Ikemefuna Obituary

A man taken away, by unfortunate circumstances

By Adam Campos

An unfortunate death has happened in the village, the death of a young male adult in the village.

The death was a death that came to not the ending of a fight, not a death within a war, but was a man sentenced to execution after the elders of the village were finally tired of him.

The name of this young man, was Ikemefuna. Ikemefuna was a young 18 year old man who was brought into the Igbo village at the age of 15 and was taken under the wing of a very well known man in the village by the name of Okonkwo.

Ikemefuna was brought to the Igbo village after being convicted of a possible murder in his old village, and when this occured he was brought to the Igbo.

Ikemefuna when living in the village, was known throughout as a nice and collected young man.

Okonkwo and Ikemefuna throughout the three years they had been living together became closer and closer every year and both built a very close connection.

With the execution about to be done, and when Ikemefuna was struck, Okonkwo from the distances he was away, hears Ikemefuna yell out a deathening cry: "My father, they have killed me!". (Achebe 68)

It was a very difficult experience for Okonkwo and when Ikemefuna's execution was finished, Okonkwo had no time to show any weakness and as hard as it was for him to see the body, he cut the body down and the body fell  right to his feet.

The death brought Okonkwo into a time of great sadness and Okonkwo's body language was all negative for quite sometime.

It was at notice right away by Nwoye from Okonkwo's body language that Ikemefuna had died: "As soon as father walked, you knew that Ikemfuna had been killed" (Achebe 70)

The death was heartbreaking to many, but not as hard as it was to Okonkwo and Ikemefuna will be greatly missed by many.

Ikemefuna was 18 years old.

May he rest in peace.

African Dance

African Dances


African Dances was an important part of Africa because that is what they did to worship their God. They have certain dances that mean something.  "For example, since lifting the feet was considered dancing, many dances included foot shuffling and hip and torso movement. Dances dominant through the 18th century included the ring shout or ring dance, the calenda, the chica, and the juba." This is getting detail about what the African dances are and what they use to dance with. In things fall apart, they talk about their dances and how they do it.

http://thehisoryofdance.blogspot.com/2011/01/history-of-african-dancing.html

hot (D)Yam

   Not only are yams a delicious plant, but also a way of life for a lot of people. They provide jobs for yam farmers, which provide means to live for them and their families. Without these jobs a lot of families wouldnt be able to enjoy these yams, or even have financial security. Towns like Umuofia in Nigeria have an entire economy based of yams. They can trade, sell, and cook with them. Yams are such a big part of this economy that it has become a basic part of their actual culture. It's safe to say that without yams, this town would not be what it is today. The people of this town and others make these yams into a variety of different foods, more than you could imagine. Below is a recipe on a yam pie, that is common in such places. 

Ingredients

• pie crust
• 2 cups of mashed yams
• 1 teaspoon of flour
• 1 cup of milk
• 1 cup of sugar
• 2 teaspoons of vanilla
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 teaspoon of salt

Recipe

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. place pie crust in pie tray
3. mix all ingredients together and pour into pie crust
4. bake for 45 minutes
5. let cool 

Enjoy!

Editorial

Editorial

A little note from the editors and writers of These Things Happen

All opinions presented in all articles and editorials are solely the group opinion of all writers, editors, and contributors to These Things Happen Newspaper.  

We have closely followed the events in the life of Okonkwo, who has demonstrated a perfect 


example of what Nigerian life consists of and the culture they are made up of. During his 

life however, another culture of people came into the same space as the Igbo people. These were 

European white men who brought with them their religion. Many of the villagers felt uncomfortable 


dealing with this Christian religion, and were often confused about how three beings could be one 


God and more. During the Christians time here, they were able to convert many people inside the 


clan. In this time, there was a lot of tension building between all the villagers who were loosing 


loved ones to the white Christians. Okonkwo specifically, who starting off had a deep hatred for the 


Christians lost his own son who was fascinated by their religion, making Okonkwo an even more 


angry man. Okonkwo and many of the villagers in the clan feel uncomfortable with the white

men imposing their Christian views and trying to change their culture by converting the

locals to the Christian religion which was wrong for them to force the Nigerians to

assimilate. “We should have killed the white man if you had listen to me” (Achebe 195). This shows

Okonkwo after realizing that they were too far in to do anything useful against the white men.

“Okonkwo did not wish to speak about Nwoye… [The white men] told them that the true God lived

high and that all men when they died went before Him for judgement(Achebe 144-145). This quote

shows that Okonkwo was angered and uncomfortable with Nwoye for abandoning his culture and

converting to Christianity and joining the white men that were imposing their views. “Worthy men

are no more...Isike will never forget how we slaughtered them in that war. We killed twelve of their

men and they killed only two of ours.Before the end of the fourth market week they were suing for

peace. Those were the days men were men” (Achebe 200) This quote talks about how the men and

Okonkwo himself were when they first were apart of the clan and how they would fight with pride.

Not only should all be enraged by how the Christians came and imposed their culture on these people

that were fine living on their own, but also by the fact that so many people were affected by loosing

their loved ones to the Christians.

Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. New York: Anchor, 1994. Print.

weakness=femenism

WEAKNESS=FEMENISM

Throughout these nine villages, a man's worth is directly in relation to his masculinity. One

of the manliest men in these tribes, Okonkwo, grew up with a woman for a father and overcame this

misfortune. Does someone this manly and strong even have a femenine side? He is now a great

wrestler, warrior, and successful in his family and farm. As we all know a man can become

recognized as feminine from just feeling remorse after murder. Even our strong Okonkwo has felt this

remorse after killing his, basically, son Ikemefuna. Ikemefuna had found favor with Okonkwo, even

if he never expressed it. Is this idea of weakness as femenism fitting or sexism? Is this expectation for

men too high? Many men in these villages still put their morals over the chance to show their

manliness, but others like Okonkwo, will even kill the ones they love as to not be seen as weak. As

warriors, being manly is apart of the job. Will these views be changed by the white men coming with

their God? Many people's views on the way our life is going now are changing, and many are

following the white man instead of our gods.

Racism

Race

In the book Things Fall apart, Race is a big issue because a group 

of people have infiltrated other people's homeland. The people that 

trespassed on the other's homeland tried to change their religion \

and the way they view the world. Their cultures and tradition were 

very different. This is the kind of issue that drives a man to kill 

himself. In this case, it will be Okonkwo bit you never how many 

lives it would take. How would feel if someone just tried change 

you religion and your tribe was going along with it. I don't know 

about you guys but I would be pretty confused. I wouldn't kill 

myself but that is just me. You never know who would kill 

themselves. There is a quote that caught my eye in thing fall apart 

and it says "we should have kill that white man", said Okonkwo 

(Achebe 192). This really explains how he  feels about the white 

men and how he wants to rebel.

Like in Things Fall Apart, Race is a big issue in America. People 

think they are better because their skin is lighter than someone 

else. People think that it is alright to kill someone because they are 

just sitting there. People like to create stereotypes that hold other 

people back. For example, Black people are loud and obnoxious. 

That is something that is not true for all Black people.White people 

can be loud and obnoxious. Any type of race can be anything. We 

shouldn't put down anyone because their hair is different or because 

their eye color is different than yours.

Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. New York: Anchor, 1994. Print."Crossicon." 

Turner, Caroline. "Is It Racism Or Unconscious Bias?" The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, n.d. Web. Nov. 2016

See Ya Okonkwo

Breaking news! 

Great wrestler, warrior, and leader, Okonkwo was banished earlier. His gun fired and shot one of our own at the funeral for one of our great men, Ezeudu. Since he went against our great earth goddess, by killing a member of the clan, he shall not return for at least seven years.  He will be banished to a foreign place. Sources say that he is not taking to this change well, and does not like not bieng in control, as he is used to. He will be staying with family, his uncle Uchendo, in his mother's homeland for the duration of his exile. We also hear he is already planning to make his big return something to remember. Is this only wishful thinking, or should we expect him as our highest title seven years from now? How will he cope with the loss of his oldest son, Nwoye to the white men? Will he marry off his daughters, and how will he take to the new white men that have gained a liking to this land, and have grown in power and a following? We know this, he will not be leading us to war with the christians, andhis position is up for grabs. 

SPOTLIGHT: Okonkwo

This Weeks Spotlight: Okonkwo

Although Okonkwo is already well known in all the villages and throughout the clan, he is still one of the major elders that haven't received a spotlight... 

Early Life: Okonkwo grew up with a mother and father, just like most people have, but what exactly

was it that drove him to be so successful? Lets find out. He grew up rather poor, mainly because his

father had a tendency to not pay back his debts. During our recent interview Okonkwo was able to

recall the aspects of his childhood that made him who he is today. He grew up in an environment

very similar to any kid really, he said, but what he noticed that was different between his childhood

from others was that he had a direct influence from his father. He said that his father had groups of

ten lines etched into the walls and floor, and with each stroke down the groups it represented a debt

of 100 cowries. So not only did Okonkwo want to have nothing to do with being poor, but he also

noticed how his father was lazy and let life take things from him. Okonkwo said he wanted to be a

respectable man who took charge of life and was hardworking unlike his father.

Later In Life: Well, Okonkwo is one of the many examples of hard work and everything it can bring

you. Not only did he train everyday to become a better wrestler and fighter(to later become greatest

wrestler in all the land and one of the most decorated warriors), but he also worked hard everyday on

his farms and also made sure to pay back on all his investments and loans from other people. Even

so, Okonkwo had gotten all the titles except for one, and would've been the youngest person ever to

accomplish that. Not only was Okonkwo able to fill his many barns full of yams, but he was able to

do it three times, having been banished and having to start over another two times. In a time of more

and more civil unrest and younger generations loosing their way, the story of Okonkwo(even his

many failures, hardships and flaws) is one that should be told to all as a way of inspiration(Achebe 4-209).

Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. New York: Anchor, 1994. Print.

Okonkwo's Obituary

The Death of Okonkwo

The legend who built his life from the ground up dies a tragic death ending his once successful and aspiring life. 

by. Abbie McQue

Earlier today a NEWS FLASH was released stating the death of a Christian messenger being killed

in cold blood by the known to be violent man Okonkwo. It is only just recently that his death has

been reported soon after him killing this messenger. Okonkwo death was a suicide, which was

probably motivated by his murder earlier that day. As also recently reported, Okonkwo already

suffered a humiliating three days in captivity to the Christians who also beat him. Okonkwo was a

rich man, both in spirit and in wealth, so when he saw his clan act so weak and not drive out the

Christians when they had the chance it broke that spirit inside of him. Okonkwo was a man of many

accomplishments: having become the best wrestler in all the clan, killing many in war and bringing

home many heads as trophies, have multiple wives and many children, a compound that would

satisfy anyone's needs, and many barns that were full of yams. Okonkwo can mainly be remembered

for his life story of growing up with an unfortunate father who never paid back his debts and was in

debt most of his life and was banished to the Evil Forest to die. Okonkwo rose from nothing and

lived to become a man of many titles in the clan. He is survived by all his wives and children(Achebe 4-209).

Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. New York: Anchor, 1994. Print."Crossicon." 

Owens, Clare. "Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe." Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. Wordpress.com, n.d. Web. Nov. 2016. <https://clareowensthingsfallapart.wordpress.com/>.

NEWS FLASH: The Recent Murder of a Christian Messenger by Local Legend

News Flash: The Recent Murder of a Christian Messenger by Local Legend

by. Abbie McQue

Ever since the return of previously exiled man Okonkwo, there has

been a rise in tensions between the group of locals and the outsider 

Christians. Okonkwo, a man of great accomplishment in the clan, 

is also someone who is prone to seek violence 

as the solution. In the past he has been known 

for resorting to violence during the sacred Week 

of Peace(Achebe 29-30). 

So it was only a matter of time before Okonkwo 

struck again. He is a certain individual who grew up with a very 

poor father and had no tolerance for weakness, so when his son 

joined the group of white men and converted to Christianity he 

was stricken and grew an even deeper hate for the Christians for 

taking his son away(Achebe 144). After Okonkwo had been 

shamed by the Christians for keeping him as well as other clan 

elders imprisoned for three days, Okonkwo swore his vengeance. 

It was on the day of the great meeting between all people of the 

neighboring villages that he murdered the messenger in cold 

blood: "In a flash Okonkwo drew his machete... Okonkwo's 

machete descended twice and the man's head lay beside his 

uniformed body"(Achebe 204). 

Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. New York: Anchor, 1994. Print.

KEEP CALM AND CELEBRATE WEEK OF PEACE." Poster | Sarah | Keep Calm-o-Matic. Keep Calm Network LTD., n.d. Web. Nov. 2016. <http://www.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/p/keep-calm-and-celebrate-week-of-peace-6/>. 

Religions and their Role In Umuofia

The Cultural Aspect of Differing Religions In Umuofia

By. Abbie McQue

Throughout the world, religion is either forced upon people, or they have the freedom to chose what 

they believe. It could be a structured religion or a simple belief in a higher power that controls fate 

and everything around you. Just like people here in America have structured religion with many laws

and practices you must abide by, so do the Igbo people in Umuofia. Among the Igbo people

especially religion plays a vital role in their everyday lives just like it does in our own. For them, 

they make sacrifices to the gods before a planting season, or pray for forgiveness from an

earth god if they have done something to taint the land. Another

occasion that one can see the heavy influence of religion in the

daily life of an Igbo person is in the circumstance of going to war.

Umuofia "never went to war unless its case was clear and just and

was accepted as such by its Oracle - the Oracle of the Hills and the

Caves... If the clan had disobeyed the Oracle they would surely

have been beaten..."(Achebe 12). The local religion can even be

seen in the death of someone for instance when Obierika

enlightens the white man as to why he cannot take down

Okonkwo's body from the tree: "It is an abomination for a man to

take his own life. It is an offense against the Earth, and a man who

commits it will not be buried by his clansmen. His body is evil,

and only strangers may touch it"(Achebe 207).  But just as much as 

the local religion is evident in daily life so to is the new Christian

religion when it seemed the Igbo gods had failed: "At last the day

came by which all the missionaries should have died. But they

were still alive, building a new red-earth and thatch house for their 

teacher, Mr. Kiaga. That week they won a handful more converts (Achebe 151).  Whether you are

Christian or follow the local religion in Nigeria, it is clear to see the role religion plays in everyday 

life and how it affects everyone. 

Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. New York: Anchor, 1994. Print.
"Igbo World Festival of Arts." Frontier Culture Museum. Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia, n.d. Web. Nov. 2016. <http://www.frontiermuseum.org/igbofestival/>.