Christianity in Ile-Ifẹ, 1899-1980: Religious Encounter and Social Change

Abstract

In the 1890s, the longstanding dominance of the Yoruba Religion in Ile-Ifẹ was confronted by new phenomena introduced under Pax Britannica, including new crops and farming practices, colonial administration, and Christianity. Of these 19th-century developments, Christianity seemed to have led the way in penetrating the ancient city. Consequently, it set off a chain of responses among the people of Ile-Ifẹ who, following the Yoruba internecine wars, had relapsed into what can be referred to as religious sterility and insipidity. Existing studies on Christianity in Ile-Ifẹ have attempted to suggest early dates for the religion’s origin, describe the origins of different Christian denominations, and highlight historiographical problems. While these contributions have advanced the understanding of the history of Christianity in Ile-Ifẹ, a notable gap persists concerning the comprehensive narrative surrounding the advent, growth, and development of Christianity in the city. This study, therefore, examines the history of Christianity in Ile-Ifẹ—the center of Yoruba Religion—between 1899 and 1980. Using the historical method, this descriptive and analytical study interrogates, through primary and secondary sources, the nature of Christianity’s advent in Ile-Ifẹ, the nature of its encounter with Yoruba Religion, and the subsequent process of establishing concord. The study discovered that the interaction between Yoruba Religion and Christianity in Ile-Ifẹ oscillated between adaptation, resistance, and concord. The study concludes that this religious interaction has profoundly contributed to the redefinition of the city’s religious landscape and identity.