Bajju Christian Conversion in the Middle Belt of Nigeria

Published in 1985, this ethnographic study examines the sociocultural transformation of the Bajju people in Nigeria’s Middle Belt following the introduction and expansion of Christianity. Carol V. McKinney, an anthropologist who conducted extensive fieldwork in the region, authored this work to document the complex intersection of indigenous traditions and colonial-era religious shifts. The text provides a detailed analysis of how the Bajju integrated Christian beliefs into their existing social structures and communal identity.

The book serves as a scholarly contribution to the literature on African mission history and the sociolinguistics of the Middle Belt. McKinney’s research is noted for its focus on the agency of local populations in navigating institutional religious change. Within academic circles, the volume is recognized for its careful observation of how global religious movements reshape local cultural landscapes, offering a grounded perspective on the broader themes of conversion and identity in northern Nigeria.