OHAZURUME - Unizik Journal of Culture and Civilization

The quest for economic enrichment, spreading of the good news of our Lord Jesus and the expansion of the kingdom necessitated the Christian missionary to Africa especially in Igbo for settlement. Looking at the activities of missionaries, it was the gospel that motivated them to Igbo land amongst many other benefits found therein. Thus, this paper aimed at investigating language factor in the nineteenth century Christian missionary enterprise in Igbo land. The paper made use of expo-factor research design to collect data and a review of literature in form of journal articles, textbooks and internet. Content analysis method was used to analyzed the contents of this paper. Thus, the finding of this paper shows that Igbo language was a vital instrument used in the spread of gospel messages in Igbo land during the nineteenth century Christian movements. The paper concludes that, through the Christian missionaries, school, churches, civilization, urbanization, development of standard Igbo language and impact of skill acquisition to people were achieved in Igbo land. Therefore, the paper recommends that Igbo language should be generally recognized as a language of preaching the gospel to people in Igbo land for better understanding of the gospel. Also, Igbo language should be made the language of commerce, school, and marketing religion in Igbo land and not only for the spread of gospel messages.

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