THE MAGNUM OPUS OF ACHEBE’S THINGS FALL APART VIS-À-VIS RELIGIOUS CHANGE

Abstract

Achebe (1958) captured the peaceful tranquility and values that existed in Igbo culture before the invasion of the whites. Things were no longer the way they used to be, he observed. They planted the superiority seed of conflict for themselves and seed of inferiority for African culture and made the people reject their religious values and ethical norms to embrace and assimilate their foreign religion and culture. They came with their cloths, bible, shoes, material enticement while planting their seed of discord to destabilize the Igbo cherished world and values. Like the dog that suddenly turns to his owner, so it is with man becoming dissatisfied with one religion. The moment a convert enters into contract with a new religion, he/she has petitions and reasons for entering into such contract. The relationship between man and the gods is like give and take – a trade or commerce between the spiritual and man whereby man offers blood of victims as sacrifice, pours libation and in turn expect the gods to reciprocate. When one deity fails, man moves to another or activates another carved image supposed to be more powerful than the former.