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The Influence of the Western Christian Values on the Culture of the Igbo People of Nigeria: a Blessing or a Curse?

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Submitted By oluomoyeni
Words 1897
Pages 8
INTRODUCTION
History has it that Christianity first arrived in North Africa, in the 1st or early 2nd century AD. The Christian communities in North Africa were among the earliest in the world. Legend has it that Christianity was brought from Jerusalem to Alexandria on the Egyptian coast by Mark, one of the four evangelists, in 60 AD. This was around the same time or possibly before Christianity spread to Northern Europe.

Once in North Africa, Christianity spread slowly West from Alexandria and East to Ethiopia. Through North Africa, Christianity was embraced as the religion of dissent against the expanding Roman Empire. In the 4th century AD however the Ethiopian King Ezana made Christianity the kingdom's official religion. Eventually, in the 15th century, Christianity came to Sub-Saharan Africa with the arrival of the Portuguese and has since remained an agent of great change in Africa.
By definition, Christian values are those ideals or principles which Christianity as a religion cherishes. They refer to the values derived from the teachings of Jesus and taught by Christians throughout the history of the religion. Following the emergence of Christianity on the Nigerian scene in the 15th century, there has been a strong transference of the ideals of the faith on local lives resulting in changes in attitude, moral, social and marital behaviours. The Igbo culture of the Eastern part of Nigeria as a recipient of the Christian faith bears the weight of the religion’s values, thus, reflecting in her own cultural values.
In an attempt to fathom the extent of the influence of the Western culture/Christian values on the African culture (specifically the Igbo culture of Nigeria) some historical and sociological perspectives becomes necessary to mirror this influence where it exists.
Going down memory lane, the missionaries came to Igbo land in 1857, where they met

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