African Encounter with Christianity and Social Change draws from some of the most important essays of one of the pioneer historians of Christianity in Africa. The book covers a range of themes from the work of Felix K. Ekechi, focusing on critical analysis of Africa’s encounter with Christianity. The book explores a broad range of themes, including historiography. Pioneers in the mission field, collaboration in the mission field and instruments of evangelization. The intersection of religion, economy, culture is visible in the analysis and struggle to Christianize African societies is made manifest as Africans attempted to balance their world with the new. The volume further explores missionary endeavor among the Igbo people focusing on the career of early Christian pioneers including the Holy Ghost Fathers and Venerable Archdeacon Dennis. Drawing on the Igbo experience, the volume reveals the impact of Christianity on politics, education and other forms of social change.

Perhaps the greatest attraction of Ekechi’s essays is the fact that he was able to write such rich and informative works, in the face of the paucity of documentary sources. The rich empirical data in the book especially in the face of important missions, such as The Holy Ghost Fathers in Eastern Nigeria, denying access to archival materials that they considered sensitive, clearly attests to the assiduousness of Ekechi as a researcher.

— Jeremiah Dibua, Morgan State University.