Monday, October 14, 2013

Did Igbo culture clash with Christianity?


 
The novel Things fall apart by Chinua Achebe, explain nature of the cultural clash. The novel getting focus to readers about clash between the African Igbo culture and the Christianity. Before white man arrived to village of Umuofia, They had peaceful Igbo culture .Igbo culture is based on natures of Umuofia. People of Umuofia believed theirs god as earth, sky, Amador or the thunderbolt. The clan and oracle is the main characters of the umuofian people. They believed and surrender for the oracle. Oracle was control the village and people do whatever it saying. The Drums sounds are very significant part of Umuofian people. For example story says “The drums were still beating, persistent and unchanging. Their sound was no longer a separate thing from living village. It was like the pulsation of its heart. (p44) That means drums sound is very close to people life.When people hear deferent drum beat, they already know something happen to village. After the white man arrive in to Umuofia, Everything changed. They lost their peaceful Igbo society. White man introduces Christianity to Umuofians. They changed people mind very carefully. First they changed their drums sound as songs. Story saying Then missionaries bust into the song.(p 146).After white man arrived old man of clan asked question from the white man about who is theirs god. “What is the god of yours, “he asked the goddess of the earth, the god of the sky, Amadiora or the thunderbolt? White man replied “All the gods you have named are not gods at all. (p146).That was the starting point of clash between Igbo cultures and Christianity. White man had totally diffident idea about god, than Umuofian people. The white man said oracle is not your god anymore and its kill your people and destroy innocent children .Old  man so mad about that and didn’t agree with white man. They thought it was joke. But white man argues with Umuofian old man and finally changed his mind. That how Christian missionary start destroyed Igbo culture. Missionaries become a so successful and the people of Umuofia don’t know what to believe anymore.

Quote

1)      And in fairness to Umuofia it should be recorded that it never went to war unless its case was clear and just and was accepted as such by its Oracle – the Oracle of the Hills and the Caves. And there were indeed occasions when the Oracle had forbidden Umuofia to wage a war. – I liken This Quote because it’s explaining about Igbo culture and how peaceful them. They don’t like to fight and blood. The Umuofia are so close to natures that they will not make any big political moves without the gods of the Oracle. (p8)

2)      “What is the god of yours, “he asked the goddess of the earth, the god of the sky, Amador or the thunderbolt? Or what? White man said “All the gods you named are not gods at all. They are gods of decent who tell you to kill your fellows and children. There is only one true God and He has the earth, the sky, you and me and all of us”- (p146) this quote express how did white man introduce Christianity to Umuofian people. I think this is the starting point of Christianity of the Umuofia.

3)      The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.-(ch22)- This quote express how did white man spared Christianity to Igbo culture. The missionaries come to convert the people; they destroyed the Umofia’s tradition and directly moved them to Christianity.

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