Missionaries, Colonial Government and Secret Societies in South-Eastern Igboland, 1920-1950

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Periodical article

Title:	Missionaries, Colonial Government and Secret Societies in South-Eastern Igboland, 1920-1950
Author:	Kalu, Ogbu U.
Year:	1977
Periodical:	Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria
Volume:	9
Issue:	1
Period:	December
Pages:	75-90
Language:	English
Geographic terms:	Nigeria Great Britain
Subjects:	missions colonialism secret societies Religion and Witchcraft History and Exploration Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups)
Abstract:	E.A. Ayandele has used the examples of the Christianization of Yorubaland and the Niger Delta communities to illustrate the politically pernicious influence of missionaries who ostensibly bore the Gospel but covertly ensured the subjugation of black peoples. This fact explains the importance he attached to the nationalists who fought against the politics of the new religion. This paper does not intend to debate whether the missionary was a covert agent of imperialism or not. Evidence abounds of collaboration between missions, colonial government and mercantile powers. Rather, it is argued that the relationship between these three powers was far more complex than it is often portrayed. The clash over the role of secret societies is a classic illustration of the complexity. For specific case study, the focus is on South-Eastern Igboland from 1920 to 1950 when the conflict between secret societies and missionaries assumed serious proportions and occupied the attention of the colonial government officers. Ref.