Missionaries as Agents of Civilization in Africa

Ekpenyong Obo Ekpenyong; Ibiang O. Okoi

Missionaries as Agents of Civilization in Africa

Ekpenyong Obo Ekpenyong^(1*), Ibiang O. Okoi⁽²⁾,

(1) Department of Religious and Cultural Studies, University of Calabar Calabar Cross River State, Nigeria
(2) Department of Religious and Cultural Studies, University of Calabar Calabar Cross River State, Nigeria
(*) Corresponding Author

Abstract

The paper “Christian Missionaries as Agents of Civilization in Africa” was primarily designed to x-ray both conscious and unconscious efforts made by the different Missionary bodies or societies in introducing the advanced culture that is characterised with effective writing and urban living to Africans since their advent in the continent. Historically, Christianity in Africa is as old as when it was established in Palestine. It was introduced into Mediterranean Africa and by the fourth century A.D Monasteries had already been established in Egypt and thousands of Churches founded in present day Maghreb. The different Missionary bodies as well believed in the spread of Western European education as the best means of ensuring the permanence of their work in Africa. The objective of the research is not only aimed at highlighting the Missionaries' roles in civilizing Africa but to also examine their impact or achievements in the continent of Africa. The work obtained information majorly from the secondary source. It submits that advent the of Missionaries in Africa has done more good than harm by not only civilizing the people but introduced modernization, development and urbanization to the people

Keywords

Missionaries; Africa; Civilization; Christianity.

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