How Did Colonialism Affect The Igbo Society

Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Just as a man would not cherish living in a body other than his own, so do nations not like to live under other nations, however noble and great the latter may be.” Colonialism has occurred countless times throughout history, and the effect it has on native cultures is greatly felt by inhabitants of those cultures. Some historians believe that a group loses its identity with the death of its culture. The way history has been written directly affects how our world is today, so some could argue that colonialism is necessary. Native people are often deeply troubled by the overtaking of their homeland; however, new cultures can emerge that are more diversified and enriched.
To understand colonialism, one must first understand the intentions of the action. Edward
In the novel, Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe recounts this event from the perspective of Nigerians. Specifically, the novel describes the downfall of the Igbo society, which was overtaken slowly and stealthily by white men. The white men came into the clan to spread Christianity, and they accomplished this by winning over converts to completely disregard their native beliefs. The members of the clan that refused to convert to the new religion were affected emotionally by the dismembering of everything they knew. Achebe reveals the thoughts of the indigenous people when he writes, “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” (176). The comparison of the events in Africa to the cut of a knife explains the sharp harshness of it all. At this time, clans in Nigeria were very much like families, so the people truly felt the loss of their brothers. In this example, detachment of cultures was detrimental to the native