AKWA IBOM STATE UNIVERSITY JOUNAL OF ARTS

This paper examines the role of the English Bible in promoting national cohesion in Nigeria. It employs the metaphor of Pentecost to explore its socio-political significance. Although extensive studies have been carried out, examining the colonial legacy of English and the Bible’s role in evangelisation, its dual function as both a spiritual and political unifier within Nigeria’s ethnoreligious landscape has received little attention. This study addresses this gap by analysing how sacred texts in colonial languages shape collective identities and facilitate cross-cultural dialogue. Drawing on historical archives, missionary records, and ethnographic case studies, it employs qualitative discourse analysis to assess the English Bible’s impact on education, interethnic relations, and nation-building from the 19th century to the present. Findings reveal that missionary schools and ecumenical movements disseminated English Bible translations, establishing a shared moral lexicon that enabled cross-cultural collaboration despite Nigeria’s linguistic and religious pluralism. However, critiques persist regarding the displacement of indigenous languages and cultures. By conceptualising the English Bible as a Pentecostal force—both spiritual and linguistic—this paper challenges secular narratives of Nigerian identity and argues that, despite its colonial origins, the Christian Bible in English language accidentally provided a model for unity-in-diversity. This research contributes to postcolonial religious and linguistic studies by centring sacralised language as a tool for national integration, offering insights into the complexities of identity formation in multicultural societies.

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