Impact of Christian Missions on the Settlement Pattern of Yakurr Communities in Southern Nigeria

Abstract

Abstract African rural communities are blessed with land good for cultivation and housing purposes. Individuals, communities, corporate bodies, the state, and supernatural entities claim land ownership in these areas. Every rural community in Nigeria has evolved customary procedures for land tenure embedded in their aboriginal traditional processes that are generational. These procedures influence the successful development of housing and settlements within rural communities. Through the narrative method; stories about Christian missions, housing, and rural settlement sprawl were captured through observation of mission sites, with the aid of Google Earth Pro Software and focus group interviews with church and community elders. Christian missions in Yakurr communities of Ugep, Ekori, Mkpani, Idomi, Assiga Old Town, and Assiga New Town between 1910 and 2010 were sampled. The transcribed interviews were content analysed with NVivo 12. The outcome is consistent criteria for land allocation to Christian missions rooted in the sociocultural configuration of the People’s Cultural beliefs and myths which significantly influenced settlement patterns in the Yakurr communities. Certain plots of land were believed to harbour malevolent forces or were associated with premature death and other negative experiences. These perceptions made such plots undesirable for residential purposes among the locals. To mitigate these fears, communities often allocated these parcels to Christian missions, viewing the church as a protective shield against supernatural threats. Consequently, with the church hall and manse serving as central places on such land; adjacent plots are attractive to the villagers for housing. The influence of these cultural beliefs and myths underscores the complex interplay between intangible forces and tangible land use, shaping how rural settlements expand and evolve. Understanding these indigenous practices is crucial for stakeholders involved in housing delivery in these areas.