A study of the contribution of Chinua Achebe's writings to the indigenization and inculturation of theology in the Ibo (Nigeria) context: A critical analysis.

Date of Publication

1996

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education Major in Religious Education and Values Education

Subject Categories

Religion | Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion

College

College of Liberal Arts

Department/Unit

Theology and Religious Education

Thesis Adviser

Andrew B. Gonzalez, FSC

Defense Panel Chair

Carolina B. Fallarme

Defense Panel Member

Ismael P. Maningas, Dr.
Salud P. Evangelista
Ma. Carmen R. Gaerlan
Elena Almandrez

Abstract/Summary

This study examines the theological perspective of Chinua Achebe's three novels and their implications for the Christian faith.The novels were selected based on their contribution to the development of theology in the Ibo context. Religious understanding is one of the major themes in the novels, aside from their anthropological and sociological significance.Achebe is a well-known writer in Nigeria, Africa, and the world in general. His works have achieved recognition all over the world, for their distinctive contribution to literature in English. Moreover, awards have been received by the writer for his creativity. Consulted for this study are the three main novels, Things Fall Apart, No Longer at Ease, and the Arrow of God and essays from his book Morning Yet on Creation Day which includes works dealing with various subject matters.Things Fall Apart and Arrow of God are an evocation of late 18th and early 19th century Ibo village life, how the life of the people was greatly affected by the early missionaries' activities, whereas No Longer at Ease has a modern setting mixed with a village life setting, but more of the challenges of living a contemporary Nigerian life. The societies evoked in this novels are generally unfamiliar to overseas readers.The novels unveil the values and attitudes of the Ibo people. They are meant to assist in the decolonization process of the people who have suffered the trauma of foreign conquest and the imposition of an alien culture.

Chinua had a Christian upbringing and lived in a rural setting prior to his college years. Against this background, he was able to sense misunderstanding going on between the early Christians and the rural or traditional folks. And so he used his creative ingenuity to write novels that would bring about change in the attitude of the traditional folk and the Christians towards one another.The encounter of the Ibos with Christian faith and a different system was really a trauma that needed redress and Chinua Achebe did this by writing novels that have contributed immensely to the development of theology in the Ibo context without deviating from the mainline Christian faith.

Abstract Format

html

Language

English

Format

Print

Accession Number

TG02481

Shelf Location

Archives, The Learning Commons, 12F Henry Sy Sr. Hall

Physical Description

166 leaves ; Computer print-out

Keywords

Novels, African; Fiction; Achebe, Chinua--Criticism and interpretation; Authors, African; Theology; African literature; Igbo (African people); Belief and doubt; Ethnology--Nigeria

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