Why The Igbo People In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

In the book Things Fall Apart written by Chinua Achebe it focuses on the Igbo people. The Igbo people are from Nigeria, a country in Africa. The Igbo is one of three ethnic groups located in Nigeria. The Igbo are situated in the southeastern part of Nigeria (3). The Igbo people can also be referred to as the Ibo people, this is due to some of the Europeans, who came over to Nigeria in late 19th century to spread Christianity, struggled to pronounce the igb sound. The Igbo had an unique language. It was based off of the language in west Africa (3). Their language are part of a group known as the Kwa languages. According to an article on Africa Guide it is “based a lot on pitch, vocal inflections, and context” in order to interpret how the
However, the arrival of the Europeans began to change that. The most powerful women in the village are known as the Umuada. Women, in some villages could claim titles and join secret societies. Women could also engage in any work they wanted to. They could take part in any role they wanted to in the market, at home, the village, any group, and they could harvest the cocoyams. In this culture cocoyams were seen as the most significant crop in Igboland. In one case when women helped produce a crop called, palm kernels. These were used to manufacture palm oil. First the men would climb the trees and harvest the crop. Then the women would sort through the kernels and extract the palm oil from them so it could be sold. In the household women took care of the children and pets. The women would also teach the children the traditions of her husband's people. If she was from a different village she would put a bit of her culture in there with it. Women had the power to influence decisions and events of the village. If the males were being stubborn the women will gather and develop their plan of attack. This could include refusing to cook until they get what they want. If men continue to not do what the women want then the women will “sit-on” their house. This means “surrounding his house with a mob of women armed with either palm fronds or pistils, who would sing mocking songs and disturb him until he
The three most important family events that the Igbo have are birth, death, and marriage. Marriage in the Igbo culture is not only between the husband and wife, but it also includes parents, extended family, and villages. This makes it a very common event to be invited to. In order to even get to the spot where a wedding is to take place, a few things have to happen first. It begins with the groom asking the wife. Then from there the groom has to visit the bride-to-be’s house with his father to introduce himself and share the news. After a meal they will begin the negotiation of the bride price. In most cases the bride price is only symbolic. However, necessary things are given such as kola nuts, wine, goats, chicken, along with other items. Once the bride price is decided, which usually takes more than one meeting, there is a whole separate day for the payment to be made and counted by the bride's father. After this it is time for the actual wedding to take place. The wedding takes place at the bride's compound. The ceremony begins with “the bride goes around selling boiled eggs to the guests.” This shows families that she can open a shop and make money. Next, “the bride’s father fills a wooden cup with palm wine and passes it on to the girl while the groom finds a place between the guests.” This is because it is a custom to look