The Christ Army Church and Socio-Cultural Changes in Khana Local Government of Ogoniland

Abstract

This is a study on Christ Army Church and socio-cultural changes in Khana Local Government of Ogoniland in Rivers State. It is aimed at examining the role of an African Independent Church in social change. To achieve this set goal, the writer has used the historical, sociological and theological approaches. Theologically, it deals with Ogonis world view. Sociologically, it examines the role of Christ Army Church in social change and historically, the study gives detail narration of the interaction of Christ Army Church and Khana society. Findings from the study revealed that the Church adjusted and modified its beliefs and practices in order to make way for social change in Ogoniland. Khana society is highly syncretic in nature. It is hard to know where and when to separate the Church’s beliefs and practices from traditional practices. Some of the vital hallmarks of the Garrick Braide’s Christ Army Church is that it makes indigenous people feel at home during worship as locally composed songs, clapping, ecstatic dancing and use of indigenous liturgy in praising God. An opportunity and atmosphere that were not allowed in mission Christianity. The Garrick Braide’s movement’s radical and practical approach to resisting opposition and fighting injustices meted on indigenes in the Niger Delta by the authorities of mission Churches and imperialist power in Ogoniland, attracted the Khana people who offer themselves as agents of social change to it.