MISSIONARY ABSOLUTISM ON IGBO CULTURE, TRADITION AND RELIGION AS FETISH AND BARBARIC: A CRITIQUE

Abstract

The missionaries’ advancement into Igboland was actually spurred by their zeal to plant Christianity, make conversion and establish new Christian communities in every part of Igboland. Nevertheless, the use of material objects, symbols and symbolisms in Igbo religion are known area of seemingly controversy. The hasty decision of the missionaries to tag Igbo culture and tradition fetish perhaps created a trajectory of disgust from the people on the message of Christianity. Descriptive and analytic methods were used for optimum results. This study is to find out the veracity of claims by the early Christian missionaries that Igbo religion is fetish, barbaric and superstition.