a t A'rchbishop Heerey i n 1961 3 1
i s s u e d a1 c o n c i l i a t o r y dec ree on t h e a o , t i t l e . T h i s wars
modified i n 1966, I t pe rmi t t ed t h e C a t h o l i c s i n Igboland
t o t a k e a o t i t l e which was devoid of t h e r i t e s of
i n i t i a t i o n t h e church cons idered i d o l a t t o u s , I n s t e a d , t h e
t i t l e was taken i n t h e k h r i s t i a n wayt with t h e Rev. Fa the r
consec ra t ing t h e i n s i g n i a of t h e ozo t i t k e ho lder , - T h i s development opened t h e f l ood g a t e f o r t h e
C a t h o l i c s i n I h i a l a t o t a k e t h e a o t i t l e , Prominent
among t h e c a t h o l i c s t h a t f i r s t took t h e a o t i t l e were
Boniface I gboanugo, S y l v e s t e r Edebechi and I g n a t i u s
0 dimegwu,.
A'gain, t o demonstra te t h e i r a f f i n i t y f o r t h e
t r a d i t ick1 va lues , -some r i c h , t i t l e d and polygynous
among t h e C a t h o l i c s i n Igboland formed a formidable 32
i n t e r e s t group, t h e aka j iaku . Some e l i g i b l e C a t h o l i c s i n
I h i a l e equa l ly jo ined t h i s assoc ia t ion . . I t se rved as ai
p s y c h o l o g i c a l booster t o t h e m a r g i n a l i z a t i o n t h e y s u f f e r e d
o n a c c o u n t o f t h e i r p l u r a l m a r r i a g e a n d s o c i a l t i t les .
However , t h i s a s s o c i a t i o n was n o t r e c o g n i z e d a s a c h u r c h
o r g a n i z a t i o n .
T h e A n g l i c a n c h u r c h i n t h e e n t i r e l g b o l a n d d i d n o t
r e v e r s e t h e s t a n d o n t h e o z o t i t l e s y s t e m d e s p i t e s e v e r a l -- c o n f e r e n c e s c a l l e d t o t h a t e f f e c t . 3 3 I n s t e a d i t e n c o u r a g e d
t h e a d h e r e n t s t o h a v e f l a m b o u y a n t c n u r c h w e d d i n g a s a
c o u n t e r t o t h e o z o t i t l e . I t b r a n d e d i t o z o n d i u k a o z o -- - - - ' --- t i t l e i o r c n r i s t i a n s . T h i s a p p e l a t i o n a p p e a l e d most t o
t h e s e n s i b l b l i t i e s o f t h e less e n l i c l j r ~ t ~ : ? r ~ e c i rneinbrrs of' t he
c h u r c h . A g a i n , t o f u t h e r d i s t r a c t t h e c . o n v e r t s i-rom t h e
o z o t i t l e i n s t i t u t i o n s , t h e ~ n g l i c a n c h u r c h m s m i s s i o n
e r r c o u r a y e d t h e f o r m a t i o n o f i % e n t s C h r i s t i a n , i s s o c i a t i o n
( A , ) T h i s a s s o c i a t i o n s e r v e d the v e r y v a 1 , u a b l c
p u r p o s e ok o r y a n k z i n g m a l e members of t h e c h u r c h u n d e r
o n e s o c i a l u i i l b . r e l i s , I t ~;nph~s iz t ; . r_ l y r . a y e r a n d 17;utdal
a s s i s t a n c e arn0nqs.t t h e members a11d herved 3 s o c i a l f u n c t i o n
s o m e w h s t s i m i l a r to t h e i n s u r a n c e scheme t h e oeo t i t l e -- i n s t i t u t i o n p r o v i u e d h ~ r rhen~ber s. 34
~ n o k h e r a s p e c t of the t r a d i t i o n a l p r a c t i c e w h i c h
t h e c o n v e r t s had p r ~ b l e r n s i n r e f r a i n i n g f r o m , was f u n e r a l .
r i tes , T h i s w&s made n?or,e complex Ly t h e ro l e t h e
c h r i s t . i a n was e x p e c t e d t o plsy i n t h e
b u r i a l o:r @ " t i t l e d non-convert f a t h e r o r r e l a t i v e .
The c h r i s t i a n c o u l d be g i v e n a church b u r i a l w i t h o u t
r a i s i n g m y d u s t , b u t t h e c h r i s t i a n , on t h e o t h e r hand,
was r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h o b u r i a l of a. t i t l e d non-convert
f a t h e r . Custom and t r a d i t i o n p r o s c r i b e d c e r t a i n r i t e s
which t h e c h i l d r e n and r e l a t i v e s of t h e dead t i t l e d
man c o m p u l s o r i l y c a r r i e d out.. U n f o r t u n a t e l y , i t w a s t h e s e
r i t e s tha: t t h e c h u r c h e s c o n s i d e r e d n u n c h r i s t i a n M . T h i s
posed a n enormous problem f o r t h e c o n v e r t s . Some c o n v e r t s
chose n o t t o p a r t i c i p a t e d i r e c t l y i n such r i t e s . . R a t h e 5
t h e y p rov ided t h e n e c e s s a r y f i n a n c i a l r e q u i r e m e n t s and
e l e c t e d c l o s e r e l a t i v e s t o s t a n d on t h e i r b e h a l f , w h i l e
o t h e r s t r i e d t o r e b u f f them e n t i r e l y . 35
However, w i t h t h e p a s s a g e of t ime , c o n v e r t s of
l o n g es tabXished c o n f e s s i o n s - t h e R.C .M. and n 'ngl ican
church , began t o p a r t i c i p a t e openly i n t h e f u n e r a l r i t e s
of dead non-convert r e l a t i v e s . The f u n e r a l r i t e s of
c h r i s t i a n s even began t o r e s p e c t a s p e c t s of t h e
t r a d i t i o n a l va lues .
The f u l l i n t e g r a t i o n of t h e c o n v e r t s t o t h e i d e a l s
' a n d v a l u e s of C h r i s t i a n i t y remained t h e g r e a t e s t
problem of t h e c h r i s t i a n m i s s i o n s i n I h i a l a : . I t was
e x a c e r b a t e d by t h e r i s i n g t i d e of c u l t u r a d n a t i o n a l i s m
among t h e I g b o c h r i s t i a n s from t h e l a t e 1940s. T h i s
movement sough t t o expose t h e weal th and dep th of
I g b o world view, v a l u e s y s t e m s and b e l i e f s , I t a l s o
r , & a b i l i t a t e d a s p e c t s of t h e t r a d i t i o n a l I g b o r e l i g i o n
and c u l t u r e t h a t were wholesome, b u t r e g a r d e d as
t u n c l c f s t l a n ' by t h e m i s s i o n a r i e s and some o f t h e
e a r l i e s t c o n v e r t s ,
Again, f o r t h e f a c t t h a t t h e t r a d i t i o n a l r e l i g i o n
and v a l u e s y s t e m s p rov ided t h e s p i r i t . u a 1 cement t h a t
bound i n d i v i d u a l s and g r o u p s i n t h e s o c i e t y , i t was
d i f f i c u l t f o r C h r i s t i a n i t y t o g u t them o u t o f r e l e v a n c e ,
A s a r e s u l t , w h i l e sti l l p r o c l a i m i n g C h r i s t i a n i t y , t h e
v a s t m a j o r i t y of t h e c o n v e r t s i n I h i a l a r e t a i n e d a s p e c t s
of t h e i r t r a d i t i o n a l v a l u e s and r e l i g i o n . Moreso, some
of t h e c h u r c h e s a l lowed t h e i r members t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n
some of t h e t r a d i t i o n a l v a l u e s and c u l t u r e t h e y had
e a r l i e r c o n s i d e r e d a n t a g o n i s t i c t o t h e i d e a l s of
C h r i s t i a n i t y . F o r i n s t a n c e , i t was a. common s i g h t t o s e e
t h e nrnanwu c u l t i n i t i a t e and t h e p o l y g y n i s t s h a r i n g
pew i n t h e church w i t h t h e monogamist and n o n - i n i t i a t e
i n t o t h e nmanwu c u l t ,
By and l a r g e , t r a d i t i o n a l v a l u 2 s and b e l i e f s
showed r e s i l i e n c e t o t h e a t t e m p t by t h e c h r i s t i a n
m i s s i o n a r i e s t o s t i f l e them. T h i s shows t h e i r impor tance
and r e l e v a n c e i n t h e l i v e s of t h e people. Although,
+' %\; . .. ----+
t h e r e . w e r e t r a c e s of change , t h e t r a d i t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s ,
b e l i e f p r a c t i c e s a n d v a l u a s y c t e m s o f t h e p e o p l e s t i l l
r e t a i n e d t h e i r b a s i c c h a r a c t e r .
C) I n t r a - M i s s i o n s R i v a l r y
T h i s s e c t i o n of t h e s t u d y examines t h e r e l a t i o n s
w i t h i n t h e v a r i o u s m i s s i o n s i n I h i a l a w i t h a v i ew t o
i d e n t l f y i n ; d i s s e n s i o n s w i t h i n them.
The A n g l i c a n c h u r c h was t h e o n l y mission t h a t had
i n t e r n a l s t r i f e . The c a u s e s were n o t unconnec ted w i t h
t h e p rob lems t h a t a r o s e f rom s i t , i n g , t h e h e a d q u a r t e r s o f
t h e new d i s t r i c t s t h a t emerged as t h e c h u r c h grew a n d
expanded. Each c o n t e n d i n g community o r c h u r c h s t a t i o n
c o n s i d e r e d i t s e l f more e l i c i b l e f o r t h e h e a d q u a r t e r s o f
t h o newly c r e a t e d d : i . s . t ; r i c t .
T h e r e were two i n s t a n c e s o f t h i s c o n f l i c t , v i z ;
t h e I h i a l a - O k i j a c o n f l i c t o f 1954; and S t . S i l a s
S t . S t e p h e n s c o n f l i c t o f 1958 and 1963.
T h e T h i a l n - O k i j a C o n f l i c t of 1954
The c a u s e s o f t h i s c o n f l i c t h a v e bean h i e h l i g h t e d - ? t .
.4n a t t e m p t i s made here t o examine it..; n a t u r e a n d
e f f e c t on t h e a c t i v i t i e s o f i.he Angl-ican' c h u r c h i n I h i a l a .
Each con tend in f ; community p r e s e n t e d r e a s o n s t o
v a l i d a t e i t s c l a i m s f o r t h e d i s t r i c t h e a d q u a r t e r s t h r o u g h
t h e severkl r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s i t made t o t h e d i o c e s a n
a u t h o r i t i e s . F u r t h ( ~ r m o r e , t h e y e i t h e r i n i t i a t e d new
p r o j e c ' t s i n t h e c h u r c h o r expanded t h e e x i s t i n g o n e s ,
F o r i n s t a n c e , t h e O k i j a , A n g l i c a n community embarked on a
p a r s o n a g e p r o j e c t a t a s t r a t e g i c l o c a t i o n a l o n g t h e
O n i t s h a - O n e r r i t r u n k ' A t r o a d , s p e c i f i c a l l y t ' o a t t r a c t
t h e d i s t r i c t h e a d q u a r t e r s w h i l e I h i a l a expanded and
r e f u r b i s h e d t h e s t a t i o n - t e a c h e r ' s r e s i -dence a t S t , ' ~ i l a s 37
c h u r c h s t a t i o n ,
T h e I h i a l a A n g l i c a n community c o n s i d e r e d v e r y u n f a i r
t h e manner t h e d i o c e s a n a u t h o r i t i e s r e s o l v e d t h e c o n f l i c t ,
T h e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e h e a d q u a r t e r s o f t h e d i s t r i c t was l o c a t e d
a t S t , S i l a s s t a t i o r , w h i l e t h e h o u s e b u i l t by O k i ja ( S t ,
M a r y ' s p a r s o n a g e ) was u s e d f o r t h e p a r s o n a g e . F o r
a d m i n i s t r a t i v e e f f e c t i v e n e s s and c o n v e n i e n c e a t l e e s t ,
t h e p a r s o n a g e a n d d i s t r i c t s a d m i n i s t r a t i v e h e a d q u a r t e r s
o u g h t t o b e l o c a t e d i n t h e same c h u r c h s t a t i o n , T h e S t ,
S i l n s ' c h u r c h s t a t i o n d e s e r v e d t h e s e , I t was l o c a t e d a t
a more c e n t r a l p l a c e and was t h e c e n t r e f o r t h e
d i s p e r s i o n o f t h e A n g l i c a n c h u r c h t o o t h e r communi t i e s
t h a t made u p t h e new d i s t r i c t , Moreove r , t h e s t a t i o n -
t e a c h e $ s r e s i d e n c e w a s r e f u r b i s h e d and expanded t c an
a p p r e c i a b l e s t a n d a r d , T h e r e a s o n s p u t f o r w a r d by t h e
d i o c e s a n h u t h o r i t i e s t h a t t h e S t , S i l a s ' s t a t i o n was
i n a c c e s s i b l e by r o a d a n d r e m o t e l y l o c a t e d f rom t h e I h i a l a
urban c e n t e r , appeared r a t h c r t o o weak,. They c o n t r a d i c t
t h e p r e f e r e n c e o f S t , S ~ l a s I church s t a t i o n as t h e
a d m i n i s t r a t i v e h e a d q u a r t e r s of t h e new d i s t r i c ?
The I h i a l a Angl ican community c o u l d n o t c o n c e a l
h e r i n d i g n a t i o n a t t h e i n j u s t i c e and b i a s i n t h e d i o c e s a n
a u t h o r i t i e ; d e c i s i o n on t h e c o n f l i c t , Venn F.4, E r i o b u n a
s a w t h e s e t t l e m e n t as " s h a r i n g a d i s p u t e d p o t o f
p o r r i d g e between t h e c o n t e s t a n t and r i g h t f u l ownerI1', 39
The l o s s o f t h e pa r sonage of t h e new d i s t r i c t
prompted I h i a l a t o t h i n k a l o n g t h e l i n e o f e s t a b l i s h i n g
an o u t s t a t i o n a,t a s t r a t e g i c l o c a t i o n a l o n g t h e Oni t sha -
Ower r i t r u n k IA.' road,. T h i s gave b i r t h t o t h e i d e a o f
S t , Stephen1 s o u t s t a t i o n , U n f o r t u n a t e l y , developments
from t h i s caused anothe-t . r ift w i t h i n t h e members of t h e
Angl ican church i n I hiala . .
S t , S i l a s ' -S t , S tephen1 s C o n f l i c t of 1958 and 1963 40 T h e c a u s e s o f t h i s c o n f l i c t have been examined,
The n a t u r e and i t s e f f e c t a r e hereby h i g h l i g h t e d , . .
The c o n t r o v e r s y t h e s t a t u s of t h e ' newly approved
S t , S t e p h e n ' s o u t s t a t i o n would have i n r e l a t i o n -.::;.tb, t h e
p a r e n t s t a t i o n , t h e S t , ~ i l a s ' s t a t i o n , simmered. frcm t h e
c o n c e p t i o n o f t h e i d e a o f S t , s tephen 's o u t s t a t i o n , The
t a c i t agreement by t h e I h i a l a A n g l i c a n community f o r
e s t a b l i s h i n g t h e new o u t s t a t i o n w a s t o t r a n s f e r t h e
Anglican. church t o such a s t r a t e g i c l o c a t i o n on t h e
Onitsha-Owerri t r u n k ' D l road t h a t would f o r e s t a l l any An@ ra n
embarrassment similar t o what i t had when OkijaAcommunity
c o n t e s t e d t h e headqua r t e r s of t h e newly c r e a t e d d i s t r i c t , . 41
However, t h e s e c t i o n of t h e town i n which t h e
s t a t i o n was i n i t i a l l y l o c a t e d f e l t i t would l o s e h e r
prime p o s i t i o n and t h e r e f o r e worked a g a i n s t t h e re-locait ion-
The s e c t i o n of t h e town i n which t h e S t , Stephen out-
s t a t i o n was t o be b u i l t , on t h e o t h e r hand, i n s i s t e d on.
t h e implementation of t h e terms of t h e agreement. The
smoulder which t h e s e c l a ims genera ted became f u l l b l aza
i n t h e 19.58 Xnnual Genera l Meeting of t h e I h i a l a h g l i c a n
community. One of t h e major i s s u e s on t h e agenda of t h e
y e a r ' s meeting w a s t h e s t a t u s of t h e new s t a t i o n i n
r e l a t i o n t o t h e S t . S i l a s ' s t a t i o n ,
The deba te on t h i s m a t t e r g o t f i e r c e as both p a r t i e s
argued with s t r o n g pass ion , The cl imax was I keasoinba , \
A'soegwu' s v i r t u p e r a t i o n on members of . t h e S t . S tephens
o u t s t a , t i o n p r e s e n t a t t h e meeting. T h i s s t i r r e d a. '
confus ion t h a t a lmost marred t h e g e n e r a l meeting. 42
However, a concensus was reached,. The S t . S t ephen ' s out-
s t a t i o n succeeded i n a s s e r t i n g some degree of' autonomy.
A'. church- teacher was posted t h e r e i n 1960, whi le t h e St,
S i l a s t s t a t i o B r e t a i n e d i t s s t a t a s .
C o n f l i c t between t h e r i v a l s t a t i o n s re -occur red as
Oki ja was g r a n t e d a n autonomous d i s t r i c t i n 196 3.
Members of t h e ' S t , S t e p h e n s o u t s t a t i o n a g a i n , p r e s s e d f o r
t h e l o c a t i o n of t h e I h i a l a d i s t r i c t h e a d q u a r t e r s i n t h e i r
s t a t i o n , They f e l t t h e y c o u l d u s e t h e a d v a n t a g e of t h e i r
s t r a t e g i c l o c a t i o n on t h e O n i t s h a - O w e r r i t r u n k 'A" r o a d
and at t h e c e n t r e o f t h e I h i a l a urban town t o M r e s t t h e
d i s t r i c t h e a d q u a r t e r s from S t , S i l a s ' s t a t i o n . The
s e v e r a l r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s made t o t h e d i o c e s a n a u t h o r i t i e s 43
t o t h a t e f f e c t proved f u t i l e ,
The r e s e a r c h e r found t h a t t h e s e c o n f l i c t s deep ly
i m p l a n t e d h a t r e d i n t h e r e l a t i o n s between members o f t h e
two s t a t i o n s . None passed complimentary remarks on each
o t h e r i n t h e c o u r s e of h i s c o n t a c t w i t h them d u r i n g h i s
f i e l d work,
d I n te r -Miss ions R e l a t i o n s
The pjmdr -y ' ' mot ive of t h e f i v e m i s s i o n s t h a t J
p r o s e l y t i z e d I h i a l a i n t h e p e r i o d s t u d i e d w a s t o c o n v e r t
t h e p e o p l e t o c h r i s t i a n i t y .
t h e d e s i r e t o o a t t r a c t a d h e r e n t s t o t h e i r m i s s i o n s and!?:,
t o have p reponderan t membership,
The d i f f e r e n c e i n t h e m i s s i o n s l a y i n t h e i r d o c t r i n e ,
To m a i n t a h t h e d i v i s i o n each adopted ' s t r a t e g i e s which
p e r m i t t e d minimal s o c i a l i n t e r a c t i o n s w i t h o t h e r s , They
o p e r a t e d as c l o s e d g r o u p s and p r o h i b i t e d m a r r i a g e s o u t s i d e
99
t h e i r d e n o m i n a t i o n s . They c la imed t h i s p r a c t i c e enab led
them t o s t a b i l i z e t h e c h r i s t i a n b e l i e f s of t h e i r c o n v e r t s 4-4
and p r e v e n t d o c t r i n a l p o l l u t i o n . B u t u n f o r t u n a t e l y , i t
d i v i d e d t h e town a l o n g denomina t iona l l i n e s ,
The dominant m i s s i o n s i n I h i a l a were t h e Angl ican and
Roman C a t h o l i c churches . They were t h e f i r s t and second
m i s s i o n s , r e s p e c t i v e l y , : to e s t a b l i s h a t I h i a l a and t h e i r
c o n v e r t s , w e r e drawn' t rom t h e t r a d i t i o n a l r e l i g i o n i s t s .
O t h e r s a r r i v e d l o n g a f t e r w a r d s , T h e i r a d h e r e n t s were
c h i e f l y r e - c o n v e r t s from e i t h e r of t h e o l d e r c o n f e s s i o n s .
B e c a m e of poor numer ica l s t r e n g t h , t h e i r i n f l u e n c e on
. t h e s o c i e t y and on t h e i n t e r m i s s i o n s r e l a t i o n s were q u i t e
i n ~ ; i g n i f i c a n t . T t IG on accoun t o f t h i n t h a t t h o i n t e r -
m i s s i o n r e l a t i o n s i n t h i s s t u d y would t e n d t o emphasize
t h e r e l a t i o n s between t h e dominant miss ions .
The r e l a t i o n s between them and t h e i r impac t on t h e
s o c i e t y form t h e f o c u s o f t h i s s e c t i o n of t h e s tudy ,
The r e l a t i o n s between t h e m a i n l i n e m i s s i o n s was
acr imonious , T h i s would a p p e a r t o b e t h e most d i s g u h t i n g
f e a t u r e o f t h e c h r i s t i a n m i s s i o n a r y e n t e r p r i s e i n 1 .h ia lak
The d i v i s i o n s i n t r o d u c e d i n t o t h e f a b r i c of t h e s o c i e t y
as a3 r e s u l t of t h e b i t t e r and r a n c u o r o u s r e l a t i o n s between
members o f t h e m a i n l i n e misf i ions was s o i n t e n s e t h a t an
o b s e r v e r commented t h a t " t h e r e l a t i o n s between members of
t h e C .M.S, and R.C,W, was s o ac r imonious t h a t one began
t o wonder i f t h e y were a d h e r e n t s o f t h e same r e l i g i o n
o r r e l i g i 0 ~ 8 a n t a g o n i s t i c t o each o t h e r t t . 45
T h e g r e a t e s t bane o f t h e m i s s i o n s i n I h i a l a l a y ' i n
t h e a s p e c t of t h e I g b o C a t h o l i c t e a c h i n g which e n j o i n e d
t h e a d h e r e n t s t h u s , I1Thou s h a l t r e g a r d l P r o t e s t a n t s r as
t h y enemiestt. 46 T h i s unwholesome d o c t r i n e was a g a i n
s t a t e d i n t h e i r ca tech i sm which t a u g h t I t t h a t t o a t t e n d a
non-Catholic s c h o o l o r a non-Cathol ic church i s t o o f f e n d
t h e f i r s t commandment o f God". 47 Commenting on t h e
u n s a l u t o r y e f f e c t of such t e a c h i n g s , at prominent C a t h o l i c
i n I h i a l a , i n e x a s p e r a t i o n , s t a t e d t h a t ;
The e a r l i e s t m i s s i o n a r i e s (Rev,. F a t h e r s ) dece ived us. They t o r e t h e town a p a r t w i t h t h e i r : d i v i s i v e t sachings . . I t w a s a n anathema f o r t h e C a t h o l i c t o a t t e n d t h e same s o c i a l f u n c t i o n s , l i k e f u n e r s l o r m a r r i a g e feasts w i t h h i s kinsman who is an Angl ican ,48
He f u r t h e r s t a t e d t h a t " t h e much p e r m i s s i b l e was t o k e e p
49 t h e A n g l i c a n s s e p a r a t e l y a t such p u b l i c f u n c t i o n s ,
T h i s p r a c t i c e s p a r k e d o f f v e r y s t r o n g a n t i - c a t h o l i c
s e n t i m e n t s among t h e A n g l i c a n s and f o s t e r e d enmity between
them. The b i t t e r n e s s t h a t c h a r a c t e r i z e d t h e i r r e l a t i o n s
became s o a c u t e t h a t t h e i r members " though t i t more f a s h i o n a b l e
n 50 t o d i n e and wine w i t h t h e non-conver ts t h a n t h e o t h e r ..... T h i s had far r e a c h i n g consequencies on t h e c h r i s t i a n
m i s s i o n a r y e n t e r p r i s e i n I h i a l a . The a d h e r e n t s of t h e L o
miss ions openly inve ighed on each o t h e r and spoke
d i spa rag ing ly on t h e d o c t r i n e and some of t h e p r a c t i c e s of
t h e other . F o r i n s t a n c e , t h e C a t h o l i c s c a l l e d t h e Ang l i cans
h e r e t i c s and f a n a t i c s who desec ra t ed t h e town wi th t h e i r
p r a c t i c e s , T h i s was because t h e Angl icans c l e a r e d t h e
e v i l f o r e s t s i n t h e town, w i l f u l l y k i l l e d t h e s ac red
an imals and r o a s t e d yam i n t h e embers 'of t h e i r g fo . 51
The Angl icans on t h e o t h e r hand, c a l l e d t h e C a t h o l i c s
'pagans ' and i d o l a t o r s , on account of t h e i r l i b e r a l
p o l i c i e s on admiss ion and church membership, coupled wi th
t h e i r use of symbols and o b j e c t s i n r e l i g i o u s worships,
The s p h n e t i c h a t r e d t h e two denominations had f o r
each o t h e r found i t s express ion i n t h e r e l a t i o n s , both at
i n t e r - p e r s o n a l and group l e v e l s , between t h e i s members,
I n s t a n c e s of b i t t e r n e s s , ill tempers and h o s t i l i t i e s t o
each o t h e r abound, Some of them a r e h i g h l i g h t e d t o show
t h e i n t e n s i t y of t h e an imos i t i es .
One of such i n c i d e n t s was recorded by Rose Okeke,
A'ccording t o h e r source;
. . . James Oguanobi brought a. book akwukwo am ndu (a popular ve rnacu la r t e x t used by t h e C .M,S, mission i n Igboland) . When Fr. B inde l Saw t h e book, he asked James t o b r ing it , T h e f a t h e r found o u t t h a t i t w a s a CJLS, book and no t a c a t h o l i c book and s o t o r e i t t o p ieces , He condemned ( s i c ) t h e book and asked t h e people no t t o read such bad books and a s s o c i a t e w i t h t h e nProtestsnts1fl .53
The Re,. FrS s t e r n r e p r o o f of James Oguanobi' s p o s s e s s i o n
o f t h e t e x t , n o t doubt , ~ h o u e d h i n deep ly r o o t e d a v e r s i o n
t o t h e C,M .So m i s s i o n and e v e r y t h i n g a s s o c i a t e d w i t h it.
The C a t h o l i c s i n I h i a l a imbibed t h i s a n t i p a t h y he had f o r
t h e C,M,S., and imbued w i t h h a t r e d t h e y began t o r e l a t e
w i t h t h e a d h e r e n t s of t h e A n g l i c a n church w i t h spi te . .
K g a i n , . A n g l i c a n s r e f u s e d s u i t o r s from t h e c a t h o l i c
denominat ion and v i c e versa, . The marriage p r o p o s a l
G i l b e r t Okeke, a. C a t h o l i c made t o J a n e t Ewulu, a n Anglican,
h i t t h e r o c k s because o f denomiha t iona l p r e j u d i c e s . B o t h
denomina t ions r e f u s e d t o a s s e n t t o t h e m a r r i a g e p r o p o s a l
even when t h e i n t e n d i n g par t i le r , had consen ted , 54 R e l a t e d
t o t h i s was t h e ban t h e C a t h o l i c m i s s i o n p l a c e d on s o c i a l
i n t e r a c t i o n s between h e r members and t h o s e o f t h e Angl ican
church. I t was f o r b i d d e n f o r t h e C a t h o l i c t o a t t e n d t h e
wedding f e a s t s or. f u n e r a l r i t e s o f an Angl ican , F o r
i n s t a n c e , A l f r e d Ukaku se t s e p a r a t e t a b l e s f o r
e n t e r t a i n i n g t h e C a t n o l i c s and A n g l i c a n s i n h i s wedding
f e a s t i n 1937.55 Pga in , t h e C a t h o l i c members of an a r t i s a n
a s s o c i a t i o n who a t t e n d e d t h e b u r i a l of t h e i r A n g l i c a n
c o l l e a g u e i n 1952, were p e n a l i z e d by t h e B e ~ e r e n d f a t h e r . 56
The major e f f e c t o f t h i s d i v i s i o n w a s t h a t
i n d i v i d u a l and g r o u p r e l a t i o n s i n t h e town tended t o
f o l l o w denomina t iona l l i n e s , I t was p o s s i b l e f o r ar. member
of a p a r t i c u l a r denominat ion t o know and re la te w i t h h i s
c o l l e a g u e s i n remote towns than. h i s kinsman who i s cf
t h e o t h e r denomination. 57
Alpart from t h e e f f e c t s of t h e d i v i s i v e t e a c h i n g s o f
t h e C a t h o l i c miss ion , sequence of e v e n t s p r e c e d i n g t h e
a d v e n t of b o t h m i s s i o n s i n I h i a l a p layed a c a r d i n a l r o l e
i n f o s t e r i n g t h e r a n c o u r o u s r e l a t i o n s between them, The
c o n t e s t f o r t h e v a c a n t s t o o l of o l u o h a ~ had d i v i d e d t h e
town a l o n g two power b l o c k s , wi th each s u p p o r t i n g e i t h e r
of t h e c a n d i d a t e s . I n c i d e n t a l l y , t h e first c h r i s t i a n
m i s s i o n i n I h i a l a e s t a b l i s h e d under t h e a e g i e s of t h e
s u p p o r t e r of one o f t h e c o n t e s t a n t s , The o b v i o u s
a d v a n t a g e s and p o p u l a r i t y h i s g roup d e r i v e d from t h i s
a s s o c i a t i o n prompted t h e r i v a l c o n t e s t a n t t o s e e k t h e
a s s i s t a n c e of a n o t h e r m i s s i o n t o b o l s t e r up h i s i n f l u e n c e .
The R.C.M. which had j u s t e s t a b l i s h e d i n t h e town prov ided
him a good a l l y . Consequen t ly , t h e m i s s i o n s became
embroi led i n t h e c o n t e s t as t h e y s u p p o r t e d t h e r i v d
c a n d i d a t e s . 58
The d i v i s i o n s which t h e c o n t e s t had c r e a t e d i n t h e
town was r e i n f o r c e d ' by t h e a c t i v i t i e s . of t h e miss ions .
I t was f u r t h e r e x a c e r b a t e d as p e o p l e who s h a r e d sympathy
f o r a p a r t i c u l a r c o n t e s t a n t t ended t o a s s o c i a t e w i t h t h e
,,p-" m i s s i o n t h a t s u p p o r t e d h i ,,.$ Thus., t h e c o n t e s t I ,
d e g e n e r a t e d i n t o a denorni4a;tional ; s t r u g g l e . The A n g l i c a n f., ,
church s t a t i o n t e a c h e r w a s unhappy w i t h t h e d e p o s i t i o n of
C h i e f ksoegwu Nwanakezi, a n h g l i c a n church sympath ize r .
T h a t h e w a s n e v e r r e c a l l e d showed t h e s t r a n g k h u k l
' t h e C a t h o l i c s e x e r t e d , on t h e d a t i v e ' c o u r t . T h i s /
i n d i c a t e s t h e miss ions1 involvement i n t h e p o l i t i c s of
59 t h e town.
Thus, t h e ac r imonious r e l a t i o n s between t h e m i s s i o n s
was, i n p a r t , a r e c r u d e s c e n c e of t h e d i v i s i o n t h e c o n t e s t
f o r t h e v a c a n t s t o o l of oluohal engendered i n t h e s o c i e t y .
However, t h e p e o p l e were a b l e t o c o n t r i v e i n t e r n a l
d e v i c e s t h a t c o u n t e r e d t h e d i v i s i o n s t h e a c t i v i t i e s ' o f
t h e m i s s i o n s i n t r o d u c e d i n t o I h i a l a .
e) The people; Responses
The fo re -go ing s t u d i e s i n t h i s c h a p t e r have
e s t a b l i s h e d t h a t t h e v a l u e sys tems, b e l i e f s a n d c u l t u r a l
p r a c t i c e s of t h e peop le were t h e pr imary c o n t a c t p o i n t s
of . C h r i s t i a n i t y w i t h t h e socie tyc and t h e m i s s i o n a r i e s
and some of t h e c o n v e r t s showed remarkab le contempt f o r
them. T h i s t e n d e d t o d e s t r o y t h e b a s i s of t h e t r a d i t i o n a l
s o c i e t y . Secondly , t h e c o n v e r t s r e a c t e d d i f f e r e n t l y t o
t h e c h r i s t i a n message. Some h e l d t e n a c i o u s l y t o t h e
f a i t h and t r e a t e d t h e t r a d i t i o n a L v a l u e s w i t h contempt,
O t h e r s c o u l d n o t shed a l l a s p e c t s o f a l l t h e t r a d i t i o n a z
v a l u e s even when t h e y procla imed C h r i s t i a n P t y , A\ few
r e v e r t e d t o t h e t r a d i t i o n a l r e l i g i o n n o t t o o l o n g a f t e r
they embraced C h r i s t i a n i t y .
Again, t h e A n g l i c a n church had i n t e r n a l s t r i f e ,
And f i n a l l y , t h e r e l a t i o n s between t h e dominant m i e s i o n s
t ended t o be a n t a g o n i s t i c . The peoples1 cummulat ive
r e s p o n s e s t o t h e s e forms t h e f o c u s of t h i s s e c t i o n of
t h e s tudy.
The p e o p l e were i n d i f f e r e n t t o t h e c o n t e m p t ~ u s
manner t h e m i s s i o n a r i e s t r e a t e d t h e t r a d i t i o n a l v a l u e s and
b e l i e f sys tems of 1 .h ia la . T h i s a t t i t u d e was p r e d i c a t e d
on t h e i r b e l i e f i n t h e v i n d i c t i v e n e s s o f t h e g o d s towards
t h o s e who d e f i l e d t h e i r s a n c t i t y . ' Bu t i t a s t o n i s h e d t h e
peop le t h a t such c o n v e r t s g o t s c o t f r e e from t h e
punishment t h a t were u s u a l l y t h e l o t s of such o f f e n d e r s , 60
Again, c o l o n i a l conques t had i n s t i l l e d f e a r of t h e white- n&
man on t h e people. So, t h e y d i d n e a s i l y c h a l l e n g e such
a t t i t u d e o f t h e c o n v e r t s . .
The f a i l u r e of t h e gods t o a v e t g e t h e a s s a u l t on
them caused t h e p e o p l e t o doubt t h e i r potency and
r e i n f o r c e d t h e p r o c e s s t h a t l e d t o t h e c o r r o s i o n of t h e
t r a d i t i o n a l v a l u e s of I h i a l a .
However, t h e peop le , though h e s i t a n t l y , a g r e e d
w i t h some p r a c t i c e s which t h e m i s s i o n a r i e s condemned.
F o r i n s t a n c e , t h i n murder, k i l l i n g o f b a b i e s t h a t c u t
t h e upper t o o t h first and d e d i c a t i n g human b e i n g s t o
t h e d e i t i e s were d i s c o n t i n u e d . 6 1
Again, t h e s u c c e s s o f t h e c h r i s t i a n mission^ i n .
winning c o n v e r t s i n t r o d u c e d a new s o c i a l phenomenon i n
t h e town, A, s e t o f p e o p l e w i t h new wor ld view, engendered
by C h r i s t i a n i t y , began t o emerge. They q u e s t i o n e d t h e
v a l i d i t y and r e l e v a n c e o f t h e g o d s and a c t e d i n u t t e r
d e f i a n c e of t h e e t h o s of t h e s o c i e t y ; T h i s drew t h e town
i n t o two d i v i d e s ; namely, Ndi uka The c h r i s t i a n s and
Ndi ogo nmuo, t h e non c o n v e r t s . Whi le t h e former were
no ted f o r t h e i r adherence t o t h e i d e a l s of C h r . i c t i a n i t y
and penchant f o r wes te rn v a l u e s , t h e l a t t e r h e l d t o t h e
t r a d i t i o n a l gods and v a l u e sys t ems . Both o p e r a t e d as
p a r a l l e l g r o u p s i n t h e town w i t h each p r a c t i s i n g itis
b e l i e f sys tems w i t h o u t m o l e s t a t i o n from t h e o t h e r . T h e r e
were no c a s e s o f open p h y s i c a l c o n f l i c t i n t h e r e l a t i o n s
between them. 62
The s t r i f e i n t h e Angl ican church d i d n o t evoke any
remarkab le r e a c t i o n s from t h e people. Most of them were
i g n o r a n t of i t because i t w a s p u r e l y a n i n t e r n a l problem
of t h e C.M.S. miss ion . I t s e f f e c t on t h e s o c i e t y
a p p e a r e d q u i t e i n c o n s e q u e n t i a l . 63 ,
The b i t t e r r e l a t i o n s between t h e members o f t h e
m a i n l i n e m i s s i o n s was t h e a s p e c t of t h e c h r i s t i a n
m i s s i o n a r y e n t e r p r i s e i n I h i a l a t h a t d i s g u s t e d a l l
s e g m e n t s o f t h e s o c i e t y - t h e c h r i s t i a n s a n d t r a d i t i o n a l
r e l i g i o n i s t s a l i k e . T h e trad:i . t i o n a l r e l i g i o n i s t s we re
p e r p l e x e d a t t h e d e g r e e o f a c e r b i t members of t h e v a r i o u s Y d e n o m i n a t i o n s and m i s s i o n a r i e s "who c l a i m e d t o p r e a c h t h e
message o f t h e same Eod"64 u n l e a s h e d on each o t h e r .
M b a l a s o Odimegwu a p t l y r e c a p t u r e s t h e i m p r e s s i o n o f t h e
n o n - c o n v e r t s on t h e b i t t e r r e l a t i o n s between t h e
d e n o r i n a t i o n s when h e s t a t e d t h a t , " t h e y ( t h e m i s s i o n a r i e s
and a d h e r e n t s o f m a i n l i n e m i s s i o n s ) t a l k e d w i t h t h e i r
t c , ngues i n i h e i r cheek. They t o l d u s t o l o v e o u r n e i g h b o u r s
l i k e o u r s e l v e s , but c o u l d n o t r a l a t e c o r d i a l l y w i t h t h e i r the
b r o t h e r s in ,o ther miss ion". 6.5
However; thrt i m p a c t o f t h c b i t t c r r e l a t i o n s be tween
t h e rncrnbers o f t h e two m i s s i o n s a t t r a c t e d t h c a t t e n t i o n
o f some sefyment o f t h e popul .a t ion . some s t u d e n t s , t e a c h e r s
and c i v i l s e r v a n t s formed t h e I h i a l a Youth A s s o c i a t i o n
(1.Y-A,) i n t h e l a t e lc3140s w i t h t h e aim o f f o s t e r i n g
f r i e n d l y r e l a t i o n s between t h e v a r i o u s d e n o m i n a t i o n s . I t
embarked on a number o f p r o j e c t s and s o c i a l ' a c t i v i t i e s
which t e n d e d t o u n i t e members o f t h e v a r i o u s m i s s i o n s .
F o r i n s t l a . 3 c e , Almanacs w i t h p h o t o g r a p h s and i n f o r m a t i o n
on l e a d i n g ioembers o f t h e A s s o c i a t i o n and i m p o r t a n t
d i g n i t o r i e s i n t h e town were p roduced , C a r n i v a l s i n
which y o u t h s f rom t h e v a r i o u s v i l l a g e s p r e s e n t e d c o n c e r t s
and p lays were o r g a n i z e d every c h r i s t m a s eve. Through
t h e s e a c t i v i t i e s , t h e I .Y .A. c o u n t e r e d t h e d i v i s i o n s
i n t r o d u c e d i n t h e s o c i e t y by t h e a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e
m a i n l i n e denominat ions. 66
P r e s e n t l y , w h i l e s e v e r a l I g b o C i t h o l i c s r e j e c t e d
s u i t o r s from t h e Angl ican denominat ion , i n I h i a l a
m a r r i a g e s were f r e e l y c o n t r a c t e d between t h e members of
t h e denomina t ions w i t h o u t p a r e n t s of t h e s p o u s e s o r t h e
C a t h o l i c church a u t h o r i t i e s r a i s i n g o b j e c t i o n s t o them.
S t u d i e s i n t h i s c h a p t e r e s t a b l i s h e d t h e dynamics
o f t h e i n t e r a c t i o n and c o n t a c t of t h e c h r i s t i a n m i s s i o n s
w i t h t h e s o c i e t y . I t f u r t h e r h i g h l i g h t e d t h e way and
manner t h e s o c i e t y a d j u s t e d and a d q p t e d t o t h e changes
t h e y induced.
NOTES - F.K. Ekech i , " A f r i c a n polygamy and Western .. . - Ethnocen t r i c i sml ' . ~ o b n a l o f A f r i c a n S t u d i e s
(J.A.S.) 3, 111, 1976, P.. 330
Quoted i n J.F'.A'. A j a y i , C h r i s t i a n M i s s i o n s i n N i g e r i a 1841-1891: The Making o f a new e l i t e . (London: Longman P u b l i s h e r s , 1965) , p. . 120.
I t F.K.. Ekechi , ltA"frican Polygamy . . . , p.. 340.
E. I l o g u , C h r i s t i a n i t y and I p b o C u l t u r e . (New York: Nok P u b l i s h e r s , 1974) , p. '45.
M banaso Odimegwu, c i r c a , 85 y e a r s , farmerLcommunity l e a d e r , i n t e r v i e w e d a t Mbarakpaka v i l l a g e , I h i a l a , 6 t h J u l y , l 9 9 3 ?
E.0, Egboh, t l C o n f l i c t Between t r a d i t i o n a l R e l i g i o n and C h r i s t i a n i t y i n T: t c l a n d w . J o u r n a l of West African R e l i g i o n fE) , 10. J u l y 1971, p. 31.
J .So M b i t i , A f r i c a n R e l i g i o n s and Ph i losophy , (London: OUP . , 1969) , p. 49.
Mbanaso Odimegwu, i n t e r v i e w c i t e d ; Okoroaf o r Osuagwu C. 80 y e a r s , f a r m e r / h e r b a l i s t , i n t e r v i e w e d a t Umudara v i l l a g e , I h i a l a 4 t h J u l y , 1993..
C .E. Obi , "L. H i s t o r y c f C h r i s t i a n i t y i n I h i a l a 15)08-19771r ( B O A o p r o j e c t r e p o r t , Dept. o f R e l i g i o n , IJ.N,Ne 1978) , PO. 250
M banaso Odimegwu and O k o r i e Osuagwu; i n t e r v i e w s c i t e d .
Mbanaso Odimegwu and O k o r i e Osuagwu; i n t e r v i e w s c i ted , .
P h i l i p Okwuosa, c i r c a 80 y e a r s , r e t i r e d c i v i l s e r v a n t , i n t e r v i e w e d a t I h i a l a , 1 4 t h J u l y , 1993; and S y l v e s t e r Gdebeatu 56 y e a r s , i n t e r v i e w e d a t Obodoarno v i l l a g e , I h i a l a , 1 2 t h J u l y , 1993.
M banaso Odimegwu, O k o r i e Osuagwu, i n t e r v i e w s c i t e d , Solomon A s i k a , C . 6 5 y e a r s , businesbman, i n t e r v i e w e d at I h i a l a 9 t h J u l y , 1993,
The C h r i s t i a n Aew Testament . A c t s of t h e A'post les
15. *'F';A, Eriobunah, c i r c a , 57 y e a r s , Akchdeacon, I h i a l a . - Archdeaconry, i n t e r v i e w e d at S t . S i l a s '
parsonage , I h i a l a on 5 t h J u l y , 1993.. -
16. Mbanaso Odimegwu, i n t e r v i e w c i t e d ,
17. The C h r i s t i a n dew Teatament , 1 Timothy, 4: 2-3. 18. P h i l i p Okwuosa and..F.A". Eriobunah; i n t e r v i e w s c i ted . . 19, Mbanaso Odimegwu, F.A.. Er iobuna and P h i l i p Okruowa;
i n t e r v i e w s c i t e d . .
20. M bala.so Odimegwu and Okoroafor 0 suagwu; i n t e r v i e w s c i t e d ,
21. B e a t r i c e O d i f e , c i r c a , 90 y e a r s , women l e a d e r k h o u s e w i f e i n t e r v i e w e d a t M ba rakpaka v i l l a g e , I h i a l a 3 0 t h June , 1993.
22, Brendan Odimegwu, c i r c a 70 y e a r s , r e t i r e d c i v i l s e r v a n t , i n t e r v i e w e d a t Mbarakpaka v i l l a g e , : I h i a l a 3 r d J u l y , 1993..
23, P h i l i p Okwuosa, I8A-n a d d r e s s p r e s e n t e d a t t h e 8 0 t h '
h n i v e r s a ~ ~ c e l e b r a t i o n o f t h e A n g l i c a n church i n I h i a l a .
24, S.B.C. h y a n w u , "The growth of N a z a r e t h Angl ican P a r i s h Mbie r iw . A h a d d r e s s p r e s e n t e d a t t h e 1 0 t h a n n i v e r s a r y c e l e b r a t i o n of t h e Nazare th P a r i s h , Ohbhia M b i e r i , 1 0 t h August , 1993-
25. P h i l i p Okwuosa, Solomon PY.sika, and F,&. Er iobuna , i n t e r v i e w s c i t e d .
26.. The t h e s i s on t h e a u r e c e p t i v i t y t o C h r i s t i a n i t y t e n d s t o s u g g e s t t h a t t h e o s u w a s t h e s o c i a l c l a s s i n I g b o l a n d t h a t most e a g e r l y embraced C h r i s t i a n i t y . BTor a d e t a i l e d i n f o r m a t i o n on t h i s , see: Chinusr
Achebe, - T h i n q s F a l l Apar t . (London: Fhinemann, 1958).
27. P h i l i p Okwuosa, i n t e r v i e w c i t e d , 28. J o s e p h Onwuchekwa, c i r c a 7 2 y e a r o , businessman,.
i n t e r v i e w e d a t I h i a l a 1 8 t h J u l y , 1993.
29, E a s t e r n Region of N i e r i a G a z a t t e NO.. 26 vol., 15 ( 1 5 t h k p r i l 195% par! k) , p. 91.
. P h i l i p Okwuosa, i n t e r v i e w c i t e d ; and B.enson C , Od i f e, 68 y e a r s , r e t i r e d c i v i l s e r v a n t , i n t e r v i e w e d a t O w e r r i , 3 r d J u n e , 1993..
t h e t e x t on t h e d e c r e e , see B i g a r d Memorial Seminary, Enugu (B,M.S.) Enugu, The Torch No.. 24 December 1961, F o r t h e m o d i f i c a t i o n s s e e ; Fa& A'rinze, "On t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s on C a t h o l i c s on s o E k l ~ hkaq". Onitsh$December , 1966 (Cf. a l s o noLr: 31 o r .R.A. Ozigbo, Txbo Ca tho l i c i sm: The O n i t s h a Connec t ion 1967-1984. ( O n i t s h a : A f r i c a n a , =985),72 ..
E.O. Egboh, " C o n f l i c t between T r a d i t i o n a l Rel ig ion . . .", pa 17..
E , I l o g u , C h r i s t i a n i t y and I g b o C u l t u r e . ., pp. 73-74. P h i l i p Okwuosa, i n t e r v i e w c i t e d , M banaso Odimegwu, Benson Odi f e,' i n t e r v i e w s c i t e d , S e e c h a p t e r I V of t h i s s tudy ,
Solomon As ika , P h i l i p Okwuosa i n t e r v i e w s c i t e d . Beneth A n o l i e f o , c i r c a , 76 y e a r s , i n t e r v i e w e d a t Ubahu O k i ja on 1 0 t h J u l y , 1993,
F,A. Eriobunah, i n t e r v i e w c i t e d , F.Ai. Erfobunah, i n t e r v i e w c i t e d , S e e c h a p t e r I V of t h i s s d u t y . .
Solomon K s i k a , Robinson D zowulu and P h i l i p Okwuosa., i n t e r v i e w s c i t e d ,
M i n u t e s o f t h e 1958 A'nnual G e n e r a l Meet ing of t h e S t . S i l a s Church I h i a l a , 9 t h December, 1958, Solomon A'sika, i n t e r v i e w c i t e d ,
P h i l i p Okwuosa, i n t e r v i e w c i t e d , S y l v e s t e r ~ d e b e a t u , i n t e r v i e w s c i t ,ed . J o n e s
Onwuchekwa 68' y e a r s , r e t i r e d headmaster , i n t e r v i e w e d a t I h i a l a 1 9 t h J u l y , 1993.
Mbanaso Odimegwu, i n t e r v i e w c i t e d ,
Quoted i n E l i z a b e t h I s i c h e i , A! H i s t o r y of t h e I a b o People, . (London:; Macmil lan, 1976) , p. 170, F o r similar views, B o n i f a c e Igboanugo 72 y e a r s ,
r e t i r e d cbuel: ~ l e r k , i n t e r v i e w e d at I h i a l a : i n 29 th J u l y , 1993.
I .HA, Ozigb&, Tgbo C a t h o l i c i s m ,. . , p. 84. B o n i f a c e Igboanugo, i n t e r v i e w c i t ed , .
, B o n i f a c e Igboznugo, i n t e r v i e w c i t e d ,
P h , i l i p Okwuosa, i n t e r v i e w c i t e d ,
S y l v e s t e r Edebeatu, i n t e rv i ew c i t e d , Solomoc Nsika, i n t e rv i ew c i t e d ,
R.U. Okake, "The Coming of t h e R.C.M. t o I h i a l a 1911- 1960tt. (N.C.E, p r o j e c t r e p o r t , Dept. of H i s t o r y , A',I.C.E, Owerri , 19771, p. 26,
Solomon Asika and Robinson Uzowul.~, i n t e r v i e w s c i t e d , I I R,U. Okeke, "The coming of t h e R,C ,M.. . . . , pa 27,
A loys ius Igboanugo, c i r c a , 74 y e a r s , businessman in te rv iewed a t IJ zoakwa, I hia lam27th J u l y , 1993,
B enson Odif e, P h i l i p Okwuasa and Boni face I gboanugo, i n t e r v i e w s c i t e d ,
See chap te r I1 of t h i s study, S e e chap te r I11 of t h i s s tudy. . Fa& Eriobunah, Solomon ks ika ; i n t e r v i e w s c i t e d ,
P h i l i p Okwuosa and Benson Odife ; i n t e r v i e w s c i t ed .
Boniface I gboanugo, Elenson Odif e and M ba l a so Odimegwu; i n t e r v i e w s c i t e d ,
P h i l i p Okwuosa, i n t e r v i e w c i t e d ,
Mbanaso Odimegwu, i n t e r v i e w c i t e d ,
Mbanaso Odimegwu, i n t e r v i e w c i t e d ,
Boniface I gboanugo, and P h i l i p Okwuosa.; i n t e r v i e w s cited..
Boni face I gboanugo, i n t e rv i ew ci ted, .
CHAPTER V I : CONTINUITTES A N D CHANGES
S t u d i e s o n t h e r h i a l a r e s p o n s e t o C h r i s t i a n i t y t e n d
t o s u g g e s t a phenomena l a c c e p t a n c e of t h e r e l i g i o n w i t h o u t
t h o r o u g h l y e x a m i n i n g t h e d e g r e e of c h a n g e C h r i s t i a n i t y
b r o u g h t upon t h e s o c i e t y , S i m i l a r l y , t h e y t e n d t o i g n o r e
t h e role, of C h r i s t i a n i t y i n t h e c o n f i g u r a t i o n of t h e
e m e r g e n t society.' T h i s s e c t i o n of t h e s t u d y s e e k s to
f i l l t h e s e g a p s , T t w i l l e x a m i n e t h e r e s p o n s e t o
C h r i s t i a n i t y i n I h i a l a w i t h a v l e w to i d e n t i f y i n g t h e
u n d e r l y i n g r e a s o n s for i t s a c c e p t a n c e ,
Aga in , i t w i l l h i g h l i g h t t h e c o n t i n u i t i e s a n d
c h a n g e s i n t h e belief, v a l u e s y s t e m s a n d c u l t u r a l p r a c t i c e s
o f T h i a l a i n r e a c t i o n t o t h e o n s l a u g h t by C h r i s t i a n i t y ,
a C h r i s t i a n i t y a n d t h e Emergent S o c i e t y
The p l a c e of C h r i s t i a n i t y i n t h e e m e r g e n t I g b o
s o c i e t y h a s a t t r a c t e d t h e a t t e n t i o n of s c h o l a r s , They
h a v e a r t i c u l a t e d r e a s o n s for t h e I g b o r e s p o n s e t o
C h r i s t i a n i t y , The c o n c l u s i o n s t e n d to s u g g e s t t h a t t h e
Igbo m a s s i v e l y e m b r a c e d C h r i s t i a n i t y , I t i s i n t h e
- l i g h t of t h e a b o v e t h a t J,S, Coleman, i n b e w i l d e r m e n t ,
e x c l a i m e d t h a t , "I t i s d i f f i c u l t t o e x p l a i n t h e a m a z i n g l y
r a p i d a d o o t i o n of C h r i s t i a n i t y among t h e Ibo p e & p l e w . 2
S i m i l a r l y , S y l v i a Le i th -Ross c o n j e c t u r e s ;
I t h i n k i t i s t r u e t o s a y t h a t o n l y among t h e I bo h a s t h e r e been what c o u l d be c a l l e d a! mass ive a c c e p t a n c e towards C h r i s t i a n i t y . 3
However, Simon O t t e n b e r g e x p l a i n e d t h i s i n t e r m s o f t h e
I g b o r e c e p t i v i t y t o d a n g e . He c o n t e n d s t h a t t h e
c u l t u r a l a d a p t a b i l i t y of t h e I g b o made them open t h e i r
mind t o changesa4 V.C. Ilchendu r i g h t l y a r g u e d t h a t t h e
I g b o a c c e p t e d o n l y t h o s e changes t h a t b rough t s o c i a l
improvements, 5
T h i s s e c t i o n of t h e s t u d y , w i t h r e f e r e n c e t o
I h i a l a , re-examines t h e I g b o r e c e p t i v i t y t o C h r i s t i a n i t y
and e x p l a i n s t h e r e a s o n s beh ind t h e p e o p l e ' s r e s p o n s e t o it.
I t h a s keen e s t a b l i s h e d e l s e w h e r e i n t h i s s t u d y t h a t
t h e g r e a t e r number of t h e p e o p l e i n i t i a l l y spurned and
d i s p a r a g e d t h e c h u r c h e s b e f o r e what appeared as a mass ive
a c c e p t a n c e o f i tO6 But t h e q u e s t i o n t h a t ar ises is: Why
such a n a c c e p t a n c e a f t e r t h e i n i t i a l r e s i s t a n c e ? Venn.'
F.K.. Eriobunah i s of t h e o p i n i o n t h a t i t was made
p o s s i b l e by t h e p e r v a ~ i v e powers of t h e Holy Ghos t t o
i n t e r v e n e i n human a f f a i r s . ? DpC .. Okeke a t t r i b u t e s i t t o
t h e m i s s i o n a r i e s a p p r e a f a t i o n of t h e p l a c e of Chukwu i n
I g b o S i m i l a r l y , I .R.&.. Ozigboh a d d s t h a t
t h e s u c c e s s of t h e Roman C a t h o l i c m i s s i o n w a s p a r t i a l l y
th rough t h e e f f e c t o f t h e resemblance between C a t h o l i c
l.'ilc :; tron:; b c 1 . i ~ fs i n supreme bein!;, t h e I - i i b 1 . b world and l i f e a f t e r d e a t h , 'ihc ::r:c:C1 f o r p r a y e r , s a c r i f i c e and obcc!:i.c.nce t o d e i t i e s e t c . became t h e bricllge r.~l:ich .I;Iic . . . doc t r i n e s on Chri.:; t , heaven , 1:hc l~'.c:;:;ed t r i n i t y , :!;race, t h e mass and Z ~ L C ~ T ~ : : I C ~ I ~ S were npprehencied by t h e pi?ople.g
of cnl.olli:\:l. - tb18 l c ~):l.:~:lcil n p r i t ~ c i i ) i :~ l 1.01 e in thc Tk.;L)o
r e s p o n s e t o C!l::i;; l;i::uLty. T n :;11pport of t h e t ~ ~ ~ r ~ q ~ e ~ t
t h e o r y ' I , :;. U. ICzi I L :~t l t l r ; t ! ~ i ~ t \ j ! i c ~ ~ t l ~ e :;oc i c t y i n e n d a r ~ g e r e d , conquered ant.'. s u b j e c i c d t o su2, len and v i o l e n t c h a n g e s , t h e
b e l i e f s which \lc.re i n s e p a r a b l y l i k e d w i t h i t began t o have
l i m i t e d , rel.::livc nxl p e ~ h n p s e x h a u s t i v e v n l i d i ty . 11
on1.y t o t l ~ c c?::i;it!:t f;!i~t t h e y enhanced t h e Igbo a p p r e h e n s i o n
of Christ: '~:t!~Sty, ; jut c o u l d n o t l e a d t o a mass ive a c c e p t a n c e
o f i t . , 1 7 1 ~ ~ ; ~ C ~ I I C ~ L I C S ~ t!i(:oryll and t h e c o n c o m i t t a n t s i t u a t i o n
engendered 1j;r co? onj.21. i 5 1 3 np?ear t o be t h e f undarnerltal
The B r i t i s h conquest of t h e I hiala a r e a co inc ided
with t h e es tab l i shment of t h e f i r s t 'mission.. 8. Na t ive
cou r t was e s t a b l i s h e d a t I h i a l a i n 1909, l2 whi le t h e
first miss ion a r r i v e d i n 1908. or ever, be fo re 1908 t h e
c o l o n i a l f o r c e s h a d ' c a r r i e d ou t s e r i e s of m i l i t a r y
exped i t i ons i n t h e t ' .challa group, which I h i a l a was p a r t of.
Prominent among t h e s e were t h e 1902/03nexpedit-Lon i r ~ which
they had a s s i s t e d I h i a l a i n overwhelmning t h e b e l l i g e r e n t
U l i , l3 I t would appear t h i s made I h i a l a favourably dispoeed
towards t h e mi s s iona r i e s , as they had found favour i n a n
e a r l i e r a s s o c i a t i o n . wi th t h e whiteman, h a i n , t h e 1907
m i l i t a r y exped i t i on t igains t O k i j a i n s t i l l e d f e a r of t h e
B r i t i s h i n t h e communities i n t h e l o c a l i t y , The
development from t h i s even t tends' t o accord wi th Ogbu Kalut s
pos i t ion t h a t chances of miss ionary succes ses were g r e a t e r
in .communi t ies cndergoing s o c i a l c r i s i s at t h e t ime t h e
m i s s i o n a r i e s a r r i v e d , 1 4
The s e r v i c e s provided by t h e c h r i s t i a n miss ioos
would appear t o exp1aA.n t h e apparen t massive accep tance of
c h r i s t i a n i t y i n I h i a l a . The most prominent of t h e s e
s o c i a l s e r v i c e s was t h e school,. I t was i d e n t i f i e d by t h e
a g e n t s of t h e v a r i o u s mi s s ions as t h e most v e r i t a b l e
i n s t rumen t t h a t mads C h r i s t i a n i t y a t t r a c t i v e t o t h e people,
Education, which t h e s choo l s o f f e r ed , meant u n r a v e l l i n g
t h e mystery behind t h e whiteman's knowledge and gave
t h e a b i l i t y t o read , w r i t e and communicate i n t h e Eng l i sh
language, Again, t h e a c q u i s i t i o n of educa t jon provided
o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r ea rn ing ready wages i n t h e church,
government depar tments and European t r a d i n g companies i n
c o n t r a s t t o t h e r e l a t i v e l y unproduct ive drudgery of farming.
Commenting on t h e r o l e of educa t ion i n t h e response
t o C h r i s t i a n i t y i n Igboland, which I h i a l a i s an i n t e g r a z
p a r t o f , Bishop Shanahan wrote;
I f we go from town t o town t a l k i n g about God, we know from our exper ience t h a t much of our e f f o r t s b r i n g s no r e s u l t , But no one is opposed t o s c h o o l s , l 5
T h i s was because, l1 educat iont t , accord ing t o E ,Lo kyandele ,
ttcame t o be seen as t h e open sesame t o t h e new world t h e
Igbo were be ing l e d t o env i s ion l6 I n co r robora t ion
wi th t h i s a s s e r t i o n , S.N.. Nwabara r i g h t l y s t a t e d t h a t
t h e I g b o were f i l l e d with pass ion f o r C h r i s t i a n i t y ;
no t because l o c a l r e l i g i o n was abandoned i n p re fe rence f o r C h r i s t i a n i t y b u t because many p a r e n t s had begun t o a p p r e c i a t e t h e economic va lue of educa t ion which t h e m i s s i o n a r i e s o f f e r e d , l ?
611 t h i s i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e accep tance of C h r i s t i a n i t y
and western educa t ion Wac based more on i n s t r u m e n t a l t e rms
than a n i n t r i n s i c d e s i r e t o embrace them.
Thus, i t was i n the b i d t o s a t i s f y t h e crawing f o r
educa t ion i n t h e people t h a t t h e main-l ine miss ions
e s t a b l i s h e d schools s i m u l t a n e o u s l y w i t h c h u r c h e s i n a11
t h e v i l l a g e s , I n f a c t , s o en twinned were t h e y t h a t t h e
school b u i i u i i ~ y s e q u a l l y s e r v e d a s c h u r c h , and t h e s c h a o l
t e a c h e r t h e same a s t h e c h u r c h t e a c h e r , The F a i t h
T a b e r n a c l e C o n g r e g a t i o n e v e n e s t a b l i s h e d a s c h o o l d e s p i t e
h e r v e r y l e a n f i n a n c i a l r e s o u r c e s ,
O t h e r s e r v i c e s t h e m i s s i o n s o f f e r e d which
s t i m u l a t e d t h e m a s s i v e a c c e p t a n c e of C h r i s t i a n i t y were
m e d i c a l s e r v i c e s and d r u g s , They p r o v i d e d c u r e f o r s e v e r a l
a i l m e n t s t h e t r a d i t i o n a l m e d i c a l acxtvrs, d i b i a , c o u l d n e t . - Acknewledqing t h e i r t f l u e n c e of m e d i c a l s e r v i c e s i n
a t t r a c t i n g t h e p e o p l e te C h r i s t i a n i t y , a m i s s i o n a r y i n
I g b o l a n d s t a t e d t h a t . @@the c u r e w e gave t h e c h i l d r e n and
t h e d i s e a s e d h a s e a s i l y a t t r a c t e d them t o t h e m i s s i o n s n , 18
The Roman c a t h o l i c h i s s i s n m a i n t a i n e d , a l e a d i n t h e s e
s e r v i c e s , They e s t a b l i s h e d . a n o rphanage which l a t e r grew
t o t h e Our Lady of Lourdes h o s p i t a l I h i a l a .
Again, t h e p r e s e n t a t i o n of g i f t s of a l l u r i n g items
f a s c i n a t : e d t h e p e o p l e and a t t r a c t e d them t o t h e mi s s i@ns .
The h v c r e n d F a t h e r s were n o t e d f o r t h e d i ~ p ~ n ~ a t i ~ n of
s u c h g i f t s , Another m o t i v a t i n g fac t sa r was t h e awe and
c u r i o s i t y t h e p r e s e p c e of t h e e y i b o (European) e l i c i t e d
from t h e p e o p l e , Seme people embraced e h r i s t l a n i t y i n
o r d e r te have c o n t a c t w i t h t h e whiteman and a c q u i r a h i s
19 i n t e l l i g e n c e ,
T h i s c o n c l u s i o n d o e s n o t , however, i n v a l i d a t e t h e
l o g i c t h a t spme p e o p l e a c c e p t e d C h r i s t i a n i t y on r e l ' i g i o u s
basis and p e r s o n a l c o n v i c t i o n , The s a l i e n t i s s u e i s t h a t
t h e m a s s i v e a c c e p t a n c e of t h e r e l i g i o n a f t e r be i n i t i a l Pidr c CI t i i ~
h e s i t a t i o n , wasnmore on i n s t r u m e n t a l terms t h a n t h e
d e s i r e to p r a c t i c e t h e r e l i g i o n ,
I n c o n c l u s i o n , t h e s p u r of t h e r e s p o n s e to
C h r i s t i a n i t y was t h e weakening o f t h e t r a d i t i o n a l s o c i e t y
by t h e forces of c o l o n i a l i s m , T h i s was r e i n f o r c e d by t h e
d e s i r e o f t h e p e o p l e t o b e n e f i t from t h e social services t h e
m i s s i o n s offered,
b), C o n t i n u i t i e s and Changes
T h i s s t u d y h a s e s t a b l i s h e d t h a t t h e weakening o f t h e
t r a d i t i o n a l s o c i e t y by t h e forces o f c o l o n i a l i s m and t h e
d e s i r e t o b e n e f i t f rom t h e s e r v i c e s p r o v i d e d by t h e
m i s s i o n s were t h e c h i e f r e a s o n s f o r which t h e I h i a l a p e o p l e
embraced C h r i s t i a n i t y , It s t a t e d too, t h a t i n d i v i d u a l s
r enounced t h e t r a d i t i o n a l . beliefs and v a l u e s y s t e m s t h e
i d e a l s of C h r i s t i a n i t y a s t h e y became c h r i s t i a n s , I n o t h e r
words, i t w a s t h e d e s i r e of t h e e a r l y m i s s i o n a r i e s t o
t r a n s f o r m the s o c i e t y i n o r d e r to a c c o r d w i t h t h e t e n e t s
of C h r i s t i a c i t y , But t h e i m p o r t a n t q u e s t i o n i s ; How much
was t h e s o c i e t y changed by h e r i n t e r a c t i o n w i t h t h e i d e a l s
o f C h r i s t i a n i t y ? To u n d e r s t a n d t h e i m p a c t of '
c h r i s t i a n i t y On I h i a l a , i t i s e s s e n t i a l t o s t a t e t h a t
t h e s o c i e t y d i d n o t c h a ~ ~ g e f u n d a m e n t a l l y ,
T h i s r e s e a r c h s t u d i e s t h e i m p a c t of C h r i s t i a n i t y on
t h e t r a d i t i o n a l belief s y s t e m s of 1hla1a by e x a m i n i n g t h e .
t h e c o n t i n u i t i e s and c h a n g e s i n t h e f o l l o w i n g t r a d i t i o n a l
p r a c t i c e s and belief s y s t e m s , They a r e , - o z o t i t le sys t em,
nmanwu c u l t i n s t i t u t i o n , po lygyny, t h e - o s u c a s t e sys t em,
t w i n murder and t h e k i l l i n g o f t a b o o b a b i e s ,
The e a r l y m i s s i o n a r i e s t h a t p r o s e l y t i z e d I h i a l a
condemned t h e ozo t i t l e s y s t e m b e c a u s e of c e r t a i n a s p e c t s - of t h e i n i t i a t i o n rites t h e y c o n s i d e r e d l d ~ l a t k o u a .
and poor knowledge of t h e saclo-economic f u n c t i o n s of t h e
o z o t i t l e h o l d e r s i n t h e s o c i e t y , They made i t compulsory - for i n t e n d i n g c o n v e r t s t o r e n o u n c e t h e i r t i t les b e f o r e
a c c e p t i n g them i n t h e c h u r c h e s , S i m i l a r l y , a c o n v e r t who
t o o k t h e ozo t i t l e a u t o m a t i c a l l y los t h i s membership - i n t h e c h u r c h ,
The e a r l y c o n v e r t s embraced. t h i s p r a c t i c e , However,
i n i t i a t i o n i n t o t h e o z o t i t l e sys t em rema ined u n a b a t e d - among t h e non-converts, ~ u t w i t h t h e growth of c u l t u r a l
n a t i o n a l i s m among t h e I g b o from t h e l a t e 1910s , some
i n f l u e n t i a l member^ o f t h e R,C,M, mounted such i n e x o r a b l e
p r e s s u r e s t h a t made t h e m i s s i o n re+&itits s t r o n g a n t i
ozo s t a n c e . Between 1 9 6 1 and 1967, t h e C a t h o l i c m i s s i o n -
i n t r o d u c e d reforms which a l l o w e d h e r members t o t a k e t h e
o z o t i t l e w i t h o u t o b s e r v i n g a s p e c t s of t h e i n i t i a t i o n - rites i t had c o n s i d e r e d adola t*ous . I n s t e a d , t h e t i t l e
was t a k e n i n a v c h r i s t i a r l wayv w i t h t h e G v e r e n d f a t h e r
c o n s e c r a t i n g t h e i n s i g n i a o f o f f i c e , 20
However, t h e pzo t i t l e sys tem, d e s p i t e t h e s e ou tward
m a n i f e s t a t i o n s of change , r e t a i n e d i t s soc ia -economic
f u n c t i o n , I t r ema ined a n i n s t i t u t i o n e s s e n t i a l l y f o r t h e
m o r a l l y u p r i g h t and wel l - to-do i n t h e s o c i e t y ,
As ide f rom i t s f u n c t i o n a s an a g e n t of social c o n t r o l
and r e c r e a t i o n , t h e nmanwu c u l t was b e l i e v e d t o be t h e
c o r p o r e a l m a n i f e s t a t i o n o f t h e a n c e s t r a l s p i r i t s , The
earliest m i s s i o n a r i e s endeavoured to e x t e r m i n a t e t h i s
p r a c t i c e , I t however, c o n t i n u e d t o f l o u r i s h i n I h i a l a ,
C o n v e r t s i n i t i a t e d i n t o t h e c u l t k e p t i t s o a t h of s e c r e c y , 2 1
However, t h e i n s t i t u t i o n d i d unde rgo s e v e r a l changes .
each l i n e a g e i n I h i a l a had a n nmanwu c u l t house wh ich was
b u i l t i n a permanent s t r u c t u r e w i t h b r i c k s , and roofed w i t h
c o r r u g a t e d i r o n s h e e t s i n s t e a d of t h e t r a d i t i o n a l mud w a l l
and r a f f i a palm f r o n d r o o f , The w a l l s o f t h e h o u s e s had
a r t i s t i c i m p r e s s i o n of s k u l l s of d i f f e r e n t a n i m a l s which
s i g n i f y t h e ( a t t a i n m e n t o f t h e p a r t i c u l a r c u l t house i n t h e
h i e r a r c h y of the nmanwu c u l t , --
It mfgh t a s t o n i s h s c h o l a r s who p r o p a g a t e t h e
s u f f o c a t i o n o f t h e t r a d i t i o n a l b e l i e f s and p r a c t i c e s of
~ h i a l a by C h r i s t i a n i t y t o see t h a t a t p r e s e n t , t h e nmatlwu'
c u l t h o u s e of ~ m u n o q l b b i l i n e a g e i s a d j a c e n t t o t h e St.
S i l a s A n g l i c a n church .
Accoun t s on t h e a c t i v i t i e s of t h e e a r l y m i s s i o n a r i e s
r e v e a l t h a t t h e p o l y g y n i s t w a s c o m p e l l e d t o r e n o u n c e a l l
w i v e s b u t one b e f o r e h e c o u l d be a c c e p t e d a s a c h r i s t i a n ,
S i m i l a r l y , on n o a c c o u n t d i d t h e c o n v e r t marry s e v e r a l wivmso
The v i o l a t i o n of t h i s o r d e r e a r n e d an i n s t a n t excommunica t ion
from t h e c h u r c h , But a l o n g t h e l i n e , t h i n c e a s e d t o be t h e
p r a c t i c e . C o n v e r t s c o u l d marry s e v e r a l w ives , However, t h e y
were d e n i e d f u l l c h u r c h membership, For i n s t a n c e , t h e
p o l y g y n i s t s were n o t a l l o w e d t o p a r t a k e i n t h e e u c h a r i s t . 22
The d i s c r i m i n a t i o n a g a i n s t t h e - o s u and social stigma
on them p e r s i s t e d e v e n among t h e c o n v e r t s , though w i t h
s l i g h t m o d i f i c a t i o n s ' , Modern i ty and u r b a n i z a t i o n made I t
d i f f i c u l t for them to be i d e n t i f i e d i n p u b l i c p l a c e s , The
r e s u l t wa:; t h a t g r e a t e r social i n t e r a c t i o n d e v e l o p e d
bc tween the,;: and t h e f r e e b o r n t o t h e e x t e n t of s e x u a l
i n t e r c o u r s e , However, t h e y d i d n o t m a r r y e f r e e b o r n who
married t h e - o s u were o s t r a c i z e d , and by i m p l i c a t i o n s became
one ,
w i t h t h e a d v e n t of C h r i s t i a n i t y , i n d i v i d u a l s
w e r e n o l o n g e r d e d i c a t e d t o t h e d e i t i e s , , hence no f r e e b o r n ,
e x c e p t t h o s e who m a r r i e d t h e - o s u a c q u i r e d t h e s t a t u s ,
Twin murder and k i l l i n g of i n f a n t s t h a t c u t t h e t o o t h
of t h e u p p e r jaw first a p p e a r e d t o be t h e a s p e c t o f t h e
t r a d i t i o n a l belief p r a c t i ~ e s of I h i a l a t h e m i s s i o n a r i e s
s u c c e e d e d i n a b o l i s h i n g , T h i s c o u l d be e x p l a i n e d by t h e
i n c r e a s e ir, t n e s c i e n t i f i c knowledge of human p h y s i o l o g y
among t h e c h r i s t i a n s and non-conve r t s , as w e l l a s t h e
i n t r o d u c t i o n o f t h e E n g l i s h Pena l sys tem, The f e a r 62, '
pun i shmen t f o r o f f e n c e s b o r d e r i n g OAI t h i s made t h e p e o p l e
t o j e t t i s o n t h e p r a c t i c e i n toto,
A t h o r o u g h e x a m i n a t i o n of c o r ~ t i n u i t i e s and c h a n g e s
i n I h i a l a s n o w s t h a t . t h e s o c i e t y d i d n o t c o m p l e t e l y b r e a k
away or d e p a r t from t ~ r o : pas^. It .still r t to ined a s p e c t s
of t h e t r ~ a d i t i o b r a l ~ e l i e f s and p r a c t i c e s d e s p i t e t h e
i n f l u e n c e of C h r i s t i a n i t y , CON. ub4hts p o s i t i o n on t h e
r e s i l i e n c e o f t h e c u l t u r e and belief p r a c t i c e s of t h e I g b o
would a p p e a r t o be a t r u e r e f l e c t i o n , o f t h e r e s p o n s e t o
C h r i s t i a n i t y i n I h i a l a , He a r g u e d t h a t ;
,,. t r a d i t i o n a l r e l i g i o n s t i l l r u l e d t h e minds of most I g b o t o a g r e a t e r e x t e n t t h a n h a s g e n e r a l l y been r e a l i z e d , n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g outward m a r i i f e s t a t i o n s t o t h e c o n t r a r y , 2 3
S i m i l a r l y , Frank ~ a l o m o n t ' s c o n t e n t i o n t h a t " l i t t l e h a s
changed i n t h e I g b o wor ld v i ew ,,, t h e e s s e n t i a l s still
88 r ema ined ... ,24 a p p l i e s t o I h i a l a .
I n sum, t h e b a s i s of t h e t r a d i t i o n a l ~ h i a l a v a l u e s
r ema ined e s s e n t i i l l y i n t a c t d e s p i t p t h e a t t e m p t s by
~ h r i s t i a n i t y t o s t if le them. The c h a n g e s o b s e r v a b l e i n
them are t h e p r o d u c t s of t h e dynamics of c u l t u r e c o n t a c t ,
The t w o c u l t u r e s i n c o n t a c t borrow from e a c h o t h e r . T h i n
a c c o r d s w i t h M i ~ L j l o ~ h ' s t h e o r y on s o c i a l c h a n g e which
s t a t e s t h a t t h e phenomenon of change r e s u l t i n g from t h e
i n t e r a c t i o n be tween t w o c u l t u r e s a r e "Far from b e i n g a
m e c h a n i c a l j o i n i n g of t w o o r i g i n a l i n f l u e n c e s , r a t h e r
t h e two imp inge on e a c h o t h e r m , 25
NOTES - R.U. Ol~c l ;~ , lIrl!he Coming of t h e Roman Ca tho l i c Mission t o I h i a l a :
1311-196611. (N.C.E. p r o j e c t r e p o r t , Dept. of ist tory , A.I.C.S. Chlerri, 1977) , and C,E. Obi, ItThe h i s t o r y of C h r i s t i a n i t y i n I h i a l a Local Government Area: 1908-1977, ( L A . p r o j e c t Department of Re l ig ion , U.N.N., 1978).
J.S. Coleman, Niger ia Background t o Nationalism. ( ~ e r k l e y , Univers i ty of C a l i f o r n i a P r e s s , 1971) , p. 96.
SO ~ e i t h - R O S S , -- Afr ican Women: A Study of t h e Igbo of Nigeria. ' ondo don: OUP., 1939) , p. 297.
S. Ottenberg, "Ibo Recep t iv i t y t o Change1!, i n Bascom, W.E. and Herskovi t s Ma J. (cds. ) Cont inu i ty and Change i n Af r ican Culture. (Chicago: b r . i v ~ r s i t y of Chicago Prefin, 1959) p. 130.
V.C. Uchendu, The Igbo of Southeas te rn Nigeria. (New York: K3l.t ,' Rinehar t and S i n s t o n , 1965) , p. 19.
See chni3tcr I11 of t h i s study.
Fa A. Eriobunah, 58 y e a r s , Archdeacon, I h i a l a Anglican Archdeaconry, In terviewed a t St . S i l a s ' parsonage I h i a l a on 5 t h J u l y , 1993.
D. C o Olceke, quoted i n , IoR.A. Ozj.~;boll, I bo Cat;holicism: !The Oni tsha Connection 1967-1984. Oni t s h a Africans-Fep - - p u b l i s h e r s , 1985) , p. 72.
+-- IoR.A. Ozigboh, Roman Cathol ic ism i n Southeas te rn Nil;eria,
1885-1931 : A Study i n ~ o l o n r a l Evan~e l i sm. (Onitsha: - Et.ul;ok~lu p r e s s , 1988) , p. 276.
10. E.A. Ayilnddc, IiThe Col lapse of Pngandom i n Igbolandtl , i n Jou rna l of t h e H i s t o r i c a l s o c i e t y of ~ i & r i a (JHSN) - v i i , i (l'-)73), pp. 125-140 and F.K. likechi, Wolonia l i sm and C h r i s t i a n i t y i n West Afr ica: The Igbo Case 1900-191511, i n Jou rna l of Afr ican His to ry ( ~ ~ 1 1 ) X I I , 1 ( l 9 7 l ) , - PP. 1 0 3 - 115.
11. O.U. I h l u , flBroken Covenants: Yel igious Change i n Igbo I[L:;toriop;raphylf, i n Onwuka, Kalu, C.N. llbah, (eds . ) , I , '.';i?ostry of t h e Afr ican Past . ( ~ a g o s : V i s t a Books, ,P994). -- -
\I. R.'!?. !;iI.nc, l l l n t e l l i c e n c e r e p o r t on Achal la ,croup 1935, (:!.!,.I:, OD 1 1 9 vol . 11, ONDIST 7/1/10) 5 p. 13.
GI.R.'II, i .;ilne, l f I n t e l l i g e n c e r e p o r t on Achal la group 11
p, 1L
0. U, Ichlu, C h r i s t i a n i t y i n West A f ~ > i c a : The Niger i an S to ry , b bad an: Days ta r p r e s s , 1 9 7 8 ) , p, 360.
Bishop Shanahan, quoted i n J.P.. Zordan, Bishop Shanshan - of S o u t h e r n Niger ia . ( ~ u b l i n : Rlo P r e s s , r e p r . m, Po 82.
E.A. fiyandele, I1The C o l l a p s e of Pagandom i n Igbolandlt. J.II.S.II. v i i , 1 ( l 9 7 3 ) , p. 127.
SONe IWabarn, Iboland: A Century of Con tac t wi th n r i t a i n 1860-1960. o on don: Hodder and S tough ton , 1977),, p. iv.
F a t h e r L u t z , quoted in F.K. Ekech i , Missionary enterprise and R i v a l r y i n ondo don.: --- Prank Cass,
F. A. Tr iobunah, i n t e r v i e w c i t e d ; P h i l i p Okwuosa, c i r c a 75 y e a r s , r e t i r e d c i v i l s e r v a n t , i n t e r v i e w e d a t I l i i a l a , on 7 t h J u l y , 19930
See cY:?:gtcr V.B of t h i s s tudy.
See ch.]?.l;cr V,B of t ihis s tudy. \
See chil.pter V,B ol" t h i s s tudy.
C O N . Ubah, l ~ B e l i g i o u s Change among t h e Igbo During t h e C o l o n i a l Per iodl l , i n ' ~ o u r n a l of R e l i g i o n i n Af r i ca , ( J.R. A, ) 18 X V I I I , 1 ( ~ e b . , 1 9 8 8 ) , 9. 84,
F.A. Salomone, f T o n t i n u i t y of Igbo Values nf t e r Conversion: A Study of P u r i t y and Change". Missology 111, 1 ( ~ a n u a r y , 19'751, po 45.
B. I . Ial i l ior~sl~y, The Dynamics of C u l t u r e Change. (i:c-w IIeavcn, Yale U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1 9 4 5 ) , p. 26, ,
moment b e t w e e n t h e c o n v e r t s a n d n o n - c o n v e r t s ,
F u r t h e r m o r e , I h i a l a was a b l e t o c o u n t e r t h e
d i v i s i o n s t h e a c t i v i t i e s of t h e main l i n e m i s s i o n s
i n d u c e d i n t h e s o c i e t y , T h i s i s e v i d e n t i n t h e
a c t i v i t i e s of t h e I h i a l a Youth A s s o c i a t i o n ( I , Y , A , ),
a he r h i a l a p e o p l e w e r e n e i t h e r p a s s i v e r e c e p i e n t s c3ere
of C h r i s t i a n i t y n o r , , t h e i r r e s p o n s e s mere r e j e c t i o n or
a c c e p t a n c e o f C h r i s t i a n i t y , The f a c t l i es i n t h e m e d i a l
p o s i t i o n between t h e two p o l a r i t i e s .
F i n a l l y , t h e socia l m o b i l i t y n o t i c e a b l e among
I h i a l a i n d i g e n e s a n d t h e p h y s i c a l a n d s o c i a l i m p r o v e m e n t s
e v i d e n t i n t h e town a r e some o f t h e b e n e f i t s t h a t h a v e
a c c r u e d t o I h i a l a , The new j o b s a n d p r o f e s s i o n s ; t h e
m o n e t i z e d economy a n d t h e c u l t u r a l q a i n s r e s u l t i n g f r o m
t h e m i s s i o n a r y e n t e r p r i s e and w e s t e r n c i v i l i z a t i o n
s t a n d l a r q e l y a s memorable t r i b u t e s b t h e m i s s i o n a r y
e n t e r p r i s e i n T h i a l a ,
A ) ORAL SOURCXS
I 1,. NAME i AGE : OCCUPATION INTERVIEW V A L I D I T Y ' DATE 1 PLACE OF
I&6c&ig, nQay / 68 Rtd. c i v i l 1 yes. servant
owerri I Reliable 3.6.93 . \ '---------.-.-----.---~-------.-----.------+-------------------------------l---------- 4 ' 2.. Okwutuorah, Rtd. c i v i l i I I I
Raphael C.72 y r s servant lUmuezawala, I h i a l a ~ e l i a b l e f 29.6.93 o ~ . o - - . - - - ~ ~ - ~ o ~ ~ . - ~ ~ ~ ~ o ~ . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ C ~ . ~ ~ ~ . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . ~ ~ . . ~ . ~ ~ . ~ ~ . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ L ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . ~ ~ ~
3.' Cdife Beatrice c.90 y r s Housewife/ !
women leader Mbarakpaka I h i a l a , Reliable ' 30.6.93 ,,,,,,--,---------------------------------- ---&----------.---------*.----.-..rl
40 CdiIWgwu, Brendan C.70 yrs , Rtd, Head- I
master Mbarakpaka Ih i a l a Reliab?a* 2.7.93 -~r - - - - - - . . . - - - -~- - - -2- . - . - - - - . - - - - . ---f--------------.-----rl.--rl.--.--rl..I
5. Odife, Sydney 68 yrs. Farmer Mbarakpaka, I h i a l a Reliable 2.7.93 ~o.~~.~-.~-----.-..--.---.~-L~~-L---~-~~--~-------------~--~-~~~.~.~~~~~~-h~-~~~o--~~
I
6. Eze, Alfred 68 yrs. Rtd. c i v i l ' servant EZiani 1h ia la Reliable 4.7.33 ------..------..------------------------l--------------..--------*----..----
7. Odimegtru, Farmer/Commu- Mbanaso 85'Ers. - . " i t y leader ~bakaknaka I h i a l a I Rel iable , 6,7..93
-.I-.-------------.--- ----.---- ----.-.----.------bb.--2--------------------&----&--o--
8. Asika, Solomon .68 yrs,_ .. Busincssrnan Ndiezike, I h l a l a ~ e l i a b l e i 9.7193 --~-----o---------~------.-..~-----------------.-----~-----oo-------------- ---.----. 9. U z ~ l u , Rtd. c i v i l 1
Robinson 65- 'yr s. ' I - servant Ndiezike I h i a l a ella able f 9.7.33 ,,7--------------.---- ----------------,--,,-,.---.-----2---------------------.-*----------
10, ' Oguanobi I Nwachukwu 85 yrs. Farmer Ubahu Okija Re l iab le i 10.7.93 * .--.-----------------. --o--o--------~.--.------2---~--.--------.----.--.-*..------.-
11, Anoliefo ~ e n e t h C,70 Rtd. Head- rs master Ubahu mifa Reliable [email protected] ,,o,.----,------.,,--YYY:-------------,--.------z -0----.-am----------------------
12 , Edebeatu School Sylvester 56 yrs. teacher Obodoawo I h l a l a Reliable 12.7.93
---c-- --,-,--,--,,,,, ,,---,,--,--,,.-,,.---------z--L------------------------------ 13. Ibekwe f i lchad 70 yrs , Rtd, c i v i l 1
servant Obodoawo I h i a l a Reliable 13.7.93 .-,..-----..-----,,.---.----------------,~---------l-----------,----------*----------
14. Okwuosa Ph i l i p 9 0 y r s , Rtd. civbf servant Mbarakpka I h i a l a Re l iab le i 14.7.93 ---.--------------,-------.-----------~- -,-2-----,--,,---------- --.--------
NAI4E ; AGE : OCCUPATION PLACE OF 1 i i , i I INTERVISW VALIDITY ! DATE 1
1 3nwuchel:t1a, Jones ,73 y r s . Rtd. Head- (
I maste r i ~ b a r a k p k a I h i a l a / & l i a b l e - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ - - - - - - - - ~ - - - - i ---------- Dsuagiu, Okorie . ~ a r m e r / ~ e r b a - Umudara, I h i a l a
Sanu, Jdhn : i
Okonkwo Selmeth 50 y r s . j 3usinessman
i . 7 2 y r s . .%do c i v i l Ibekwe, :Solonon i
; s e r v a n t Unudara I h i a l a i R e l i a b l e
I g b o a n u g ~ , S o n i f a c e C73 y rs . i9 td . c i v i l i s e r v a n t ! Uzoakwa , I h i a l a ! R e l i a b l e
,,--,--,--,,------- -,,,,,,,,-,,,,---,,,,,,.,,,,,,,,,,---,,,,-. ,,--...-- - -------------.---- { ------------------ 1 ---------- Igboanugo L loys ius ' ~ 7 4 y r s . ~ u s i n e s s m a n 1 Uzoakwa, I h i a l a 1 ~ e l i a b l e ,,---,,,,--,,--,,,-,,,,,-,-,,,--.,--------+---------------+"---,-------------~-----,----
Madubugwu Sarmel C55 yrs . ; c l e r g y ( P a s t o r ) / ~ h r i s t Holy c h u r c h / 1 Premises I h i a l a i ~ e l i a b l e
Onwuche!wa C h r i s t i a n 1 CSB yrs . 1 c i v i l Se rvan t I Umuokpu, Akwa I ; !-!eliable I
. I
i_
A. Primary Sources
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