The Slave Girl Essay

The turn of the 20th century in nigeria was a time of great social change. The tightening grasp of colonialism was changing the way. The forced collision of the culture of the Nigerians and that of the british colonizers rapidly changed the way of life for the local people. There seem to be two different and often conflicting ideas about tradition in the igbo during this period. From the way that people are wed to the trade of human being, almost every aspect of igbo life is affected by the europeans.
Religion is one of the more noticeable ways in which igbo society changes. At the beginning of The Slave Girl, every member of Ojebeta’s village is what is referred to in the book as “pagan.” As British control of Nigeria strengthens many locals begin adopting christianity. The first people to adopt christianity are those town dwellers who are relatively more affluent and educated to gain status with the new colonisers, as evidenced by Ma Palagoda in the book. Once those of status begin to adopt the new religion, the masses soon follow, with the young being particularly quick to take to the new faith, with some associating it with modernity(Emecheta).
Polygamy is widely practiced and accepted by the igbo, In order for a man to marry in the igbo society, and in several other african cultures, he must pay a bride price to the father or eldest male relative of the woman he intends to marry. This practice remains relatively unaffected by colonialism, likely due to the fact that both the europeans and the igbo on some level regarded women as the property of a man. As in european culture, igbo culture requires that a woman always belong to a man, whether it be her father, brother, husband, or master in the case of slaves