AGENTS OF PROGRESS OR PROBLEM-MAKERS?: MISSIONARY ACTIVITIES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE IGBO LANGUAGE

Abstract

During the second half of the 19th century, Christian missionaries became active in various areas of southern Nigeria, including Igboland. Missionaries later learned and developed indigenous Nigerian languages in order to reach the people and spread their gospel. In particular, the missionaries worked hard to study and develop the Igbo language. However, rivalry between various missionary groups may have resulted in crises and conflicts that adversely affected the language as well as attitudes toward it. This study investigates the roles played by Christian missionaries in the development of the Igbo language, with the goal of determining whether they were in fact agents of progress or problem-makers.