THE ROLE OF INDIGENOUS AGENTS IN THE CHRISTIANIZATION OF WEST AFRICA

Abstract A critical survey of the history of Christianity in West Africa reveals a somber picture of gross omission and under-valuation of the contributions of indigenous missionaries. Thus, the history of Christianity and Church growth in West Africa will ever remain jejune and incomplete without a sedulous efforts aimed at proper inclusion of ardent and impactful evangelical enterprises of some indigenous agents in West African Church historiography. This paper, therefore, attempts to reconstruct the skewed perception of early Church historians, especially, those from European origin, who did not see the need for proper documentation of enormous contributions of indigenous missionary agents to the spread and growth of Christianity in West Africa, probably because of racial bias. The spread of the gospel in West African Coast was indeed due 'to the sacrifice, hard work and burning zeal of the indigenous converts, who were employed as pioneer lay agents of their various missions more especially, the Church Missionary Society (C.M.S). The paper after taking a look at a brief history of indigenization of Christianity in West Africa, goes on to examine the role of indigenous agents in Niger territory; and also the contributions of indigenous agents to successful evangelization of West Africa. It highlights the class of people from which they were recruited, and the level of education which qualified them to be employed as monitors, teachers, evangelist and catechists. The paper concludes by stressing that the mark made by the indigenous agents in the history of Christianity in Nigeria, West Africa and Africa at large is so enormous that it will remain indelible in the anal of history. It recommends that contemporary Christian missionaries and church planters should borrow a leaf from earliest African missionary agents in terms of selfless service, commitment, cooperative spirit and missionary focus with which they worked for the evangelization of their father land between 19th and 20th centuries.