Ice- Breaking

Name: Okonkwo

Origin: Ibo Village

Wives: 3

Ambition: To get the highest position in the clan

Personalities: Hot-tempered, strong, hardworking, and inwardly fragile.

Best friend: Obierika

Likes: War and wrestling.

Dislikes: To hate everything that my father Unoka had loved.

Favourites Child: Ezinma

Dare to be Different

I did not start my new life like many young men usually had. This is because I did not inherit anything from my father. Besides, I did not lay any respect or love towards him. All I know is he was living in contemptible life and shameful death. Even before my father died, I have worked hard to build my foundation for a prosperous future because I’m sure that my father could not give me anything.

          To begin my planning, I went to see wealthy man who had taken the highest title in the clan who named Nwakibie. I had brought a pot of palm-wine and a cock as a polite offerings and asking for a favour. I promised him that I will work hard and I will not disappoint him.  I felt so surprised that Nwakibie was so generous by giving me twice the number of seeds that I expected. I make a sharecropping agreement with him by only getting one-third of the harvest. Although share-cropping is a slow way to build up a barn of one’s own, but I do not have any other option. Not only that, because of my father’s laziness, I need to support my mother and two sisters which makes me felt so angry that I need to do all the things that should be my father’s responsibility instead of building up my own future.

          But the year turned out to be disaster. The weather seems does not want to cooperate with me. The first rains were late and lasted for a brief moment. After that the long period of drought roasted all the four hundreds yams that I have been sown and when I started plants the last four hundred yams, there came an endless flooding. I felt so happy that I could survive on that tragic year; therefore I believe that I could survive anything. I was proud of myself that I have proved to everyone that I was a fierce fighter who is greater than his deceased father, Unoka, who always considered as the laughing stock by the community.

          

Week of Peace

It was a sunny day in the afternoon which ruined by my youngest, third wife, Ojiugo. Before that, this week is the week of peace in our clan. It was a week of between harvest and planting yams. The thing or mistake that I had done in this week is something out of my mind.

          This serious mistake I had done was started when I was just come back from my farm. I entered my first wife hut and rest there in about 30 minutes. After that, I felt hungry and wished to eat with my family. As usual, I would eat my first meal from my first wife in her hut and my second and third wife would send their meal to my first wife hut after that. I hope all of my wives would cook me a very delicious meal for me. After a while, my first wife served her meal to me. I ate the meal with her and our children. In about 30 minutes, we finished up our meal. My second wife, Ekwefi sent me her meal to me. I ate the meal with her also and our daughter, Enzinma. In about 30 minutes, we finished up our meal. Now is my youngest wife, Ojiugo turn to send me her meal. I started to worry when she had not appeared with her meal and children. I went to her obi, to see what she was doing. There was nobody in the hut and the fireplace was cold. I asked Ekwefi about that matter. She said my youngest wife has gone to plait her hair. I tried to find children. My first wife said that they were eating with her children in her hut. I felt extremely angry and it was increased when I knew that Ojiugo did not feed our children. I waited for 1 hour and when she returned, I beat her very heavily and had forgotten that it was the Week of Peace. My first two wives ran out in great alarm pleading with me that it was the sacred week but I did not care as I was extremely angry. Some of the villagers came over to see what was happening and were shocked as it was unheard of to beat somebody during the sacred week.

          As for the consequences, Ezeani who was the priest of the earth goddess, Ani called me to have a talk about this serious event in his obi.  I was very nervous and truly repented my action. I brought out kola nut as a symbol of my respect but he refused it. I was also tried to explain the reason of my action but Ezeani did not pay attention to it. According to him, I had done a great evil which the evil I had done could ruin the whole clan. It was because I had insulted the Ani and might cause her to refuse to give us her increase, and shall all perish. I was asked to bring to the shrine of Ani tomorrow one she-goat, one hen,   a length of cloth and a hundred cowries. Another consequence that I had to face was the clan accused me of not respecting the Gods of our clan. They also called me the little nza for forgetting me after a heavy meal that I challenged my chi. I received that as I was repented much of my action.   

The Arrival of Ikemefuna

It was when I had just apologized for what I had said, “This meeting is for men,”, for calling Osugo a woman, only a week ago in a meeting where they held to discuss the next ancestral feast.

Although the oldest man firmly said that I should be humble for my palm-kernels was cracked by a benevolent spirit for me, but I thought the otherwise. I had cracked them myself. I had risen to be very strong, grabbing success at such an early age, so my chi agreed. My clan judged man by the work of his hands. That was when they brought me the boy, Ikemefuna. I believe that they trusted me to be a very strong leader, but I still doubted that I sensed fear among them.

Three long years. Never once have I thought of keeping Ikemefuna for this long. He has even adopted himself to be part of us though he was very much afraid at first. I still remember that I had a big stick in my hand, watching him finishing his yams, trembling. I want him to stop saying, “When shall I go home?” and live up with what he is now. He is under my care. Gradually, he was eventually by nature a very lively boy. He was like my own son and started to call me ‘father’, but when they told me it is time, only then I noticed the change. Was I happy when he called me so? Am I showing affection? If I am, then it is not worth it. It was a sign of a weakness. When the time has come, dazed with fear, I drew my machete and cut him down on my own. I was afraid of being thought as weak.

The Exile

Go-di-di-go-go-di-go. It was the ekwe talking to the clan. The cannon shattered the silence. It must be something very serious had happened. I waited for the news and I heard somebody said “Ezeudu is dead.” It was like a lightning strike towards my heart. I felt cold shiver ran down my back as I remembered the last time the old man had visited me. He tried to persuade me to not being involved in the killing of Ikemefuna. “That boy calls you father” he said.  “Bear no hand in his death”. There were many feelings mixed in my heart at that time.

 

          He was such a very great man in our clan. His funeral was visited by our clan’s entire member. It was a warrior’s funeral as from morning till night warrior came and went in their age groups. I hope my funeral would be the same like this someday. The warriors wore smoked raffia skirts and their bodies were painted with chalk and charcoal. Now and again, an ancestral spirit or egwugwu appeared from the underworld and completely covered in raffia. It was kind of frightening people when egwugwu came because some of them were very violent. We have to restrain them by a strong rope tied around their waist. They would chase people and sang in a terrifying voice, that ekwensu, or evil spirit had entered his eye. I must tell you that some of the egwugwu were quite harmless. We believed that an old man was very close to the ancestors as a man’s life from birth to death was a series transition rite which brought us nearer and nearer to our ancestors. In this funeral, whenever any ancient men appeared in the crowd to dance unsteadily, youger men gave way and tumult subsided.

          It was a great funeral. The shouting and firing of guns, the beating of drums and the brandishing and clanging of machetes increased. Ezeudu was a noble warrior whom had taken three titles in his life. There were four titles in the clan and only one or two men in any generation ever achieved the fourth and highest. If any members of the clan achieved it, they became the lords of our land and that was my ambition. Because of Ezeudu had taken titles, he was to be buried after dark with only a glowing brand to light the sacred ceremony. I was one of the warriors. I had a machete and we clanged it together as our salutes to the dead person. I remembered the air was full of dust and the smell of gunpowder.

          Darkness was around the corner, and the burial was near. We were asked to fire our gun as our last salute to Ezeudu. Suddenly, I heard a cry of agony and shouts of horror. All was silent. Oh my God! My gun had exploded and shot somebody. I was like very shocked and did not know what to do. I had shot Ezeudu’s son of sixteen years old who was dancing the traditional farewell to his father. I felt very bad as I knew nothing like that had ever happened. As the result, I forced to flee from my home because I had done a crime against the earth goddess. They decided I could return back to the clan after 7 years. My heart stopped for a moment hearing this statement. But I had to move on.

          My wives and children wept bitterly while gathering up their things on that night. I was also very sad when gathering up my things. It was my luck to have such a very nice friend, Obierika whom helped me to carry and store my yams in his barn. So, we fled to Mbanta before dawn. This place was my mother’s origin and had lived here before she married my father. My heart hurts even more when they would destroy my home in Umuofia after the dawn. All I can do was hoping for a better life in Mbanta. 

Okonkwo, Ekwefi and Ezinma

            It was late at night and I was in my hut resting when out of nowhere, I heard a loud scream. The priestess of Agbala, Chielo, was possessed with the spirit of her God, directed her chants to me, and said that Agbala wants to see my daughter, Ezinma. I asked her if it was possible to wait until the next morning because I felt something was wrong and I did not want anyone to get harmed. I told her that she is still sleeping and was still recovering from her sickness, but she warned me that I am going against Agbala and it will only cause rage.

             Ekwefi asked Chielo where does the God of Earth and Mountains want to see Ezinma, she answered it will be at the house of hill sand caves. Since nobody could go against her, she carried Ezinma on her back and walked away. That child was still crying. Ekwefi marched and when I asked her, where she was going, she decided to follow Chielo and Ezinma, so I perfectly understood. On the other side, I could not bear the suspense, so after a reasonable period of time, I decided to go through the shrine where I thought they were. I carefully travelled through the woods carrying my machete and when I arrived, no one was there, so I decided to go back and wait a bit more.

            On my way back, I wondered why Agbala wanted to see my daughter. When I got home, I spent some time sitting down, but too anxious to do nothing, so I went to the shrine again. The same thought popped up over and over again. I travelled back and finally on the fourth time, I saw Ekwefi sitting outside the cave waiting for something to happen. She was a bit shocked when I came up to her. I said, “Don’t be foolish,”. “I thought you were going into the shrine with Chielo,”. Then, I sat down beside her to wait for Chielo and Ezinma to appear. I was tired but also felt relieved to be sitting there with her. When it was almost morning, Chielo finally appeared.

My Bad Son

It was a sunny day in the afternoon which ruined by my youngest, third wife, Ojiugo. Before that, this week is the week of peace in our clan. It was a week of between harvest and planting yams. The thing or mistake that I had done in this week is something out of my mind.

          This serious mistake I had done was started when I was just come back from my farm. I entered my first wife hut and rest there in about 30 minutes. After that, I felt hungry and wished to eat with my family. As usual, I would eat my first meal from my first wife in her hut and my second and third wife would send their meal to my first wife hut after that. I hope all of my wives would cook me a very delicious meal for me. After a while, my first wife served her meal to me. I ate the meal with her and our children. In about 30 minutes, we finished up our meal. My second wife, Ekwefi sent me her meal to me. I ate the meal with her also and our daughter, Enzinma. In about 30 minutes, we finished up our meal. Now is my youngest wife, Ojiugo turn to send me her meal. I started to worry when she had not appeared with her meal and children. I went to her obi, to see what she was doing. There was nobody in the hut and the fireplace was cold. I asked Ekwefi about that matter. She said my youngest wife has gone to plait her hair. I tried to find children. My first wife said that they were eating with her children in her hut. I felt extremely angry and it was increased when I knew that Ojiugo did not feed our children. I waited for 1 hour and when she returned, I beat her very heavily and had forgotten that it was the Week of Peace. My first two wives ran out in great alarm pleading with me that it was the sacred week but I did not care as I was extremely angry. Some of the villagers came over to see what was happening and were shocked as it was unheard of to beat somebody during the sacred week.

          As for the consequences, Ezeani who was the priest of the earth goddess, Ani called me to have a talk about this serious event in his obi.  I was very nervous and truly repented my action. I brought out kola nut as a symbol of my respect but he refused it. I was also tried to explain the reason of my action but Ezeani did not pay attention to it. According to him, I had done a great evil which the evil I had done could ruin the whole clan. It was because I had insulted the Ani and might cause her to refuse to give us her increase, and shall all perish. I was asked to bring to the shrine of Ani tomorrow one she-goat, one hen,   a length of cloth and a hundred cowries. Another consequence that I had to face was the clan accused me of not respecting the Gods of our clan. They also called me the little nza for forgetting me after a heavy meal that I challenged my chi. I received that as I was repented much of my action.   

Church,Trading Store, Hospital, School… and Isaac.

Seven years away from the clan, I am aware that I have lost place among the clan. The clan was like a lizard; if it lost its tail it soon grew another. As soon as I left, someone else rose and filled it. So, I have planned to build a bigger barn, marry two new wives, and get title for my son in order to raise my position in the society. I am confident that all those plans will succeed, and I can imagine myself taking the highest title in the land.

But, Umuofia indeed change during my absence. The church has converted a lot of our kinsmen, even a man who had taken two titles, Ogbuefi Ugonna. Besides, they had built a court, and the kotma is the one who responsible to brought men for trial. The kotma use their authorities in unreasonable way by beaten them and threatened them like a slave. I felt extremely sad and anger at the same time after hearing the stories from Obierika. I felt deeply grieved towards my clan, so sad that I could not make changes as what I planned. I can feel how my clan breaking up and falling apart. Umuofia indeed has changed from a strong and powerful to a weak village.

I had returned to Umuofia five months earlier, and the missionary, who known as Mr Brown came and paid me a visit. He told me about Nwoye, who was now called as Isaac was sent to the new training college for teachers in Umuru. I was very angry by drive him away and promise that he would be carried out if he came into my compound again. Obierika was indeed true; we cannot fight the white men when our own brothers have turned against us. Now, my own son, Nwoye, has chosen to follow the strangers by betraying our ancestors’ belief. Perhaps he is no longer my son, he did not resemble me at all, he changes his belief, and now he changed his own name.

My Suicide

As soon as the fine was paid, my fellow prisoners and I were finally set free. I could not force myself anymore to listen about good government from the District Commissioner and decided to keep quiet. 

When we had finally reached the village, I guessed that the clan knew about the fearsome looks plastered on our face and edged out to give us way to pass with no “nno” or “welcome”. At night, I could not put myself to sleep. Before I went to bed, I suddenly got excited and began to look back at my war dress which I had not touched since my return from the exile. I had also shaken out my smoked raffia skirt and examined my tall feather head-gear with my shield. I thought that they were all satisfactory. Vengeance. It is the word that began to fill my mind. The day after, I went to the marketing place and looked for one man in particular, whose tongue is dreaded and despised so much. I did not care anymore to what he does to others, I shall fight alone if I choose to do so. “Worthy men are no more,”. “Isike will never forget how we slaughtered them in that war.”. Unfortunately, he did not showed up, so Okika, the orator, spoke to the crowd but his voice was not strong enough to silence the crowd. So, Onyeka was asked to greet the village. I was very anxious to see what is going to happen. Suddenly, while Okika was talking, from the side I was sitting, five court messengers appeared.

            

          The moment I saw them, I sprang to my feet and confronted the head messenger, with hate, without words. When he asked for his way and, “The white man whose power you know too well has ordered this meeting to stop.”, I was furious and drew my machete. The next minute, I saw the man’s head on the ground. I just stood there and looked at the dead body while the rest of the messengers fled. I heard voices asking, “Why did he do it?”. At that moment, I realized that Umuofia is not going to war because no one followed the messengers to give the last strike but instead, they let them escaped. I dropped my machete and left. I walked helplessly until I had reached my compound. I was feeling nothing. Not despair, not anger, not hatred, but only one thought, a question, ‘why?’. I cannot let whites dig up the whole Umuofia, for they had scratched it enough. I cannot let the ancestors go against me once I am dead, for not restraining on what has upheld the clan for so many years. I saw no effort among the clan to fight for our rights but questioned my action. If I were asked to accept their changes, then I would rather die. And I did, I still believe in the old Umuofia.