Ugwu and Odenigbo

1. Ugwu and Odenigbo Page 11-14 (yay)

2. Central Focus of the Passage • Importance of education • Responsibility • Post-colonization • Ignorance of upper class

3. Context • Early sixties, chapter 1 • Ugwu’s first night in Odenigbo’s home • Ugwu gets familiarised with Odenigbo’s way of living, his habits, etc.

4. Quote #1 “Education is a priority! How can we resist exploitation if we didn’t have the tools to understand exploitation?”

5. Quote #2 “You are my houseboy,” Master said. “If I order you to go outside and beat a woman walking on the street with a stick, and you then give her a bloody wound on her leg, who is responsible for the wound, you or me?”

6. Quote #3 “There are two answers to the things they will teach you about our land: the real answer and the answer you give in school to pass. You must read books and learn both answers.”

7. Quote #4 “They will teach you that a white man called Mungo Park discovered the River Niger. That is rubbish. Our people fished in the Niger long before Mungo Park’s grandfather was born. But in your exam, write that it was Mungo Park.”

8. Quote #5 “My father’s crops failed, sah.” Master nodded slowly. “Why didn’t your father find somebody to lend him your school fees” “Sah?” “Your father should have borrowed!” Master snapped.

9. Conclusion! • Highlights Odenigbo’s ignorance and unrealistic expectations • Post-colonialism • Irony of Odenigbo’s policies