Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
This book tells the story of a man “Okonkwo” and his Ibo tribe in Nigeria. He does not have a good relationship with his father “Unoka”, a lazy man who has incurred many debts and is considered weak and cowardly because of his love for music (the flute). Okonkwo is a tough, strong tempered man who beats his wives and children. In the latter part of the book, some missionaries come to evangelise these people but are opposed by the strong ones such Okonkwo, and are accepted by the weak who are the rejects of the tribe. At the end of the story, Okonkwo in a moment of rage, beheads one of the soldiers accompanying the white men who has come to evangelise and later on, he hangs himself from a tree.
In this tribe, everyone has a personal god - “chi”- as well as many other gods and goddesses, which they worship constantly in order to receive favour from them. Animal sacrifices are presented to these gods before the harvest. Ceremonies to Mother Earth are celebrated. These people are very superstitious and take revenge on their enemies. They also sacrifice animals to the dead. During their rituals, the spirits of dead people possess them. In this tribe “baby twins are thrown away to die because they are an offense on the land and must be destroyed”. They have an “Evil forest to bury those with evil diseases like leprosy or smallpox; it was a place alive with sinister forces and powers of darkness”.
In the tribe, polygamy is commonly practised: every married man in the tribe has more than one wife. Another aspect of this particular tribe is that they pray to their ancestors for life, health and protection against their enemies. It also mentions the sacrifice of a young man, by his neighbours, in a bid to avoid war and bloodshed. In addition, the writer mentions that Okonkwo
“was not afraid of war and that the last time, he brought home a human head. He had done this five times before. On great occasions such as the funeral of a celebrity, Okonkwo drank his palm wine from his first human head.”
Verdict: Very interesting insight into the pre-colonial era in Africa, and into the Nigerian tribal mindset and customs etc. However, there are aspects of this book, including the violence, which are bound to upset sensitive students and raise objections from parents.
I grew up in Nigeria where we studied this book. On the one hand, I think it would be good for Irish students to know more about the Ibo tribe and its customs, but on the other hand, it could be used as material to insult and bully Irish-born Nigerian children, as the tribes descibed in this book have a simple and superstitious way of looking at life.
Ola O, Co.Dublin
There is too much darkness (evil spirits, enchantments, animal sacrifices, possessions by spirits, superstition) shown in this book! Fine for adults but not school-going teenagers.
Eva P, concerned parent Co. Dublin
I enjoyed the book and learning about the customs and traditions of the Ibo tribe. My main quibble with the story is the fact that all the names of the characters begin with 'O' or 'E' and I sometimes got confused about who was who! I think it could be difficult enough to teach this at second level although I did not find anything 'objectionable' or 'inappropriate' in it.
Janet B, Co. Kilkenny
We think that this book is informative in the sense that it presents the tribe and all that goes on within it; however, we did not enjoy reading it as many aspects of this tribe go against our moral and family values and beliefs. We would not recommend this book to young teenagers.
Louis and Bea, parents of two teenage girls Co. Cork
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