Faculty of Arts

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Browsing Faculty of Arts by Author "Awojobi, Peter Olanrewaju & Tsado, Samson Gana"

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    THE IMPACT OF ALEXANDER BANFIELD LITERATURE MINISTRY ON CHURCH GROWTH AMONG THE NUPE PEOPLE OF NORTHERN NIGERIA.
    (The American Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences Research (THEAJHSSR). Vol. 07, Issue 03,7, 2024) Awojobi, Peter Olanrewaju & Tsado, Samson Gana
    Alexander William Banfield is rated as the greatest Missionary that had ever lived among the Nupe people of Nigeria because his literature ministry had great impact on the lives of Christians and non-Christians. This study attempt to investigate the impact of Banfield’s literature ministry on the growth of the Church and the Nupe kingdom, with the view of establishing the uniqueness of his ministry among the Nupe people. Historical method was used for the study. It was discovered that, Banfield was among the Sudan Interior Mission (SIM) Missionaries that came to Nigeria in 1901. He sailed in company of Albert Taylor, Charles Robinson and Anthony from Liverpool and established their first station in Pategi. By reason of the needs in the mission field Banfield started learning the Nupe Language from a teacher that knew nothing about English language. In less than 12 month he was able to hold service in Nupe Language. In 18 months Banfield had finished translation work on the Gospel of John. He had also translated six (6) Chapters in Mark’s Gospel. By 1910, Banfield had established a printing press called Niger press in Tsonga. By 1912, Banfield had translated the book of Acts into Nupe. Between 1914 to1916 a Nupe Dictionary in two volumes of over 13,000 words was published. 623 Nupe Proverbs in English was published in 1916. He completed the translation of New Testament in 1914.The study concluded that Banfield literature ministry had great impact not only in the lives of the Christians and non-Christians in Nupe land but in the lives of many Nigerians. Banfield printing press provided jobs for many Nigerians. Publications from the press were used in Government offices, Missions stations, Churches, and schools. By reason of these publications several became educated and many became Christians. Therefore, contemporary Missionaries and Church Leaders are enjoined to emulate Banfield by making the Bible and other learning materials available in the mother tongue of the people to reduce the high level of illiteracy in our nation.