How Did The British Missionaries Come To A Pre-Colonial Igbo Society

The British Empire took control of and brought Christianity to more than 458 million people and was extremely powerful. In Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, British missionaries come to a pre-colonial Ibo society. The Ibo people are very culture oriented and take great pride in their traditions and practices. When Christians arrive in their small village of Umuofia and try to change things, most of the people are angry don’t know what to do, especially Okonkwo. Some people convert, some remain fairly neutral, and others are openly against the British and their religion. The most extreme, such as Okonkwo are so against these invaders that all he can think about is revenge, even if that costs him his life. Christianity, brought to the Ibo people by the British missionaries guides the society by setting up trade and providing education and destroys it by ruining
When they first come they set up trade and the Ibo people seem to be very pleased with it because, “much money flowed into Umuofia.” (153) This trading store is a new concept for them and it is, “the first time palm-oil and kernel became things of great price.” (153) This is a very smart tactic for the missionaries because it gets them some supporters in Umuofia, a necessity to spread their religion. Additionally, education is brought by the British in hopes to teach and convert the villagers. “From the very beginning religion and education went hand in hand.” (156) Reverend Brown’s argument to persuade the Umuofians to come to school is that, “If Umuofia failed to send her children to the school, strangers would come from other places to rule them.” (156) Ironically, this seems to be the British’s main goal, but to the Ibo it feels safer to be educated by the British than to ignore them. The schooling helps the society by giving them the opportunity to be educated and become teachers, court messengers, and court