Rituals and Customs in the Village

Sangwoo Nam

Background info

The Igbo people had a very unique culture that included many uncommon customs for people outside of Africa.

Things Fall Apart is an example of how the Igbo thrive in Umuofia, practicing ancient rituals and customs

Throughout the book, Achebe shows the important rituals and customs of everyday life in Umuofia and of the important celebrations in life: birth, marriage, and death.

Customs

The practice of sharing palm-wine and kola nuts is emphasized throughout the whole book and shows the peacefulness of the Igbo people

the Igbo people are very peaceful and respectful example from the book:

Unoka’s neighbor does not ask for the money he owes him directly or immediately, instead he shares a koala nut and prays to their gods&ancestors and talk casually before he asks Unoka to pay him back

FuneralsEzeudu is a great warrior and the funeral is a big deal.

Large masses of people and many villagers playing instruments and firing guns come together.

People with no titles are not allowed to be buried - they’re left in the Evil Forest to be taken by the spirits

People who committed suicides (hang themselves) cannot be touched b/c it is an abomination for a man to take his own life, and an offense against the Earth. He is not to be buried by his clansmen

Comparison of Funerals Ezeudu vs Okonkwo

Ezeudu Okonkwo

Ezeudu is a great warriorOkonkwo is a great warrior

dies peacefully in his sleep

hangs himself on a tree limb

took 3 of the highest titles

took many titles, but none of the highest ones

large mass of people, many villagers playing instruments and firing guns

is brought down by the DC because his body is

considered “evil”

Feast of the New Yam

to give thanks to the earth goddess, Ani

It takes place before the harvest

All left over yams from the previous year are thrown away

Cooking and serving tools thoroughly washed

Relatives and guests are invited

Week of Peace

A week to honor the earth goddess with peace to make sure they have a good harvest

It originated after an unusually large swarm of locust wiped out the crops of many tribes in Africa

It was decided that they should take one week a year to pray for crops.

Rituals

CeremoniesMarriages

Although the ladies are sold, the father still meets the suitor and his family

Exchange greeting and palm-oil - tradition and shows respect

The father of the bride and groom decide the bride price by trading off a certain # sticks representing bags of cowries, until an agreeable price was set

Uri - a ritual in which the suitor presents palm-oil to everyone in the bride’s family

It is a woman's celebration, centering on the bride-to-be and her mother

Villagers and Okonkwo’s wives help prepare the food for a great feast

New in-laws exchange gifts and pay respects to the higher ranked men

Gift-giving between the families are very generous

Involves the whole community

The palm-wine ceremony begins in the afternoon as soon as everyone gathers and begins to drink the first-delivered wine

Social Gatherings

Wrestling match

It takes place in the ilo - village green

Drummers line the field

Spectators are so excited that they must be held back

Begins with matches between boys ages fifteen and sixteen

Maduka, the son of Okonkwo's friend Obierika, wins one match within seconds

Social Gatherings IICeremonial gathering to administer justice a.k.a. trial/court

egwugwu - masked clansmen of high power act as ancestral spirits to hear cases and make decisions

A case is brought to the spirits and both sides are heard

example from the book: dispute between a man who had his wife taken away by her brothers

Annual Worship of the Earth Goddess

Masked clansmen acting as ancestral spirits

To honor the earth entity

Unmasking a spirit - equivalent to killing an ancestral spirit

Punishment: egwugwu burn down the church

Quote 1

“Does the white man understand our custom about land?” “How can he when he does not even speak our tongue? But he says that our customs are bad; and our own brothers who have taken up his religion also say that our customs are bad. How do you think we can fight when our own brothers have turned against us? The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.”

Quote 1 analysis

displays disapproval of the white man’s ignorant ways and their disrespect towards the Igbo culture

is criticizing some of the clan members’ responses to the colonial presence

Quote 2

“Among the Igbo the art of conversation is regarded very highly, and proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten.”

Quote 2 analysis

To show politeness and sophistication,

one talks learnedly in concise proverbs

approach one’s intended topic only slowly and discreetly

Discussion question 1

Why do you think the colonists were so ignorant of the Igbo customs and traditions?

Possible answers

They do not understand the Igbo language and so cannot understand the culture

They do not know or think that the Igbo people have their own culture that is valued by the clan

Discussion Question 2

Put yourself in Nwoye’s shoes. Would you have converted to Christianity like Nwoye did in the book? Why?

Possible answers

Yes, I would have changed to Christianity because it offered more acceptance and brotherhood than the Igbo culture

No, I would have not changed because it would not be right to leave my ancestors’ customs and it would also anger my father (Okonkwo.)

Discussion question 3

Palm-oil and kola nuts are very common and important in society. Why do you think this is so?

Possible answers

Palm oil and koala nuts are very common in Nigeria and have become part of the people’s lives.

These two items can be found only in Africa and have become a luxury for the people.