THE IMPACT OF CHRISTIANITY ON THE TRADITIONAL RELIGION OF ILUTITUN-OSOORO IN OKITIPUPA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ONDO STATE
ABSTRACT
This research work was designed as a surgery to assess the impact of Christianity on the Traditional Religion. Africa has a mode of worshipping God who they called many names in the language of each ethnic group. For instance, the Yoruba called Olodumare, Urobo called Oghene, Igbo called Him Chukwu, while Hausa called Him Allah and so on. With the coming of Christianity and the Islamic religion, they condemned the indigenous African religion, in the seen that indigenous religion is not ideal in the society for the people to fetch Christian religion. The above statement led to conflict, indifferences and confusion among the society. The study is concerned with the aspect of conflict between indigenous religion and impact of Christianity in Ilutitun-osooro in okitipupa local government area of ondo state. In spite of the intensity of Christian missionary effort and centuries of Muslim proselytizing whish have marked the history of different parts of Africa, indigenous religion continued to manifest vitality everywhere. This is to be seen in the worship of Africa deities, sacrifices to the ancestors and practices of divination and magic. Many African now have the notion and belief even regarding their indigenous religion as superstitions, immoral and un-ideal and also reject other beliefs and customs as primitive. In spite of all the effort made by Christianity to wipe it away, the beliefs are still practiced widely. From this study or course, it is discovered that indigenous Traditional Religion seems barbaric or fetish as the missionary had described it. The purpose for this is, some aspect of practice of this belief that claimed human fornicator, killing of twins, kidnapping during some festivals and alot of taboos which were condemned by the adherents. It is discovered that with the advent of Christianity to Ilutitun-osooro in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State, it has alot of positive effects on the indigene in many ways such as social, political, economic, education, religious and communication. It was also discovered in Africa generally that Christianity had a great effect on every part of their lives in one way or the other.
TABLE OF CONTENT
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
1.2 Purpose of the Study
1.3 Scope of limitation the Study
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 The Coming of Christianity to Nigeria
2.2 The Missionaries Attack on the Traditional Religion in Nigeria
2.3 History of Ilutitun - Osooro
2.4 The Advent of Christianity to Iluitun – Osooro
in Okitipupa Local Government
2.5 Some Aspects of Missionaries Attack on Indigenous
Practices in Ilutitun - Osooro
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH DESIGN AND PROCEDURE
3.0 INTRODUCTION
3.1 Instrument and Research Design
3.2 Purpose of the Study
3.3 Sample and Sampling Techniques
3.4 Procedure of collecting Data
3.5 Treatment of Collecting Data …
CHAPTER FOUR: FINDINGS ON DATA COLLECTION
4.0 INTRODUCTION
4.1 Indigenous Religion and Culture of the People of Ilutitun
– Osooro before the arrival of Christianity to the Society
4.2 The Impact of Christianity on the Traditional
Religion towards the Development of Ilutitun – Osooro
4.2.1 Economic Impact
4.2.2 Social Impact
4.2.3 Educational Impact
4.2.4 Political Impact
4.2.5 Communication Impact
4.2.6 Religious Impact
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 Summary of Investigation
5.2 Conclusion
5.3 Recommendation …
BIBLIOGRAPHY
ORAL SOURCE …
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 INTRODUCTION
African Tradition Religion is the sum total of life of the African people. It is indigenous religion of African fore fathers. African traditional religion is a religion that has been handed from one generation to others. Despite the fact that it has no written Literature, yet it written everywhere for those who care to see and read.
It is frequently written in the people’s myths and folktales in their songs and wise sayings. Historically, the founder of African tradition religion is not known or to be worshipped. It is a religion that has no Fanatism for membership drive. Despite the fact that African Traditional Religion is as old as the emergency of mankind in African, yet its development was greatly affected by the stiff opposition mounted by the two foreign religions, that is, Christians and Islamic religion; which was alien to our own culture. This Religion was alien to the African ways, norms& values.
To be precise, the impact of Christianity on the Traditional Religion of Ilutitun-Osooro cannot be fully discussed without mentioning some of the festivals in Ilutitun-Osooro such as; Iwo festival, ERUN festival, UMALE festival etc
However, Ilutitun which is in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State, the notion is not left out. The people share it with other Africans. Christianity was brought to us from oversea countries by the Christian missionaries. The missionaries condemned the African Religious practices and substituted Western cultures and religious practices. The Muslim (Islamic) and Christian missionaries opposed the theology of African Tradition Religion and its practices which are in human, For instance, killing of human being (cannibalism) to appease gods and goddesses. Another one is killing of twins and using them for sacrifice. There also some towns or tribes where they are still killing human being (strangers) to sacrifice to their gods. When the Christians missionaries considered all these practices, critically, they declare that African Religion is primitive, savagery and Heartens. An attempt took by the Christian missionaries to stop this type of practices led to conflict between the Traditional Religion and the Christianities in many part of Nigeria.
1.2 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
In spite of the will towards missionaries that the indigenous Religion of African is outdated and primitive, the Africans especially the Christian and Muslim convert also ahead the notions about African Traditional Religion still the Religion did not loose its place totally. Some of them are still worshipped and served the dead gods and goddesses. The Gospel preached to them has little or impact in their lives. They still appeal to gods through divinities and deity, whenever they have one problem or the other, they will consult their oracle, Ifa, Osanyin, and their problems will be solved.
Furthermore, Ilutitun-Osooro, which is situated in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State, the notion was not left out. The African shared with the peoples around. Despite all the efforts made by the missionaries, many areas/people are still participate in the tradition of things in the town the people realized that the indigenous Traditional Religion was most important to them and they felt that, it should not be put aside as outdated. They also felt that Traditional Religion is their ways of life and customs, which could be observed by every people in the town
1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY.
For any act one carries out, there must be a purpose towards the predetermined objectives. In essence there are many reasons for the write up of this project.
Firstly, this project is written in a particular for the award of Nigeria Certificate in Education [NCE].
Secondly, this project work is carried out so as to give a clear picture on the impact of Christianity on the traditional religion of Ilutitun-Osooro in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo- State. Therefore in some years ago, an attempt has been made by many educators or scholars to write on the coming of the Christianity in many areas of Yoruba land, but no such attempt have ever been made to account on the impact of Christianity on the traditional religion of Ilutitun- Osooro.
Therefore, this study is an attempt to write and account for the impact of Christianity on the traditional religion of Ilutitun. In this project the major Objective is to put into black and white that is into writing, the Origin and the traditional beliefs of Ilutitun before the coming of Christianity, the Origin of Christianity in Ilutitun – Osooro and the difficulties encountered in planting it among the traditional religion believers before it is allowed to take its foundation and the major impact it has on the traditional religion of Ilutitun – Osooro.
1.4 SCOPE OF LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The research is limited to Ilutitun as indicated in the title. In an empirical study of this nature, it would be an illusion to claim that this nature of research has covered all parts of Nigeria, all parts of Ikale land, or Osooro as a whole. The research is limited to the verbal history of leader, the Christian leaders, pastors also a personal contact to Rt. Revd. Ebunoluwa Ogunele the Diocesan Bishop on the Coast (Anglican Communion) and the history of Christianity in Nigeria.
