Abstract
The contextual perspective that this article challenges is the neglect of significant contributions of indigenous African missionaries and Christians by some early missionary historiographers whose writings largely focused on European missionaries. This created a lacuna in the proper documentation of African missionary enterprises. The research will not only serve as a platform to discover the socio-religious importance of past African Christian heroes of Nigerian origin but also provide additional information on existing African historiography not from the perspective of Europeans but Africans, using both theological and scientific approaches with the aim of presenting more accurate records in church history. This will serve as a biography of African Christianity.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This article has intra- and interdisciplinary implications for African philosophy, African traditional religion and ethics because most theories and views of Africans in these fields are yet to be largely researched to bring into the limelight their relevance to African realities.
Highlights
A critical study of the history of Christianity in Nigeria reveals an interesting picture of a venture that has the record of both success and failure
A noticeable factor underlying the stunted growth of the works of European missionaries in Nigeria in the 18th and 19th centuries was the neglect of indigenous missionaries whom the white missionaries discriminated against because of their erroneous view that Nigerians and Africans lack the acumen or charisma for leadership
The dearth of these indigenous personnel in missionary work resulted in the confinement of missionary activities to townships, because the hinterlands were initially neglected. This accounted for lack of initial presence of the church in most areas, whereas the said townships were already enjoying some benefits that came with Christianity. Another problem discovered is that it seems church historians of all generations over-concentrated their works on the white missionaries, while the missionary activities of some of the Nigerians who collaborated with the former were not given much attention
Summary
A critical study of the history of Christianity in Nigeria reveals an interesting picture of a venture that has the record of both success and failure. This determination for the expansion of Christianity might have accounted for Aitken’s remark: ‘Please let me say and say http://www.ve.org.za once for all, we cannot absolutely, as far as I can see, give up Bako’ (Isichie n.d.:12) Despite his acclaimed dedication to the work of mission, which resulted in the emergence and growth of many new stations in the confluence area, coupled with his ingenuity and commitment, which made even some European missionaries to heap superlative attestations on him, it is unfortunate that when Bako was recommended for ordination in 1896, racism by the white authority prevented him from being admitted to the Holy Order (Isichie n.d.:13). Bako (one of his children), Rt Revd George Bako (a grandchild) and Rt Revd Josiah Idowu-Fearon (a greatgrandchild), who is the Secretary-General of the Anglican Communion worldwide, and a host of other achievers in other walks of life
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