Colonialism In Things Fall Apart

Over the years, many countries suffer from colonialism as a result of other countries for the sole reason that they have different characteristics. The world contains quite a diverse array of cultures, all of which are different from each other in various ways. In Things Fall Apart, the author Chinua Achebe tells of the cultural practices of the Igbo people to show that even though a culture may have different ideals another, the people can sustain themselves with an equal ability. Achebe uses the Igbo’s way of punishment for wrongdoings in to demonstrate the self-sustainability that every culture is capable of. Also, Achebe shows that the observation of local religion in Igbo culture shows that the Igbo can manage themselves. In addition,
The Igbo people practice a unique religion that consists of having many gods and worshiping ancestral spirits. Their religious ideals include numerous rituals and holidays that create the basis for their society. The religion of the Igbo people is also integrated into their government, as to make sure that the religious beliefs never go overlooked. There are customs that the Igbo people follow during the harvest season of the yams in order to honor the Earth goddess Ani. For instance, they celebrate the harvest with the Festival of the New Yam. Since the yam is the main source of food for the Igbo, the festival, as well as all the work they need to do in preparation of it, are held with great importance. Particularly, the festival requires several measures of preparation, even in Okonkwo’s household. For example, his wives have to scrub the walls of the huts and prepare the meal for the day of the festival using the harvested yams. The Igbos’ belief in the goddess Ani drives them to work hard in preparation of the next season’s crops, eventually leading to a plentiful source of food to sustain the clan. Such placement of importance on their religion shows that the Igbo have strong beliefs and moral virtues that they follow. Additionally, Achebe shows that the Igbo feel that they owe the fertility of their fields to the goddess Ani. He declares, “The Feast of the New Yam was approaching and Umuofia was in a festival mood. It was an occasion for giving thanks to Ani, the earth goddess and the source of all fertility” (36). The people exhibit motivation to continue to sustain themselves, since they have faith in the goddess Ani. In doing so, the Igbo may work efficiently to provide for their clan. In this way, they create a way for self-sustainment in food production that may be different than those of other cultures,