culture of Umuofia in the novel -THINGS FALL APART by Chinua Achebe

1. THINGS FALL APART -CHINUA ACHEBE

2. Chinua Achebe (16 November 1930 – 21 March 2013) was a Nigerian novelist, poet, and critic who is regarded as a central figure of modern African literature. His novel Things Fall Apart (1958), occupies a pivotal place in African literature and remains the most widely studied, translated and read. Achebe is often referred to as the "father of African literature“. His works include Arrow of god, No longer at ease, civil peace, A man of the people and There was a young Man in Our Hall . ABOUT AUTHOR

3. CULTURE OF UMUOFIA

4. Man was judged according to his own worth not according to his father. Age was respected among these people, but achievement was revered. Ogene instrument was used to alert people and announce information. Darkness held a vague terror even for the bravest one. Children warned not to whistle as it would attract evil spirits, snake never called by its name because it would hear but on moonlight night it was opposite. as the Ibo say: when the moon is shining the cripple becomes hungry for walk. Umuofia was feared by all its neighbors as it was powerful in war and magic, priest and medicine man were feared too. They would not go to war unless its case was clear accepted by oracle of the Hill and cave, peaceful settlement was given importance.(example of Mbaino, war or offer virgin and a young man ) The judgement for virgin was passed, replace the murdered wife of Ogbuefi udo. In the case of young man Ikemefuna, it was decided he belonged to whole clan and there was no need to hurry.

5. Yams were considered as king of crops as great amount of labor was required to harvest it. (yams= wealth) If a person had ample amount of wealth ,he could have as many wives as he want. Domestic violence was common in this clan. Only in Week of peace , any type of violence was not tolerated. (respect for god and ancestors >women ) Oracle was called Agbala and behold by priestess and individuals from clan often came to consult the spirit of dead ones. Concept of chi, personal god- they believed everyone had they own chi who controlled their fate . They basically used to worship the forces of nature. If twins were born or a man died of swelling in body parts, they was taken to evil forest and left to die there. If a man took his own life, it was considered as offence against earth and such individual was not buried by clansmen. They used to carry their tools and horns in goatskin bag and consume wine in those drinking horns.

6. FEAST OF THE NEW YEAR

7. In Umuofia , crime was of two kind male and female. Male crimes were intentional, while female one was accidental. Even the stories were categorized into masculine and feminine, and women’s stories were considered for foolish people. Stories with war and bloodshed were considered more suitable for young men. The locusts held a significance in story as they clear the land by destroying crops. Umuofia clan people would catch the locusts, roast and eat them. In marriage, they paid the bride-price. Virginity of women was questioned before marriage, but groom was not asked such questions. Ogbanje , was the name given to spirit whose only motive was to torment the human mother by dying unexpectedly only to return in the next child and do it all over again. They believed that if Iwi uwa , a kind of stone was found and destroyed, or mutilation of dead child wad done it would break that cycle. Osu or outcasts were also there but they lived far away from village.

8. EGWUGWU

9. NAME: DIVYA KUMARI ROLL NO. : 2208180019 SEMESTER: 4 TH COURSE : B.A. ENGLISH HONOURS SUBJECT: POST-COLONIAL LITERATURE THANK YOU