Christianity In Nigeria Research Articles

Sharia and Christianity in Nigeria: Islam and a 'Secular' State

Sharza in the pre-colonial period' Sharia is as old as Islam in Nigeria. Islam followed the trade routes of the medieval empires: Kanem-Borno in the east, Mali and later Songhay in the west. Hausaland was a backwater or transit land between these powers until the fall of Songhay in 1592. At that time the Hausa states came into prominence and entered into direct trade relations with North Africa. The first-mentioned medieval empire, KanemBorno, had its origins in moder Chad. In the 13th century there was in Cairo a hostel for its students of Islam. Around the late 14th century the Kanem rulers moved to Borno in Nigeria.2 The Mais (kings of Boro) professed Islam, but only during the reign of Mai Idris Aloma (1571-1603) did the majority of the leading men of the empire become Muslim.3 The Mais had to tolerate a good deal of traditional religious practice in their domains and to a certain extent even in their courts. Kano and Katsina were two Hausa states which were on the trade routes between Kanem and the west, and came under the influence of Muslim traders who passed through or settled there. The Kano Chronicle mentions the coming of Wangara (Malian) dais (missionaries) at the time of King Yaji around 1380, who brought books of Law and Tradition.4 Some Fulani dais came during the reign of Yakubu, around 1460, bringing books on theology and etymology.5 At this time Islam seems to have struck firm roots as the religion of the kings, even though the majority of their subjects were non-Muslim. Islam in Hausaland received a strong boost from the Algerian alMaghili (d. 1504), who had to flee his homeland because of his strong

Color and Conversion: The White Missionary Factor in the Christianization of Igboland, 1857–1967

Patterns of conversion to Christianity in Nigeria indicate that paganism collapsed more rapidly among the Igbo of southeastern Nigeria than among the Yorubas of the southwest. Early missionary accounts, dubbed as “missionary historiography,” have explained this phenomenon by the presence and labors of white missionaries. This is the white factor in the missionary enterprise. “Nationalist historiography,” however, has challenged “missionary historiography” by focusing on the role of black “native agents” in evangelization. Black replaces white color. This paper analyzes six cogent reasons why the presence of white missionaries elicited a favorable response to Christianity among the Igbo.

Christian Ethics in a Corrupt Society: A Challenge to Christians in Nigeria

Christian ethics revolves around morality that concentrates on whether an action is morally good or bad. It implies that Christian ethics which is a branch of religious ethics ensures that people’s actions are in tandem with the acceptable moral standard, thereby contributing a lot in human moral development. It becomes worrisome that despite Christian ethics, corruption is perpetrated freely in Nigeria without those concerned having requisite moral Compunction to abstain from corrupt acts. This ugly situation diminishes the role of Christian ethics in human moral development. Therefore it has become necessary to examine the factors that militate against Christian ethics in Nigeria which has made it possible for people, particularly politicians to engage in all sorts of corrupt acts. The work made use of phenomenological approach. It was descriptive and analytical. The work used primary and secondary sources. The primary source includes observation while secondary sources include books, journals, internet materials, encyclopedia and so on. Despite the fact that Nigeria is predominantly Christians, Nigeria is classified as one of the most corrupt countries in the world. There is no doubt that most of the Christians do not apply Christian ethics in their workplace due to Colonialism, Secularization, Materialism, change of moral values, irreligious attitude, Family background, Western influence, Imported religion and so on.Keywords: Christian, Ethics and Corruption

Christianity in Nigeria - Church Growth in Central and Southern Nigeria. By John B. Grimley and Gordon E. Robinson. Michigan, 1966. Pp. 386. 27s.

Christianity in Nigeria - Church Growth in Central and Southern Nigeria. By John B. Grimley and Gordon E. Robinson. Michigan, 1966. Pp. 386. 27<i>s</i>.

Independent Christians in Nigeria - The African Churches among the Yoruba, 1888–1922. By James Bertin Webster. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1964. 30s.

Independent Christians in Nigeria - The African Churches among the Yoruba, 1888–1922. By James Bertin Webster. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1964. 30<i>s</i>.

REVIEWS OF BOOKS

Book reviewed in this article:CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM IN NIGERIA: Nigeria. Its People and its Problems. By E. D. Morel.CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM IN NIGERIA: The Making of Northern Nigeria. By Capt. C. W. J. Orr. London: Macmillan &amp; Co. 8s. 6d. net. 1911.SOUTH AFRICAN PROBLEMS: Black and White in South‐East Africa. A Study in Sociology. By Maurice S. Evans, C.M.G.SOUTH AFRICAN PROBLEMS: The Land of Good Hope. By the Rev. Herbert Moore, M.A.SOUTH AFRICAN PROBLEMS: Studies in the Evangelization of South Africa. By G. B. A. Gerdener, M.A.JAMES HUDSON TAYLOR: Hudson Taylor in Early Years: The Growth of a Soul. By Dr. and Mrs. Howard Taylor.SIX BOOKS ON MEDICAL MISSIONS: The Foreign Doctor: A Biography of Joseph Plumb Cochran, M.D., of Persia. By Robert E. Speer.SIX BOOKS ON MEDICAL MISSIONS: A Man in Shining Armour: The Story of the Life of William Wilson, M.R.C.S. and L.R.C.P. By A. J. and G. Crosfield.SIX BOOKS ON MEDICAL MISSIONS: The Life of Dr. Arthur Jackson of Manchuria. By the Rev. Alfred J. Costain, with Preface by the Rev. W. WatsonSIX BOOKS ON MEDICAL MISSIONS: Beyond the Pir Panjal: Life among the mountains and valleys of Kashmir. By Ernest Neve, M.D., F.R.C.S. (Edin.).SIX BOOKS ON MEDICAL MISSIONS: Doctor Apricot of “Heaven‐Below”: The Story of the Hangchow Medical Mission (C.M.S.). By Kingston de GruchèSIX BOOKS ON MEDICAL MISSIONS: In the Shadow of the Drum Tower. By Laura DeLany Garst.CHRIST AND HUMAN NEED: Christ and Human Need, Being Addresses delivered at a Conference on Foreign Missions and Social Problems, Liverpool, January 1912.THE MAHARANI OF BARODA ON INDIAN WOMEN: The Position of Women in Indian Life. By the Mäharani of Baroda, and S. M. MitraBAPTIST MISSIONS ON THE CONGO: Congo Life and Folklore. By the Rev. John H. WeeksBAPTIST MISSIONS ON THE CONGOY: akusu: The Very Heart of Africa. Being some account of the Protestant Mission at Stanley Falls, Upper Congo. By H. Sutton SmithBAPTIST MISSIONS ON THE CONGOY: An Englishwoman's Twenty‐five Years in Tropical Africa. Being the Biography of Gwen Elen Lewis, Missionary to the Cameroons and the Congo. By the Rev. George HawkerRELIGION UND SOZIALES LEBEN BEI DEN NATURVÖLKERN: Religion und soziales Leben bei den Naturvölkern. Von Dr. H. VisscherA HISTORY OF THE BATAK MISSION: Fünfzig Jahre Batakmission in Sumatra, Von Lic. D. Joh. WarneckMR. HAROLD BEGBIE ON MISSIONARY WORK IN INDIA: Other Sheep. A Study of the Peoples of India, with Particular Reference to the Collision between Christianity and Hinduism. By Harold BegbieMR. HAROLD BEGBIE ON MISSIONARY WORK IN INDIA: The Social Work of Christian Missions. By Alva W. Taylor