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The contextual significance of the charismatic movements in independent Nigeria

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 December 2011

Matthews A. Ojo
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Extract

The emergence of the charismatic movements in Nigeria in the 1970s is a remarkable religious phenomenon. Their rapid growth and success could be attributed to many factors, but the central factor which clearly emerges is that the movements have been presented in a manner acceptable and relevant to Nigerians, and they have been adapted to the situation in Nigeria. The continuous growth of the movements into the 1980s suggests that they are acting as responses to certain areas of need in Christian commitment in Nigeria. The concept of contextualisation is therefore the major key to an understanding of their rapid growth. Were it not for their contextualisation, the movements might have crystallised without any growth or might even have condemned themselves to decline and dissolution.

Résumé

Quelques remarques marginales sur la contextualisation du Christianisme dans le Nigeria indépendant

Les initiatives indigènes en faveur du Christianisme qui virent le jour au milieu du dix-neuvième siècle, et devinrent plus apparentes à l'époque du mouvement de l'église africaine à partir des années 1880, se sont rapidement développées depuis l'arrivée du pays à l'indépendance en 1960. Ces initiatives sont placées dans le contexte de «contextualisation» ou d'indigénisation et sont discutées en prenant pour modèles les organisations étudiantes interdénominationnelles chrétiennes Scripture Union, Student Christian Movement et Christian Union. Bien que ces organisations étudiantes soient des mouvements internationaux qui prirent naissance en Grande-Bretagne, elles ont été très influencées par la Nigérianisation des années soixante. Elles ont été également influencées par le mouvement de la Pentecôte originaire d'Amérique du Nord de la fin des années soixante et, dès 1970, les mouvements charismatiques ont émergé sous la forme de mouvements spirituels distinctifs chez les étudiants et les nouveaux diplômés du Nigeria occidental. De façons variées, les mouvements charismatiques ont tenté de «contextualiser» les modèles Chrétiens étrangers dans la situation existant au Nigeria, adaptant ainsi la foi chrétienne aux besoins des Nigériens dans le climat actuel d'incertitudes politiques et économiques du pays.

Type
Charisma, converts and cults
Information
Africa , Volume 58 , Issue 2 , April 1988 , pp. 175 - 192
Copyright
Copyright © International African Institute 1988

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