1 / 10

Things Fall Apart: Background

Things Fall Apart: Background. Published in 1958. Chinua Achebe. Born in Ogibi, Nigeria Raised with traditional values of Ibo (Igbo) culture, mixed with Christianity Born to a teacher of a missionary school

orson-cote
Download Presentation

Things Fall Apart: Background

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Things Fall Apart: Background Published in 1958

  2. Chinua Achebe • Born in Ogibi, Nigeria • Raised with traditional values of Ibo (Igbo) culture, mixed with Christianity • Born to a teacher of a missionary school • Witnessed Nigerian civil war that resulted in Nigerian independence and then became disappointed with what Nigeria had become • Worked as a college professor, author

  3. Nigerian History • 1800s: British trade impacts Nigeria • 1897: British delegates are massacred as a result of campaign against tribal customs • British troops then burned the village of Benin City • 1900: Britain takes control of a Nigerian region—causes split in country • 1950s: Political structure established • 1960: Nigeria gains full independence • Tensions in country still high

  4. Nigerian History, cont. • 1960s: continuous unrest and assassination of govt leaders • New leader decides to divide country more; creates Ibo hostility since one state is cut off from the sea • Causes bitter civil war • 1970: Biafra surrenders and ceases to exist • Modern times: • Continent’s most populous country • Still tensions between religious and ethnic groups

  5. Geography & Agriculture • Nigeria is on Atlantic Coast in Central Africa • Wide range of climatic variations and vegetation • 250 different ethnic groups • Agriculture is main producer of jobs • Diverse crops and livestock

  6. British Colonialism • 1850-1960: Nigeria was a British colony • Introduced Christianity to Islamic region • Ibo region had desirable resources • Many taxes imposed on the native people • Led to riots and uprisings • Missionary education introduced

  7. Missionary Involvement • Colonization led to demand for education and proliferation of schools • Focus was on conversion to Christianity • Created conflict between tribal and European customs

  8. Tribal Life • Marriage customs • Men of status have multiple wives • Religion • Egwugwu (ancestral spirits) • Communal Living • Traditions and Celebrations • Centered around agriculture and the seasons

More Related