-
Igbo/european Contact; Its Socio-political Effects On The Igbo
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 4]
Page 2 of 4
-
-
-
1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
In the words of Rev Fr. Collins Ojene,
“No continent suffered from the scourge of slavery for centuries as
Africa. No continent was so brutalized by colonialism, imperialism, and
now neo-colonialism as Africa.â€[2] The Igbo nation, we have to note, is
part of the African continent and as such the afore-mentioned statement,
if it is true, also applies to them. This study serves to ascertain the
extent of the damage these (colonialism, imperialism and
neo-colonialism) had caused the Igbo race specifically. In this study,
we are interested in seeing if really we can be very right to say that
the colonial masters have been our ‘messiahs’, sent from God above to
bring us salvation and light (like Christ was believed by the
Christians, to have been sent) as shown by some writers of history. To
see if they can be seen as, in the words of F. K. Ekechi, expressing the
view of the people of the lower Niger on the early Western Catholic
Missionaries, “a kind (white man) who came for the welfare of the
people.â€[3] It is a study aimed at examining the intricacies of these
diverse contacts that has existed in history among the Europeans and the
African-Igbo world to see what actually has held the Igbo nation spell
bound from advancing to the developmental stage the European world of
today is in. It is a work born out of an interest in contributing to the
growth and development of the Igbo race. This interest to help move the
Igbos forward was born in the course of our study of the African
philosophy and the many problems facing it. It grew after a realization
of the fact that the ancient Egypt of Africa was amongst the first
civilized nations but today is nowhere, development wise. On the other
hand, it is aimed at producing what can be accounted by us, as the gains
and problems created for us by the westerners and by so doing help our
people to know what they need in their present rush for the white-mans
land (greener pastures) and culture. It is a way of trying to expose us
to the reality that not all that glitters is gold and that the European
in all he does is never perfect and should never be regarded so.
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
Fr.
Collins Ojene opines, “The African continent (Igbo world) is daily
degenerating into possible state of anarchy or even extinction should
something not be done concretely and very urgently.â€[4] Our
socio-political conditions here is getting worse by the day and so
resulting to a mad rush for the European (western) world. It serves to
give an Igbo mans understanding and approach to the African (Igbo)
socio-political predicaments of this world and as well as help save the
Igbo race from extinction. It also serves to expose the Igbos to the
likely causes of their present condition. At this time when the Igbo
youths so much long for the western world and its culture, viewing it as
the paradigm, it becomes very necessary that a work of this nature
should exist to point to them the possible problems and benefits that
may accrue from such escapade. To the world at large, it serves as an
eye-opener, pointing, like a signpost, to the road we (Igbos) have to
follow in order to arrive at a brighter future destined for the Igbo
race by the creator.
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 4]
Page 2 of 4
-
