Discuss the strategies used by the British to overcome cultural and political resistance, and

impose British laws and culture, among the Igbo. Judging by developments in the story, will the
new (colonial) culture prove more stable than the centuries-old indigenous culture? Justify your
answer.
The practices of the Igbo culture are brutal and harsh. What's worse is that, its people are
obliged to comply with these practices even when it is against their individual morals. The
conflict with their tradition and individual will is what fills the people from Umuofia's minds
with unanswered questions and doubts as to why some traditions are even practiced. It is these
doubts and natural division in the tribe that the foreigners used to psychologically convince the
people of Umuofia to convert into Christianity.
The British found a weakness in the Igbo culture and they took advantage of it. Since the
Igbos were very confident that their culture was correct, at first they seem to be resistant to
change. As the story progressed, the British were able to show that their religion is better. They
first got attention by getting an Ibo man to translate for them. After a few days he asked for a plot
of land where they could build a church and then started to rescue twins. The missionaries
acceptance to abominations like twins is what enticed the outcasts of the Igbo society to become
converts. They sought for a place which would welcome them and they found this comfort in the
religion of Christianity. At this point the leaders did not mind since they believed that in 28 days
the missionaries and the outcasts who joined them will die. They didn't. These gave the people of
Umuofia more doubts about their religion therefore more people were enticed to come. Like men
without titles, those who were given little respect. To illustrate this point, a look on Nnekas
situation would be fit to describe it, she bore many twins and this was considered to be a curse to
the indigenous culture and so her children were left to die, to Nneka this was injustice and having
heard the teachings of Christianity, she then decided that perhaps it was time to convert because
those old practices are harsh and cruel and the teachings of Christianity are warm and loving
with was very inviting to Nneka. At that time the elders of the tribe did not mind Nneka
converting because to them it was a relief that she left for she had brought nothing but a curse to
their culture. Little did these elders know that the more they neglected the conversion of the
outcasts and the minority, the weaker their resistance to change will be. Since, once the British
are able to convert their brothers the people of Umuofia would not be able to fight them
anymore. Mr. Brown was later on able to convince men with title by using perseverance and
reasoning.
Throwing out of twins and considering outcasts and men without title as useless are some
of the practices that caught the attention of the foreigners. The British was able to see these
loopholes as a chance to get converts. Also, the lack of sympathy towards one another opened the
doors of Christianity towards the natives of the Igbo tribe which then lead to the conversion of
the neglected Igbo people. The missionaries acts of sympathy and compassion allowed them to
see how the Igbo tribes culture and traditions are being practiced. By building a church that was
able to withstand the evil forest the entire validity of the Umuofia's religion was brought into
question. Building the schools also force fed the people of Umuofia to see a different picture; a
place where the outcasts can have a better life, where everyone is equal. After the missionaries
were able to get enough converts that were taught with the way of the British that's when the
missionaries built a government.

In terms of political resistance, since the Igbo culture is a patriarchal community and that
they value men of honour and integrity, the foreigners decided to build a government that will
perch the Igbo societys culture towards their patriotism of men with titles. Since these foreigners
employ a character of firmness in their decisions and that they believe in their religion fully, the
natives most especially the outcasts and those men without title are further encouraged to take
part and verge into this new found culture. Moreover, Mr. Brown, who is the first white Christian
missionary in Umuofia and Mbanta befriended many great men of the clan instead of going
against them. These men with titles begin to listen and understand the message of the Christian
religion. Mr. Brown builds a school and hospital in Umuofia wherein he started to encourage
outcasts to join them, then making his way to ask men with title to let their children study in the
school by telling the Igbo people that their future leaders will have to know how to read and
write. Mr. Brown was able to gain the trust of the Igbo men and clan leaders and as there were
enough graduates from the Igbo tribe, the foreigners used them to be part of another government,
a stronger government which is the British government. With this new formed government, the
foreigners instated new rules which lead to the imprisonment of the Igbo tribes clan leaders.
This way of encouragement by the British gave impact, as demonstrated Mr. Brown who
was very warm and welcoming. He befriended the head of the clan and great men. He
encouraged the Igbo people to send their children to school and he even gave out gifts to those
who attended school as an incentive. Mr. Brown tells the Igbo people that their future leaders
will have to know how to read and write. He used the British way which is to venture away from
the customary government of the Igbo people impose their own tradition. He further urges that
these people must subsist to change in order for them to not lose their autonomy and their
traditional beliefs. They initially send their slaves to the school but later on they send their
children and finally even the leaders.
However, as the British colonizers gained their trust and they were freely accepted by the
Igbo people, this did not last and there were sudden changes that negatively affected them. Mr.
Smith, a missionary who later replaced Mr. Brown demonstrated a whole different behaviour. He
sees things as black and white. And black is evil. He gave great disregard to the Igbo beliefs and
customs and likens Igbo religion to the pagan prophets of Baal of the Old Testament because he
sees them as spawns of the devil. There is only one solution for him and that is to neglect their
pagan beliefs and convert to Christianity. This was demonstrated by his intolerance of Igbo
beliefs when he suspends a woman convert from the Christian church who followed traditional
custom regarding her dead ogbanje child. The white men also bring trading store in the Igbo
culture, palm oil and kernel became a thing with great price and much money flowed in Umofia.
Here it can be seen how the British slowly uses the resources of Umofia to gain money from
them. Europeans believed that Africa was rich in natural resources, and one of reasons for
colonialism was the desire to gain control of Africa's rich natural resources
Judging by the development of the story, the new culture can prove to be more stable than
the centuries old indigenous culture because the Igbo people are starting to doubts their own
customs and tradition in contrast to the white men who strictly follows the rules and orders
imposed by the Queen. The Igbo people took for granted the outcast, they just let them go to the
white men neglecting the fact that they are still part of the tribe. With this, colonizers can easily
take the Igbo people.

However, although the strategy of the British was well thought of, still it would not last.
In reality, nothing lasts forever as this would likewise not subsist. In the long run, doubts would
then arise from the Igbo people and they would later question its authority. The British no longer
portrayed what they first started out to be and they then exhibited injustice and inequality which
was first sought by the Igbo people. They now show their superiority to the Igbo, locking down
men with high titles including Okonkwo thus taking them as hostages. Anyone who opposes
them will be punished in accordance to their government. The new colonial power cannot prove
to be more stable than the old indigenous culture because even though there are doubts and
questions by the Igbo people themselves regarding their own traditions and the white mens
culture appears to be more firmed and established than the indigenous culture, still the Igbo
people will later on see the true colours of the white men. Hence, the innate feeling dwelling
among themselves for the tribe can once again be resurrected thus they will drive these white
men away from their land and can once again uphold their traditions and practices.

Group 5
*Choa, Nicole Lim
*Macaraeg, Keshley Ann U.
*Rapal, Maria Fraulaine May L.
Chua, Jennibel
Sevilla, Rey Arvin D.
Sy, Camille Tommei