The French's Christian Mission and Its Effects.
The Europeans colonized and infiltrated African civilizations in order to make a profit and to be known as a superior nation. By doing this, European colonists "messed up- the traditional African lifestyle. The European mission to bring civilization to Africa was a greedy act of colonialism. The Europeans, hiding under the flag of Christianity humanitarianism and liberalism, occupied Africa and enforced hard labour to the men and women of Africa. The effects of Christianity in Africa can be seen today and were certainly seen in the time of colonization as well.
In Mongo Beti's The Poor Christ of Bomba, the French took a decidedly different approach in governing their colonies. The French decided that the best way was the French way. Therefore they decided to immerse their colonies in the French culture, language, and way of life and store the concepts of "evol e."" This meant that the people of their vast land holdings in Africa, particularly West Africa had to change all that they knew in an attempt to become more "French- or in other words "negritude."" .
The French that had come to Africa had no appreciation for the mystical culture of the Africans. In their minds, all Africans were barbarians' with no civilization, culture or religion. They needed to be led out of their ignorance which the French were very happy to give the Africans enlightenment. However, while doing their noble task of educating the African people, they first had to make the people believe that they had to learn and respect all things French and in that way realize the inferiority of their own culture and civilization. The missionaries passed on to their pupils their dislike of indigenous culture and civilization. French education and Christianity were thrust upon the natives. The material that was taught talked of the superiority of the European races.
