The “Conversion” of Anthony Obinna to Mormonism: Elective Affinities, Socio-Economic Factors, and Religious Change in Postcolonial Southeastern Nigeria
This article analyzes the “conversion” of Anthony Uzodimma Obinna, an Igbo schoolteacher from the town of Aboh Mbaise in Imo State, and his extended family to Mormonism in southeastern Nigeria between the 1960s and the 1980s, from a historical perspective. I argue that the transition of Anthony Obin...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-07-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/11/7/358 |
| _version_ | 1797562377608101888 |
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| author | David Dmitri Hurlbut |
| author_facet | David Dmitri Hurlbut |
| author_sort | David Dmitri Hurlbut |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article analyzes the “conversion” of Anthony Uzodimma Obinna, an Igbo schoolteacher from the town of Aboh Mbaise in Imo State, and his extended family to Mormonism in southeastern Nigeria between the 1960s and the 1980s, from a historical perspective. I argue that the transition of Anthony Obinna and his family away from Catholicism to Mormonism can be explained by both the elective affinities that existed between Mormonism and indigenous Igbo culture, and socio-economic factors as well. This article bases its conclusions on a close reading of oral histories, personal papers, and correspondence housed at the LDS Church History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah and L. Tom Perry Special Collections at Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:28:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1443b93fc6b3405294315b3e92173fc5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:28:18Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-1443b93fc6b3405294315b3e92173fc52023-11-20T06:48:57ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442020-07-0111735810.3390/rel11070358The “Conversion” of Anthony Obinna to Mormonism: Elective Affinities, Socio-Economic Factors, and Religious Change in Postcolonial Southeastern NigeriaDavid Dmitri Hurlbut0Department of History, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USAThis article analyzes the “conversion” of Anthony Uzodimma Obinna, an Igbo schoolteacher from the town of Aboh Mbaise in Imo State, and his extended family to Mormonism in southeastern Nigeria between the 1960s and the 1980s, from a historical perspective. I argue that the transition of Anthony Obinna and his family away from Catholicism to Mormonism can be explained by both the elective affinities that existed between Mormonism and indigenous Igbo culture, and socio-economic factors as well. This article bases its conclusions on a close reading of oral histories, personal papers, and correspondence housed at the LDS Church History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah and L. Tom Perry Special Collections at Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/11/7/358MormonismThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsAnthony Obinnareligious conversionsoutheastern Nigeria |
| spellingShingle | David Dmitri Hurlbut The “Conversion” of Anthony Obinna to Mormonism: Elective Affinities, Socio-Economic Factors, and Religious Change in Postcolonial Southeastern Nigeria Religions Mormonism The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Anthony Obinna religious conversion southeastern Nigeria |
| title | The “Conversion” of Anthony Obinna to Mormonism: Elective Affinities, Socio-Economic Factors, and Religious Change in Postcolonial Southeastern Nigeria |
| title_full | The “Conversion” of Anthony Obinna to Mormonism: Elective Affinities, Socio-Economic Factors, and Religious Change in Postcolonial Southeastern Nigeria |
| title_fullStr | The “Conversion” of Anthony Obinna to Mormonism: Elective Affinities, Socio-Economic Factors, and Religious Change in Postcolonial Southeastern Nigeria |
| title_full_unstemmed | The “Conversion” of Anthony Obinna to Mormonism: Elective Affinities, Socio-Economic Factors, and Religious Change in Postcolonial Southeastern Nigeria |
| title_short | The “Conversion” of Anthony Obinna to Mormonism: Elective Affinities, Socio-Economic Factors, and Religious Change in Postcolonial Southeastern Nigeria |
| title_sort | conversion of anthony obinna to mormonism elective affinities socio economic factors and religious change in postcolonial southeastern nigeria |
| topic | Mormonism The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Anthony Obinna religious conversion southeastern Nigeria |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/11/7/358 |
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