DEFENDING OKONKWO

DEFENDING OKONKWO Ikemefuna the son of Okonkwo, brother of Nwoye, was a lead of Nwoye’s career he demonstrated to Okonkwo that he could help him with Nwoye; so that he may show manliness as once a boy should be in the Igbo Culture. Okonkwo didn’t mean to kill Ikemefuna, in that point of view where Ikemefuna was a criminal, NO! Okonkwo was just obeying the Oracle of the Hills and Caves, if not Okonkwo would just be disgrace like his father. Okonkwo was just showing capacity of being a MAN in the clan. As in the Igbo culture, the women had no power or respect, despite the importance role of the women when it came to the family, they were still not afforded respect or power. Okonkwo had to do as every man in the tribe had to do beat his wives for not listening, or obeying to them. Ojiugo and Ekwefi had no indication that they will do their chores or go away for any such reason. Ojiugo didn’t have to go braid her and leave Okonkwo starving to death, she had to cook for him and do the rest of chores that she was given to do so and then if she has the time she can go and braid her hair. Ekwefi didn’t have to make a fuss of Okonkwo not being a good hunter. They deserved to be beaten because of their disrespect towards the best man in the clan. Next thing, Okonkwo didn’t disrespect NO IGBO LIFE in any place during The Week Of Peace or The Feast Of The New Yams. He was just obeying the goddess of the land, Ani, and doing as any men in the tribe would beat his wives for the absence of not doing their perspective jobs. Okonkwo was just revealing his manliness and showing how high he stands as a man. Unoka seen as a failure in the eyes of Okonkwo and a debtor to the eyes of Umoufia, this is what Okonkwo was disappointed at his father and yet today Okonkwo is a wealthy man and strong man and wrestler who has two titles and seen as a fearless warrior to the eyes of Umoufia. We cannot blame a man for trying to make a name for himself