Essay Example on The Headstrong Historian: Anticipating Justice and Independence in Southern Nigeria

“The Headstrong Historian” written by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie about the anticipations of justice and independence from the rather oppressive paternal traditions back in southern Nigeria. This was when the missionaries arrived in the land a few years after the British soldiers were in the region. The story of Nwamgba tells of her brave decision of marrying to Obirieka, whose family somewhat has curses that track down their reproduction. It becomes evident when Nwamgba suffers several miscarriages, and she has to visit the village oracle to perform some rituals which would free her. The routines work, and she gives birth Anikwenwa, her hope. Soon, her husband dies and her property, including her land, is grabbed from Obirieka's cousins who had come to live with her. She had refused to marry as the custom and thus attracted scone from the village as she was going against the tradition. Knowing that she would not be granted back her land from the village elders, she has to look for a different way to win over her area back. This paper explores the things that Nwamgba has to give up to secure her husband’s property and what Afamefuna education and research regained.

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Namibia has to give up her son's destiny in the village by changing his course to follow the whites. Anikwenwa also Michael, is to go to the missionary school to learn English so that he would represent her mother in the white man’s court which Nwamgba hoped that it was fir and more just than the village elders. All she needed was someone who could understand and speak English on her behalf to explain the situation and, therefore, educated her son Michael. Michael’s education was not even her concern, considering the transferal from the Anglican mission school taught in Ibo, which to Nwamgba was a bit hard. Therefore, Peter’s education on English would aid in Nwamgba gaining back her land and property.

The other thing that Nwamgba had to give up was her believes and traditions. She forfeited the village’s usual way of justice and sought a new system of justice. At some point in the story, she thought their method of presenting cases before planning so that people could await judgments during the harvesting was a ridiculous justice system. The new system is based on the beliefs of a new religion, the Christians. The Christian faith considered their ways heathen; therefore, consulting them was like a betrayal of the oracle and other traditions gods they had. However, Nwamgba did not consider all these factors. She was only concerned with her justice, which she knew would only come from the white people. The previous cases inform Nwamgba's decision on seeking justice from the white man that the petitioners won, as she had heard from her friend Ayaju.

Nwamgba also has to lose parts of her culture, such as the naming in a bid to get back her husband's land and property. When Anikwenwa goes to the catholic mission school, his name has to be changed to Michael to be recruited into the system (Adichie). Soon, Michael not only changes his name but also his way of living. He began denying his traditions like initiation, the foods they ate, and the people's dress code. Often, he would scorn his mother for the things she did, claiming that they were sinful. Therefore all these came at the cost of Nwamgba pursuit of justice for her land and property of her husband.

The education and research of Afamefuna also Grace, however, regained more than just her grandmother’s land. Instead of family benefits, Grace's training brings benefits to the entire village. It comes through her various achievements, including the bid for including African history as a subject to be learned in school. Unlike her father, Grace embraces her culture, making the colonialists appreciate her and even receiving several awards. She writes against the treatments that the Africans had, winning back some of the things that had been lost to the white. It also encouraged the incorporation of African works such as poetry into education. Grace changes her am full to Afamefuna in court as a sign of embracing her culture. The moves by Grace serves to become a remedy to what her father failed to achieve. It becomes a relief to her grandmother, that like the father somehow, Grace restored what was being slowly eroded by western culture.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the story if evidence that the revolution of any kind starts with the locals or the natives believing their culture. These ways, it encourages other people to appreciate the feels, the culture, traditions, and even norms. The life of Michael and all he did in despising his traditions led to his failure and how he was scorned. This is, however, undone by her daughter Grace. Therefore, it is prudent that people learn to embrace what is within their disposal and not a thing of other people or systems to be more powerful enough to change the course of life. What can be done best is to blend the traditions and culture to see what can be best achieved by all.

Works Cited

Adichie, Chimamanda. “The Headstrong Historian; The Norton Anthology World Literature." Volume 2. 2020