Culture of Things Fall Apart

1. Culture of Things Fall Apart A Novel by Chinua Achebe

2. Things Fall Apart • Centered around man named Okonkwo • Okonkwo is one of the wealthier men in his clan • Very strict, abusive • Ashamed of his father • One of the leaders of the clan

3. Ibo Society • Patriarchal • Men run households and make all major decisions in clan • Son inherits father’s property • Egwugwu– group of masked men; decide punishments for people who break laws • Polytheistic • Pray and make sacrifices to ancestors and different gods

4. Ibo Society • Practice polygyny • First wife wears anklets signifying her husband’s titles • Each wife has her own hut for her children and herself; separate from husband’s obi but all in one compound

5. Ibo Society • Wealth • Use cowries as currency • Wealth is measured in number of wives, titles, and yams. • Farmers and gatherers • Main harvest is yams • New year celebrated by the Feast of the New Yam • New yams could not be eaten until some were offered to the Earth goddess.

6. Ibo Society • Feared darkness • Laziness lowered man’s worth • Certain deaths were considered “abominations” to the Earth goddess; these people were not buried. • Conversation considered art and regarded very highly; spoke in many proverbs.

7. Arrival of White Man • White missionary called Mr. Brown arrives to convert Ibo to Christianity • Denounces clan’s beliefs • Says their gods are false gods • There is only one God • The Ibo believed the white man and his new faith would not last.

8. Arrival of White Man • White man’s converts were efulefu, or worthless men • As time passed, even “worthy” men converted. • White man also brought government with him • The elders of the clan gave him a portion of the “Evil Forest” to build his church and a school, as well as a building similar to a courthouse and prison.

9. Attractions of Christianity • White man’s buildings • The church in the Evil Forest • A school to teach Christians to read and write • Spoke of equality and acceptance of all; says all are “sons of God”. • Sang songs that were catchy and moving.

10. Attractions of Christianity • Saved innocents • Accepted outcasts of clan • Mr. Kiaga, interpreter for Mr. Brown, had strong faith in the new religion, which inspired others.

11. Conflicts • Converts of new religion go to village and openly denounce the clan’s gods • Beaten severely by clansmen • The new prison held clansmen who had broken white man’s new laws. • White man imposes on clan

12. Conflicts • Could not fight white man because too many members of the clan had converted • Mr. Brown worked hard to control conflict, but was replaced by Reverend Smith • Rev. Smith did not compromise with the clan.