Okonkwo: A Representation of Traditional Igbo Culture - Essay Sample

Introduction

In “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe is a representation of the traditional Igbo community and its struggles to maintain its cultural practices and values at the end of the nineteenth century. At the beginning of the story, Okonkwo is portrayed as one of the great men in the Igbo tribe since he was wealthy, a wrestling champion, had three wives, and a member of the Egwugwu. Chinua Achebe presents him as an ideal Igbo man completely different from his lazy and drunk father who died in debt. Nevertheless, the arrival of the Europeans in Umuofia has a huge impact on the Igbo’s way of life, which directly influences Okwonkwo actions and eventful death (Nnoromele 146). The novel presents how the hero’s inability to conform with modernity and rigidity to change drive them to self-destruction. Westernization of Nigeria negatively influences social cohesion, religion, administration, and Independence of the Igbo community. Noticeably, through the life of Okonkwo and other characters such as Unowa, Obiereka, and Enoch, one can observe how Westernization impacted the African way of life.

The arrival of Christianity in Umuofia hugely affects the lives of most characters in the novel. Notably, while still in exile, Europeans led by Mr. Brown arrive in Emuofia and are given space in the Evil Forest to build a church (Achebe 167). The new religion gives the community’s outcast some hope and sense of belonging while it antagonizes others such as Okonkwo. Unowa is Okwonkwo son who disgraces him for his laziness and the thought that he would turn out like his grandfather. As a result, Okonkwo treats Unowa harshly with the aim that he will redeem him to fit in a society that adored hard work, success, courage, and staunchness to traditions in men. Nevertheless, Unowa had some reservations concerning some traditions such as the killing of twin babies and the sacrificing of Ikemefuna, whom he had grown to adore. He felt and was treated as an outcast and was haunted by the killings. As a result, he was an easy convert to Christianity since it solved his questions. Achebe noted, “The hymn about brothers who sat in darkness and in fear seemed to answer a vague and persistent question that haunted his young soul—the question of the twins crying in the bush and the question of Ikemefuna who was killed.”(136)

Additionally, other religious fanatics such as Enoch leveraged the power associated with the White’s religion to explore their idiotic desires. For instance, he unmasked one of the Egwugwu—an ancestral spirit—during an Igbo ceremony, which was against the traditions and led to the egwugwu destroying his homestead and church (Achebe 184). For Enoch and other outcasts, the arrival of Christianity and a new rule in Umuofia served a liberation from the prejudice that bound them to the low status.

Okonkwo

For Okonkwo, embracing a new religion and culture was an abomination. He even disowned his son Unowa after his conversion to Christianity. Unlike his fellow kin, he is ready to die and fight to preserve the Igbo gods and egwugwu—which he was a member. Notably, he becomes a traditional subversive and ignores any warning of indication that the mood of the village his village had changed and started embracing westernization (Nnoromele 147). Moreover, Obierika, Okwonkwo’s close friend, advises him on the change of attitude towards the new religion and government. Obierika said sadly “It is already too late,” “our own men and our sons have joined the ranks of the stranger. They have joined his religion and they help to uphold his government.” (160). He, although not a convert, understands that times have changed and that Christianity has a strong appeal difficult to challenge and one that undermines the old traditions. Nevertheless, Okwonkwo remains determined to avert change and cut off foreign influences before they destroy the society’s values. His incapacity for change leads him to his tragic fall.

Moreover, the loss of independence of Umuofia greatly affects Okwonkwo as he strives to maintain the traditional community setup. After the arrival of the Europeans led by Mr. Brown and later Mr. Smith, the settlers build a District Commissioner camp in the village. When Okonkwo returns to Umuofia, he is saddened to find out that the settlers had abolished the clan rule and its fabric. Achebe notes Okonkwo was deeply grieved, And it was not just a personal grief. He mourned for the clan, which he saw breaking up and falling apart, and he mourned for the warlike men of Umuofia.” (166) Initially, justice was offered by a panel of select elders who were believed to be wise due to their age. Noticeably, Okonkwo was a member. However, a DC now ruled the community and was surrounded by illiterate Africans from Umaru. Additionally, the establishment of schools and getting education offered social mobility, which lured most people to educate their children. Notably, Okwonkwo’s rage with the new way of life is evident when he chases Mr. Brown from his compound and threatens him (Achebe 170). The missionary hoped that he would be happy to learn that he had sent Nwoye to college. Mr. Brown had harnessed the process of enhancing British Imperialism in Umuofia, which he accomplished by giving out various benefits to the clan, for example, money, high wages, and education. Okonkwo was worried about the indoctrination of his people and loss of strength to the colonialists (Achebe 167).

Unfortunately, for a man so adamant to embrace change and compromise, Okwonkwo believes violence to be the only means to chase the settlers. After the Egwugwu celebrations, he mobilizes his clan to burn the church, kill the whites, and exile all Christians (Achebe 170). However, people only destroy the church and do not injure the white settlers. In one of the meetings, Okwonkwo strikes and kills DC’s messenger but he is shocked to learn that other people let some messengers escape Christians (Achebe 182). He realizes that his clan cannot fight the British, he mourns for the community and chooses to end his life. He was unable to adapt to the Western way of life and could not stand watching the community adopt a foreign culture.

Effects of Westernization on Chike’s School Days

In “Chike’s School Days” by Chinua Achebe, unlike in TFA, Chinua Achebe reveals the protagonist to be amused and eager to embrace a new way of life—through education. Chike is enthusiastic about learning ad using the English language albeit does not know what the words mean. In this case, the author focuses on the modernization of the Nigerian society.

In the novel, westernization influences Chike’s family to give up their traditions and family heritage (Achebe). Unlike in TFA where Okwonkwo was subversive, the protagonist’s family is determined to adopt the Western culture. For example, the family had bought the child a special bell in which he used to call people for supper and prayer. Additionally, he was taken to a school where he learned a new religion and language. Noticeably, the author introduces Chike’s parents by their English names to show the impact of British imperialism and culture on the African natives (Achebe). The European missionaries obligated their Christian converts to change their first names and adopt biblical ones as a sign of being born again and denouncing barbarism. Whites believed that afri8can gods and religion were barbaric and primitive. Therefore, the act of Chike’s parents and grandparents to pick up new English names reveals a radical shift in the Westernization of the Nigerian communities (Achebe).

Moreover, the family rejected the tradition of communal child-rearing by instructing their children not to eat "heathen food" given out by their neighbors. Traditionally, sharing and generosity were esteemed values among African communities, especially during traditional ceremonies. However, after Christianity banned most native celebrations, Christians abstained from any benefits associated with the practices such as communal dishes. Noticeably, capitalism and individuality started getting popular in Africa antagonizing social harmony that existed before colonialization.

Secondly, colonialism introduced social mobility in Africa through education and employment. Chike’s mother, Sarah, was an Osu, who were considered as slaves to clan gods (Achebe). Traditionally, marginalized communities were prejudiced, discriminated, and isolated from others due to religious beliefs. They often felt like outcasts in their communities and rarely integrated with others. For instance, marriage between individuals from high and low classes was prohibited. The issue of religious classism is also evident in other regions such as in Afghanistan. For example, in Hosseini’s novel The Kite Runner, Sunni’s were not allowed to marry or integrate with Shia’s due to social status. In this case, people thought Amos was mad for marrying an Osu and wondered how an Osu would afford to be proud. Therefore, colonialism—especially Christianity—offered comfort to the outcasts of African communities. By adopting a new culture, they got to enjoy most benefits that were denied by their plight in society.

Thirdly, British imperialism brought a feeling of superiority over the African practices and tradition. The missionaries taught Africans that their culture was inferior to theirs, which affected even children’s thinking (Achebe). One can compare the missionaries’ tactics equivalent to brainwashing in such a way that they believe they can only be superior if they conform to a foreign culture. The situation explains why Chike was fascinated by English, which he thought was superior to anything in his community. His regular use of complex words such as “Periwinkle” without comprehending their meanings shows his hunger for modernization. Such words provided him with an escape from reality (Achebe).

Moreover, after joining the village school, he was excited to have a book and a pencil since he was eager to explore the mysteries of the Europeans. He was also happy to wear a new uniform, teachers’ stories, and dancing to biblical songs while in the catechism. In most cases, he composed ambiguous songs with complex words he heard teachers talk use. A hundred miles across the continent in East Africa, Ngugi Wa Thiong’o in his novel The River Between revealed the quest for the white man’s knowledge through education to cope with modernity. In the novel, Waiyaki, the protagonist went to school, learned to read, and write, and even started an informal school in his village (54). The two novels show the thirst that conformists had for education to enjoy the benefits of westernization.

Noticeably, Achebe notes that Chike was fond of the name “Damascus,” which he saw as an opening to explore the outside world. The author used the word “Damascus” symbolically to show how the western religion and culture (enlightenment) provided an opportunity for Africans to explore their potential beyond the limitations of their traditions. In the bible, Saul on his way to Damascus experienced or light that changed him from persecuting Christians to promoting evangelism (Achebe). Thus, through education, Chike was being enlightened to see the world through a different lens.

Impact of Western Influences on the Culture and Traditions of Nigeria

Colonialism served as the engine of spreading western cultural imperialism in Africa. It subjugated Africans in all aspects of their political, social, cultural, religious, and economic lives. Arawolo notes that the colonial plunder and pillage caused a rapid decline of traditional cultural heritage in the colonies (3). The western culture dominated the African cultural heritage as many Africans became "Westernized” and perceived the foreign influence as frontline civilization (Arawolo 5). The effect of westernization in Nige...