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The Sacrificial Egg. Chinua Achebe. Postcolonialism. Achebe is Nigerian Nigeria was a British colony “ Literature in English ” – NOT English literature. Rich cultural content Cannot be fully understood if the Nigerian culture is omitted.
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The Sacrificial Egg Chinua Achebe
Postcolonialism • Achebe is Nigerian • Nigeria was a British colony • “Literature in English”– NOT English literature. • Rich cultural content • Cannot be fully understood if the Nigerian culture is omitted. • Nkwo Day, akara, mai-mai, Kitikpa, ekwe, mammy-wota
Setting • Nigeria • Bank of the Niger • Umuru Market • After 1920 • Julius went to Umura after his education. • Smallpox was still in Nigeria in 1970’s
Julius Obi Julius – English name of Polish or German origin Obi – African, Igbo for "heart." A form of religious belief of African origin involving sorcery. Passed Standard Six Education system under British rule, the examination after completing primary education Considered himself “educated.” Julius Obi
Binaries • Umura Market Niger Company Nigerian British (clean) (busy, dirty, crowded) • Educated (Julius) Uneducated (Ma) • Less superstitious Surperstitious (resistance) • Exchange of goods trade by money
Symbols - Signs Native vocabularies (Nkwo, akara …) Non-European Green Uniform Nigerian Dark crescent, dark bodies Death Magic, deities, night spirits Superstitious The sacrificial egg Bad omen, warning sign Typewriter educated/knows how to write
Superstitious Night Spirit British/Foreigners (fearsome figures) “Its voice rose high and clear in the still, black air.”– helicopters “the rattling staff of the spirit and a thundering stream of esoteric speech.”– English/foreign language
White man’s influence • Disease: smallpox Death • Religion: Folklore/Cult Christianity • Education: uneducated educated • Market: • Once every four days daily market (river port). • Clean, exchange of goods dirty, crowded, usage of money empty