A HISTORICAL SURVEY OF CHRISTIANITY AND EKWULOBIA CULTURE, 1913-2013

Ekwulobia community is a cultural area with its unique characteristic features that set it apart from other cultures of the world. The people of Ekwulobia cherish their culture and tradition and through this they organize their life, style and worldview. The culture and traditions of the people of Ekwulobia determine to a very large extent the way in which they understood their faith. Their traditions and culture are expressed in their festivals and celebrations, like Achukwu Ukpo, Igba eke, Igba-udo, Okponsi, Iso-ebe, Ezeasika, Ilo-uwa, Igba-afa and Igochi Umunwaanyi. Christianity came to Ekwulobia in the year 1913 by the European missionaries. The people of Ekwulobia saw Christianity as opposing their culture. The missionaries did not help matters at all because they made no efforts to understand Ekwulobia people and their culture or seek ways of incorporating Ekwulobia culture with Christianity. The people of Ekwulobia find it too difficult to abandon their culture in preference for a new way of life. Despite over hundred years existence of Christianity in Ekwulobia and the enormous changes brought by it, they find it very difficult to let go of some aspects of their culture which leads to their double allegiance of faith and the gospel message not taking full flesh in the lives of the recipients.

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