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/>. 

Sex/Gender

Sex/Gender

It is not right for a man to beat a woman under any circumstances. 

Men need to help women out so we don't have people in the world 

that beats women. Women should have equal rights as women and 

women shouldn't be harassed at work. Women should be able to 

being the army if they would like to be in the army. Men should 

love their women instead of beating them and then think that is 

nice. It would be satisfying if we wouldn't be sexist. Men shouldn't 

be mean to women and women shouldn't be mean to men. If men 

and women are mean to each other then we get an unbalanced 

society. This means that one gender will be treated unfairly and in 

this case it is women. Women should be treated equally as men.

Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. New York: Anchor, 1994. Print."Crossicon." CROSS Food Ministry. Christians Reaching Out Serving Seymour, n.d. Web. Nov. 2016. 

The Worst Year for Yams in Living Memory

Yams, the squishy orange stuff that everyone enjoys, are the king of crops in Nigeria. More

specifically in the fictional village of Umuofia yams are the way to measure an individuals success and wealth.  

The wealthy man Nwakibie was approached by local legend, Okonkwo, who was 

looking to borrow yam seeds from him for the next year of farming. Okonkwo who was a very eager 

man was determined not to fail Nwakibie and get his his

investment back on yams. Unfortunately for the both of them, this

happened to be "the worst year in living memory". According to

description, "The earth burned like hot coals and roasted all the

yams that had been sown... But the year had gone mad. Rain fell as

it had never fallen before. For days and nights together it poured 

down in violent torrents, and washed away the yam heaps"(Achebe 23-24). This is a huge problem,

not only because the bad weather causes the loss of yams but also because it impacts the whole

village. Yams are of the most important vegetables to grow in Umuofia and they also contribute to the

local economy. Due to the bad weather yams are now more scarce in the markets, the local

economy down and the farmers honor is growing their yams has been affected.

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

"Jewel Yams." Information, Recipes and Facts. Specialty Produce, n.d. Web. Nov. 2016. <http://www.specialtyproduce.com/produce/Jewel_Yams_5553.php>.

The Evil Omen of the White Men

MBANTA - When respected man Obierika came from neighboring village Umuofia he brought with

him grave news of two terrible events that had taken place, one of which being that the Abame had 

been obliterated and the other being that it had been by white men. 

At first, a single white man had come on his iron horse to Abame and the locals were confused and 

afraid of his arrival because their Oracle told them that "the strange [white] man would break their 

clan and spread destruction among them." Right the Oracle was, who continued to say that "other

white men were on their way and that first man was their harbinger"(Achebe 138-139).


That was two years ago today. According to recent sources during Obierika's latest visit to Mbanta it

has only gotten worse since then in Umuofia. With the arrival of missionaries and the fear amongst

the public, people are converting(Achebe 143-144). But here in Mbanta, the missionaries have

managed to not only convert people, but also make a place for themselves to worship in the Forest of

Evil where many elders predicted would be the cause of their downfall.


Not only have these white men missionaries succeeded in surviving 7 market weeks in the Forest of

Evil, but they have won over more converts and are now accepting outcasts and claiming them as

followers. It was not until quite recently that the village decided to outlaw the church, as well as the

people in it for not only imposing their beliefs and views on the people of Mbanta, but also for killing

the sacred python. With all this falling into place, there is surely more to come...

Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. New York: Anchor, 1994. Print."Crossicon." CROSS Food Ministry. Christians Reaching Out Serving Seymour, n.d. Web. Nov. 2016.