This content is an unabridged audiobook recording of Chinua Achebe's "Things Fall Apart," narrated by Peter Francis James. It introduces the protagonist, Okonkwo, a respected warrior and farmer in the Igbo village of Umuofia, highlighting his achievements, his fear of weakness stemming from his father's failures, and the cultural traditions and social structures of his community.
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this is audible
recorded books presents an unabridged
recording of things fall apart
by chinwa achebe
narrated by peter francis james
this work is copyrighted 1959 by chinwa achebe
achebe
this recording is copyrighted 1997 by
part one
okonkwo was well known throughout the
nine villages and even beyond
his fame rested on solid personal achievements
achievements
as a young man of eighteen
he had brought honor to his village
by throwing
amalinse was the great wrestler
who for seven years was unbeaten
from umuofia to
he was called the cat because his back
would never touch the earth
it was this man that okonkwo threw in a
fight which the old men agreed was one
of the fiercest
since the founder of their town engaged
a spirit of the wild for seven days
and seven nights
the drums beat
and the flute sang
and the spectators held their breath
amelienze was a wily craftsman
but okonkwo was as slippery as a fish in water
water
every nerve and every muscle stood out
on their arms on their backs and their thighs
thighs
and one almost heard them stretching to
breaking point
in the end
okonkwo threw the cat
that was many years ago twenty years or more
more
and during this time okonkwo's fame had
grown like a bushfire in the hermitam
he was tall and huge
and his bushy eyebrows and wide nose
gave him a very severe look
he breathed heavily
and it was said that when he slept his
wives and children in their houses
could hear him breathe
when he walked his heels hardly touched
the ground
and he seemed to walk on springs
as if he was going to pounce on somebody
and he did pounce on people quite often
he had a slight stammer
and whenever he was angry and could not
get his words out quickly enough
he would use his fists
he had no patience with unsuccessful men
for that was his father's name
had died 10 years ago
in his day
he was lazy and improvident
and was quite incapable of thinking
about tomorrow
if any money came his way
and it seldom did
he immediately bought gourds of palm wine
wine
called round his neighbors and made mary
he always said that whenever he saw a
dead man's mouth
he saw the folly of not eating what one
had in one's lifetime
unoco was of course a debtor
and he owed every neighbor some money
from a few calories to quite substantial amounts
amounts
he was tall
but very thin
and had a slight stoop
he wore a haggard and mournful look
except when he was drinking or playing
on his flute
he was very good on his flute
and his happiest moments were the two or
three moons after the harvest
when the village musicians brought down
their instruments hung above the fireplace
would play with them
his face beaming with blessedness and peace
peace
sometimes another village would ask
kunoka's band in their dancing
to come and stay with him and teach them
their tombs
they would go to such hosts for as long
as three or four markets
making music and feasting
unoka loved the good fair and the good fellowship
fellowship
and he loved this season of the year
when the rains had stopped and the sun
rose every morning with dazzling beauty
and it was not too hot either
because the cold and dry
harmitan wind was blowing down from the north
north
some years
the harmatan was very severe
and a dense haze hung on the atmosphere
old men and children would then sit
around log fires warming their bodies
unoka loved it all
and he loved the first kites that
returned with the dry season
and the children who sang songs of
welcome to them
he would remember his own childhood
how he had often wandered around looking
for a kite sailing leisurely against the
blue sky
as soon as he found one
he would sing with his whole being
welcoming it back from its long long journey
journey
and asking it if it had brought home any
that was years ago when he was young
unoka the grown-up was a failure
he was poor
and his wife and children had barely
enough to eat
people laughed at him because he was a loafer
loafer
and they swore never to lend him any
more money because he never paid back
but anoka was such a man
in to see him
he was reclining on a mud bed in his hut
playing on the flute
he immediately rose
and shook hands with the koye
who then unrolled the goatskin which he
carried under his arm and sat down
unoka went into an inner room
and soon returned with a small wooden disc
disc
containing a colder nut
some alligator pepper
and a lump of white chalk
i have cola he announced when he sat down
down
and passed the disc over to his guest
thank you
he who brings cola brings life
but i think you ought to break it
reply to koye passing back the disc
no it is for you i think
and they argued like this for a few moments
moments
before unoka accepted the honor of
breaking the cola
okoye meanwhile
took the lump of chalk
drew some lines on the floor
as he broke the cola
unoka prayed to their ancestors for life
and health and for protection against
their enemies
when they had eaten they talked about
many things
about the heavy rains which were
drowning the
about the next ancestral feast
and about the impending war
with the village of himbino
unoka was never happy when it came to wars
wars
he was in fact a coward and could not
bear the sight of blood
and so he changed the subject and talked
about music
and his face beamed
he could hear in his mind's ear the
blood stirring and intricate rhythms
of the ekwei
and the uru
in the organe
and he could hear his own flute weaving
in and out of them
decorating them with a colorful and
plaintive tune
the total effect was gay and brisk
but if one picked out the flute as it
went up and down and then broke up into
short snatches
one saw that there was sorrow and grief there
okay was also a musician
he played on the ogene
but he was not a failure like anoka
he had a large barn full of yams and he
had three wives
and now he was going to take the idi
mili title
the third highest in the land
it was a very expensive ceremony
and he was gathering all his resources together
together
that was in fact the reason
why he had come to see unocca
thank you for the cola
you may have heard of the title i intend
to take shortly
having spoken plainly so far
okoye said the next half a dozen
sentences in proverbs
among the evo
the art of conversation is regarded very highly
highly
and proverbs are the palm oil with which
words are eaten
okoye was a great talker
and he spoke for a long time
skirting around the subject
and then hitting it finally
in short
he was asking anoka to return the 200
calories he had borrowed from him more
than two years before
as soon as anoka understood what his
friend was driving at he burst out laughing
laughing
he laughed loud and long
and his voice rang out clear as the el gene
gene
and tears stood in his eyes
his visitor was amazed and sat speechless
speechless
at the end
unoka was able to give an answer between
look at that wall he said
pointing at the far wall of his hut
which was rubbed with red earth so that
it shone
look at those lines of chalk
and okoye saw groups of short
perpendicular lines drawn in chalk
there were five groups
and the smallest group had ten limes
unoka had a sense of the dramatic
and so he allowed a pause
in which he took a pinch of snuff
and sneezed noisily
and then he continued
each group there represents a debt to someone
someone
and each stroke
is 100 calories
you see
i owe that man a thousand calories
but he has not come to wake me up in the
morning for it
i shall pay you
but not today
our elders say
that the sun will shine on those who stand
stand
before it shines on those who kneel
under them
i shall pay my big debts first
and he took another pinch of snuff
as if that was paying the big debts
first okoye rolled his goatskin
when anoka died he had taken no title at
all and he was heavily in debt
any wonder then
that his son
okonkwo was ashamed of him fortunately
fortunately
among these people a man was judged
according to his worth
and not according to the worth of his father
father
okonkwo was clearly cut out for great things
things
he was still young
but he had won fame as the greatest
wrestler in the nine villages
he was a wealthy farmer
and had two barns full of yams and had
just married his third wife
to crown it all
he had taken two titles
and had shown incredible prowess in two inter-tribal
inter-tribal
wars and so although okonkwo was still young
young
he was already one of the greatest men
of his time [Music]
[Music]
age was respected among his people
but achievement
was revered
as the elder said
if a child washed his hands
he could eat with kings
okonkwo had clearly washed his hands
and so he ate with kings and elders
and that was how he came to look after
the doomed lad
who was sacrificed to the village of um
by their neighbors to avoid war and bloodshed
bloodshed
had just blown out the palm oil lamp and
stretched himself on his bamboo bed
when he heard the again
of the town crier piercing the still
night air gomes
gomes
boomed the hollow metal
then the crier gave his message
and at the end of it
beat his instrument again
and this was the message
every man of um
was asked to gather at the marketplace
tomorrow morning
okonkwo wondered what was amiss
for he knew certainly that something was amiss
amiss
he had discerned a clear overtone of
tragedy in the crier's voice
and even now
he could still hear it as it grew dimmer
the night was very quiet
it was always quiet except on moonlight nights
nights
darkness held a vague terror for these people
people
even the bravest among them
children were warned not to whistle at
night for fear of evil spirits
dangerous animals became even more
sinister and uncanny in the dark
a snake was never called by its name at
night because it would hear
it was called a string [Music]
[Music]
and so on this particular night is the
crier's voice was gradually swallowed up
in the distance
silence returned to the world
a vibrant silence
made more intense by the universal trill
of a million million forest insects
on a moonlight night
it would be different
the happy voices of children playing in
open fields would then be heard
and perhaps
those not so young would be playing in
pairs in less open places
and old men and women would remember
their youth
as the igbo say
when the moon is shining
the becomes hungry for a walk
but this particular night was dark
and silent
and in all the nine villages of um
a town crier with his organe asked every
man to be present tomorrow morning
okonkwo on his bamboo bed
tried to figure out the nature of the emergency
emergency
war with a neighboring clan
that seemed the most likely reason
and he was not afraid of war
he was a man of action
a man of war
unlike his father
he could stand the look of blood
in whom wolfia's latest war
he was the first to bring home a human head
head
that was his fifth head
and he was not an old man yet
on great occasions such as the funeral
of a village celebrity
he drank his palm wine from his first
in the morning the marketplace was full
there must have been about ten thousand
men there
all talking in low voices
at last
ogbuefe a zeogo stood up in the midst of
and on each occasion he faced a
different direction
and seemed to push the air with a
clenched fist
and ten thousand men answered yeah
yeah
each time
then there was perfect silence
usago was a powerful orator and was
always chosen to speak on such occasions
he moved his hand over his white head
and stroked his white beard
he then adjusted his cloth which was
passed under his right armpit and tied
he bellowed a fifth time
and the crowd yelled in answer
and then suddenly
like one possessed
he shot out his left hand
and pointed in the direction of albino
and said through gleaming white teeth
firmly clenched
those sons of wild animals have dared to
he threw his head down
and gnashed his teeth
and allowed a murmur of suppressed anger
to sweep the crowd
when he began again the anger on his
face was gone and in its place
a sort of smile hovered
more terrible and more sinister than the anger
anger
and in a clear unemotional voice
he told him wolfia how their daughter
had gone to market and imbino and had
been killed
that woman
said isaiah go
was the wife of olgb
and he pointed to a man who sat near him
with a bowed head
the crowd then shouted with anger and
thirst for blood
many others spoke
and at the end it was decided to follow
the normal course of action
an ultimatum was immediately dispatched
to mbino
asking them to choose between war on the
one hand and on the other
the offer of a young man and a virgin as compensation
compensation
mofia was feared by all its neighbors
it was powerful in war and in magic and
its priests and medicine men were feared
in all the surrounding country
its most potent war medicine
was as old as the clan itself
nobody knew how old
but on one point there was general agreement
agreement
the active principle in that medicine
had been an old woman with one leg in
fact the medicine itself was called a
goddamn way or old woman
it had its shrine in the center of a
mafia in a cleared spot
and if anybody was so foolhardy as to
pass by the shrine after dusk he was
and so the neighboring clans who
naturally knew of these things feared um
and would not go to war against it
without first trying a peaceful settlement
settlement
and in fairness to mafia
it should be recorded that it 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
and there were indeed occasions where
the oracle had forbidden umufia to wage
a war
if the clan had disobeyed the oracle
they would surely have been beaten
because their dreaded
agave would never fight with the evil
call a fight of blame
but the war that now threatened
was a just war
even the enemy clan knew that
and so when okonkwo of
arrived at umbino as the proud and
imperious emissary of war
he was treated with great honor and respect
respect
and two days later he returned home with
a lad of fifteen
and a young virgin
the lad's name was
was
whose sad story is still told in
the elders or indice
met to hear a report of okonkwo's mission
mission
at the end they decided as everybody
knew they would that the girl should go
talk buffy udo to replace his murdered
wife as for the boy he belonged to the
clan as a whole
and there was no hurry to decide his fate
fate
okonkwo was therefore asked on behalf of
the clan to look after him in the interim
interim
and so for three years
okonkwo ruled his household with a heavy hand
hand
his wives especially the youngest lived
in perpetual fear of his fiery temper
and so did his little children
perhaps down in his heart okonkwo was
not a cruel man [Music]
[Music]
but his whole life was dominated by fear
the fear of failure and of weakness
it was deeper and more intimate than the
fear of evil and capricious gods and of magic
magic
the fear of the forest
and of the forces of nature
malevolent red in tooth and claw
okonkwo's fear
was greater than these
it was not external but laid deep within himself
himself
it was the fear of himself
lest he should be found to resemble his father
father
even as a little boy he had resented his
father's failure and weakness
and even now he still remembered how he
had suffered when a playmate had told
him that his father
was agbala
that was how okonkwo first came to know
that agbala was not only another name
for a woman
it could also mean a man who had taken
no title
and so okonkwo was ruled by one passion
to hate everything that his father
unoka had loved
one of those things was gentleness
and another
during the planting season
okonkwo worked daily on his farms from
crow until the chickens went to roost
roost
he was a very strong man and rarely felt fatigue
fatigue
but his wives and young children were
not as strong
and so they suffered
but they dared not complain openly
okonkwo's first son nuoye
was then 12 years old
but was already causing his father great
anxiety for his incipient laziness
at any rate
that was how it looked to his father
and he sought to correct him by constant
nagging and beating
and so
nuoye was developing into a sad faced youth
youth
okonkwo's prosperity was visible in his household
household
he had a large compound
enclosed by a thick wall of red earth
his own heart or obi
stood immediately behind the only gate
in the red walls
each of his three wives had her own heart
heart
which together formed a half moon behind
the opie
the barn was built against one end of
the red walls
and long stacks of yam stood out
prosperously in it
at the opposite end of the compound
was a shed for the goats
and each wife built a small attachment
to her hut for the hens
near the barn was a small house
the medicine house
or shrine
where a congo kept the wooden symbols of
his personal god and of his ancestral spirits
spirits
he worshipped them with sacrifices of
coconut food and palm wine
and offered prayers to them on behalf of
himself his three wives and eight children
children so
so
when the daughter of um
was killed in umbino ikeme
ikeme
came into okonkwo's household
when okonkwo brought him home that day
he called his most senior wife and
handed him over to her
he belongs to the clan he told her
is he staying long with us
she asked
do what you're told woman
okonkwo thundered and stammered
when did you become one of the
indicie of mofiya
and so nuoye's mother
took ikeme funa to her hut and asked no
more questions
as for the boy himself
he was terribly afraid
he could not understand what was
happening to him
or what he had done [Music]
[Music]
how could he know that his father had
taken a hand in killing a daughter of umuofia
umuofia
all he knew was that a few men had
arrived at their house
conversing with his father in low tones
and at the end he had been taken out and
handed over to a stranger
his mother had wept bitterly
but he had been too surprised to weep
and so the stranger had brought him and
a girl a long long way from home through
lonely forest paths
he did not know who the girl was
okonkwo did not have the start in life
which many young men usually had
he did not inherit a barn from his father
father
there was no bar to inherit the story
was told in wolfia of how his father unoka
unoka
had gone to consult the oracle of the
hills and the caves
to find out why he always had a
miserable harvest
the oracle was called
and people came from far near to consulted
consulted
they came when miss fortune dogged their steps
steps
or when they had a dispute with their neighbors
neighbors
they came to discover what the future
held for them
or to consult the spirits of their
departed fathers
the way into the shrine was a round hole
at the side of a hill
just a little bigger than the round
opening into a hen house worshipers
worshipers
and those who came to seek knowledge
from the god
crawled on their belly through the hole
and found themselves in a dark endless space
space
in the presence of agbala
no one had ever beheld agbala
except his priestess
but no one who had ever crawled into his
awful shrine
had come out without the fear of his power
power
his priestess
stood by the sacred fire which he built
in the heart of the cave
and proclaimed the will of the god
the fire did not burn with a flame
the glowing logs only served to light up
sometimes
a man came to consult the spirit of his
dead father or relative
it was said that when such a spirit appeared
appeared
the man saw it vaguely in the darkness
but never heard its voice
some people even said
that they had heard the spirits flying
and flapping their wings against the
roof of the cave
many years ago
when okonkwo was still a boy
his father unoka
unoka
had gone to consult agbala
the priestess in those days was a woman
called chica
she was full of the power of her god
and she was greatly feared unoka
unoka
stood before her
every year he said sadly
before i put any crop in the earth
i sacrifice a to ani
the owner of all land
it is the law of our fathers
i also kill a at the shrine
of ife joku
the god of yams
i clear the bush and set fire to it when
it is dry
i sow the yams when the first rain has fallen
fallen
and stake them when the young tendrils appear
appear
i weed
hold your peace
screamed the priestess her voice
terrible as it echoed through the dark void
void
you have offended neither the gods nor
your fathers
and when a man is at peace with his gods
and his ancestors
his harvest will be good or bad
according to the strength of his arm you
you unoka
unoka
are known in all the clan for the
weakness of your machete and your hoe
when your neighbors go out with their
axe to cut down virgin forests
you sow your yams on exhausted farms
that take no labor to clear
they cross seven rivers to make their farms
farms
you stay at home
and offer sacrifices to a reluctant soil
go home
unoka
was an ill-fated man
he had a bad chi or personal god
and evil fortune followed him to the
grave or rather
to his death
for he had no grave
he died of the swelling
which was an abomination to the earth goddess
goddess
when a man was afflicted with swelling
in the stomach in the limbs he was not
allowed to die in the house
he was carried to the evil forest and
left there to die
there was the story of a very stubborn
man who staggered back to his house it
had to be carried again to the forest
and tied to a tree
the sickness was an abomination to the earth
earth
and so the victim could not be buried in
her bowels
he died
and rotted away above the earth
and was not given the first or the
second burial
such was faith
faith
when they carried him away
he took with him his flute
with a father like unoka
okonkwo did not have the start in life
which many young men had
he'd either inherited a barn or a title
nor even a young
wife but in spite of these disadvantages
he had begun even in his father's
lifetime to lay the foundations of a
prosperous future
it was slow and painful
but he threw himself into it like one possessed
possessed
and indeed
he was possessed
by the fear of his father's contemptible life
life
there was a wealthy man in okonkwo's
village who had three huge barns
nine wives and thirty children [Music]
[Music]
his name
was nwakibie
and he had taken the highest but one
title which a man could take in the clan
it was for this man
that okonkwo worked to earn his first cdm's
cdm's
he took a part of palm wine and a
to north kibieh
two elderly neighbors were sent for
and wakibie's two grown-up sons were
also present in his obi
he presented a colon nut and an
alligator pepper
which were passed around for all to see
and then return to him
he broke the knot saying
saying
we shall all live
we pray for life children
children
a good harvest and happiness
you will have what is good for you
and i will have what is good for me
let the kite perch and let the eagle
perch too [Music]
[Music]
if one says no to the other
let his wing break
break
after the coconut had been eaten
okonkwo brought his palm wine from the
corner of the hut where it had been placed
placed
and stood in the center of the group
he said
i have brought you this little cola
as our people say
a man who pays respect to the great
paves the way for his own greatness
i have come to pay you my respects
and also to ask a favor
but let us drink the wine first
first
everybody thanked okonkwo
and the neighbors brought out their
drinking horns from the goat skin bags
they carried
no kibier brought down his own horn
which was fastened to the rafters
the younger of his sons
who was also the youngest man in the
group moved to the center
raised the pot on his left knee
and began to pour out the wine
the first cup went to okonkwo
who must taste his wine before anyone else
else
then the group drank
beginning with the eldest man
when everyone had drunk two or three horns
horns
sent for his wives
some of them were not at home
and only four came in [Music]
[Music]
is anasi narian he asked them
they said she was coming anasi was the
first wife
and the others could not drink before her
her
and so they stood waiting
anasi was a middle-aged woman tall
tall
and strongly built
there was authority in her bearing
and she looked every inch the ruler of
the women folk in a large and prosperous family
family
she wore the anklet of her husband's
titles which the first wife alone could wear
wear
she walked up to her husband
and accepted the horn from him
she then went down on one knee
drank a little and handed back the horn
she rose called him by his name
and went back to her hut
the other wives drank in the same way
in their proper order and went away
the men then continued their drinking
idigo
was talking about the palm wine tapper obiaco
obiaco
who suddenly gave up his trade
there must be something behind it he said
said
wiping the foam of wine from his
mustache with the back of his left hand
there must be a reason for it
a toad does not run in the daytime for nothing
some people say the oracle warned him
that he would fall off a palm tree and
kill himself
said akukalya
obiaco has always been a strange one
said wakibi
i've heard that many years ago
when his father had not been dead very long
long
he had gone to consult the oracle
the oracle said to him
your dead father wants you to sacrifice
a goat to him
do you know what he told the oracle
he said
ask my dead father if he ever had a foul
when he was alive
everybody laughed heartily except okonkwo
okonkwo
who laughed uneasily
because as the saying goes
an old woman is always uneasy when dry
bones are mentioned in a proverb
at last the young man who was pouring
out the wine
held up half a horn of the thick white
dregs and said
what we are eating is finished
we have seen it
the others replied
who will drink the dregs he asked
whoever has a job in hand said idigo
looking at wakibi's elder son
iguailo with a malicious twinkle in his eye
eye
everybody agreed that eguelo should
drink the dregs
he accepted their half full horn from
his brother and drank it
as edigo had said
iguello had a job in hand
because he had married his first wife a
month or two before
the thick dregs of palm wine were
supposed to be good for men who were
going into their wives
after the wine had been drunk
okonkwo laid his difficulties before no qibier
i have come to you for help he said
perhaps you can already guess what it is
i have cleared a farm
but have no yams to sew
i know what it is to ask a man to trust
another with his yams
especially these days when
young men are afraid of hard work
i am not afraid of work
the lizard that jumped from the high
iroco tree to the ground said he would
praise himself if no one else did i
began to fend for myself at an age when
most people still suck at their mother's breasts
breasts
if you give me some yam seeds
it pleases me to see a young man like
you these days
when our youth has gone so soft
many young men have come to me to ask
for yams but i have refused
because i knew they would just dump them
in the earth
and leave them to be choked by weeds
when i say no to them
the bird says that since men have
learned to shoot without missing
he has learned to fly without perching
i have learned to be stingy with my yams
but i can trust you
i know it as i look at you
as our father said
i shall give you
twice 400 yams
go ahead
and prepare your farm [Music]
[Music]
okonkwo thanked him again and again
and went home feeling happy
he knew that noise
would not refuse him
but he had not expected he would be so generous
generous
he had not hoped to get more than 400 seeds
seeds
but would now have to make a bigger farm
he hoped to get another 400 yams
from one of his father's friends at isuzu
isuzu
sharecropping was a very slow way of
building up a barn of one's own
after all the toil
one only got a third of the harvest
but for a young man whose father had no
yams there was no other way
and what made it worse in okonkwo's case
was that he had to support his mother
and two sisters from his meager harvest
and supporting his mother also meant
supporting his father
she could not be expected to cook and
eat while her husband starved
and so at a very early age when he was
striving desperately to build a barn
through sharecropping
okonkwo was also fending for his
father's house
it was like pouring grains of corn into
a bag full of holes
his mother and sisters worked hard enough
enough
but they grew women's crops like coco
yams beans and cassava yam
yam
the king of crops
the year that okonkwo took 800 cdm's
from norchivier
was the worst year in living memory
nothing happened at its proper time
it was either too early or too late
it seemed as if the world had gone mad
the first rains were late and when they came
came
lasted only a brief moment
the blazing sun returned
more fierce than it had ever been known
and scorched all the green that had
appeared with the rains
the earth burned like hot coals and
roasted all the yams that had been sown
like all good farmers
okonkwo had begun to sow with the first reigns
reigns
he had sown 400 seeds when the rains
dried up and the heat returned
he watched the sky all day for signs of
rain clouds and lay awake all night
in the morning
he went back to his farm and saw the
withering tendrils
he had tried to protect them from the
smoldering earth by making rings of
thick sisa leaves around them
but by the end of the day
the sisal rings were burned dry and gray
he changed them every day
and prayed that the rain might fall in
the night
but the drought continued
for eight market weeks
and the yams were killed
some farmers had not planted their gams yet
yet
they were the lazy easy-going ones who
always put off clearing their farms as
long as they could
this year
they were the wise ones
they sympathized with their neighbors
with much shaking of their head
but inwardly
they were happy for what they took to be
their own foresight
okonkwo planted what was left of his
seed yams when the rains finally returned
returned
he had one consolation [Music]
[Music]
the yams he had sown before the drought
were his own
the harvest of the previous year
he still had the 800
from noah kibier
and the 400 from his father's friend
so he would make a fresh start
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
trees were uprooted
and deep gorges appeared everywhere
then the rain became less violent
but it went from day to day without a pause
pause
the spell of sunshine which always came
in the middle of the wet season
did not appear
the yams put on luxuriant green leaves
but every farmer knew that without sunshine
sunshine
that year
the harvest was sad
like a funeral
and many farmers wept as they dug up the
miserable and rotting yams
one man tied his cloth to a tree branch
okonkwo remembered that tragic year with
a cold shiver throughout the rest of his life
life
it always surprised him when he thought
of it later that he did not sink under
the load of despair
he knew that he was a fierce fighter
but that year
had been enough to break the heart of a lion
since i survived that year
he always said
i shall survive anything
his father unoka
who was then an ailing man
had said to him during that terrible
harvest month
do not despair
i know you will not despair
you have a manly and a proud heart
a proud heart can survive the general failure
failure
because such a failure does not prick
its pride
it is more difficult
more bitter
anoka was like that in his last days
his love of talk had grown with age and sickness
sickness
looking at a king's mouth
said an old man
one would think he never sucked at his
he was talking about okonkwo
who had risen so suddenly from great
poverty and misfortune to be one of the
lords of the clan [Music]
[Music]
the old man bore no ill will towards okonkwo
okonkwo indeed
indeed
he respected him for his industry and success
success
but he was struck as most people were
by alconquo's braskness in dealing with
less successful men [Music]
[Music]
only a week ago
a man had contradicted him at a kindred
meeting which they held to discuss the
next ancestral feast
without looking at the man
okonkwo had said
this meeting is for men
the man who had contradicted him
had no titles that was why he had called
him a woman
everybody at the kindred meeting took
sides with osugo when okonkwo called him
a woman
the oldest man present said sternly
that those whose palm kernels were
cracked for them by a benevolent spirit
should not forget to be humble
okonkwo said he was sorry for what he
had said and the meeting continued
but it was really not true that
alconquo's palm kernels had been cracked
for him by a benevolent spirit
he had cracked them himself
anyone who knew his grim struggle
against poverty and misfortune
could not say he had been lucky
if ever a man deserved his success
that man was okonkwo
at an early age he had achieved fame as
the greatest wrestler in all the land
that was not luck
at the most one could say that his chi
or personal god was good
but the evil people have a proverb
that when a man says yes
his chi says yes also
okonkwo said yes very strongly
so his chi agreed
and not only is she but his clan too
because he judged a man by the work of
his hands
that was why okonkwo had been chosen by
the nine villages
to carry a message of war to their enemies
enemies
unless they agreed to give up a young
man and a virgin to atone for the murder
of udo's wife
and such was the deep fear that their
enemies had through mafia
that they treated okonkwo like a king
and brought him a virgin
the elders of the clan have decided that ike
ike
should be in okonkwo's care for a while
but no one thought it would be as long
as three years
they seemed to forget all about him as
soon as they had taken the decision [Music]
[Music]
at first
ikeme was very much afraid
once or twice he had tried to run away
but he did not know where to begin [Music]
[Music]
he thought of his mother
and his three-year-old sister
and wept bitterly
and woyer's mother was very kind to him
and treated him as one of her own children
children
but all he said was
when okonkwo heard that he would not eat
any food
he came into the hut with a big stick in
his hand
and stood over him while he swallowed
his yams trembling
a few moments later
he went behind the hot and began to
vomit painfully
and wary's mother went to him
and placed her hands on his chest
and on his back
he was ill for three marked weeks
and when he recovered he seemed to have
overcome his great fear and sadness
he was by nature
a very lively boy
and he gradually became popular in
okonkwo's household
especially with the children
okonkwo's son and
and
who was two years younger
became quite inseparable from him
because he seemed to know everything
he could fashion out flutes from bamboo stems
stems
and even from the elephant grass
he knew the names of all the birds and
could set clever traps for the little
bush rodents
and he knew which trees made the
even okonkwo himself became very fond of
the boy
inwardly of course
okonkwo never showed any emotion openly
unless it be the emotion of anger
to show affection
was a sign of weakness
the only thing worth demonstrating
was strength
he therefore treated ike
as he treated everybody else
with a heavy hand
but there was no doubt that he liked the boy
boy
sometimes when he went to big village
meetings or communal ancestral feasts
he allowed ikeme to accompany him
like a son
carrying his stool and his goatskin bag
and indeed ike
ike
ikeme
came to umuofia at the end of the
carefree season between harvest and planting
planting
in fact
he recovered from his illness only a few
days before the week of peace began
and that was also the year okonkwo broke
the peace and was punished as was the custom
custom
by zany
the priest of the earth goddess
okonkwo was provoked to justifiable
anger by his youngest wife
who went to plate her hair at her
friend's house and did not return early
enough to cook the afternoon meal
okonkwo did not know at first that she
was not at home
after waiting in vain for her dish
he went to her hot to see what she was doing
doing
there was nobody in the hut
and the fireplace was cold
where is ogo
he asked his second wife
who came out of her hut to draw water
from a gigantic pot in the shade of a
small tree in the middle of the compound
she has gone to plate her hair
okonkwo bit his lips his anger welled up
within him
where her children
did she take them
he asked with unusual coolness and restraint
restraint
they are here
answered his first wife
noyea's mother
okonkwo bent down
and looked into her heart
ogiugo's children were eating with the
did she ask you to feed them before she went
went yes
yes
lied nuoye's mother
trying to minimize odugo's thoughtlessness
thoughtlessness
okonkwo knew she was not speaking the truth
truth
he walked back to his obi to await
odugo's return
and when she returned
he beat her
very heavily
in his anger he had forgotten that it
was the week of peace
his first two wives ran out in great
alarm pleading with him that it was the
sacred week
but okonkwo was not the man to stop
beating somebody halfway through
not even for fear of a goddess
okonkwo's neighbors heard his wife crying
crying
and sent their voices over the compound
walls to ask what was the matter some of
them came over to see for themselves
it was unheard of to beat somebody
during the sacred week
before it was dusk
azioni who was the priest of the earth
goddess ani called on a conquo in his obi
obi
okonkwo brought out colonnad and placed
it before the priest
take away your colonnad
i shall not eat in the house of a man
who has no respect for our gods and ancestors
okonkwo tried to explain to him what his
wife had done
but a zeni seemed to pay no attention
he held a short staff in his hand
which he brought down on the floor to
listen to me
he said when okonkwo had spoken
you are not a stranger in a morphia
you know as well as i do that our
forefathers ordain that before we plant
any crops in the earth
we should observe a week
in which a man does not say a harsh word
to his neighbor
we live in peace with our fellows
to honor our great goddess of the earth
without whose blessing
our crops will not grow
you have committed a great evil
he brought down his staff heavily on the floor
floor
your wife was at fault
but even if you came into your obi and
found her lover on top of her you would
still have committed a great evil to
beat her
the evil you have done can ruin the
whole clan
the earth goddess whom you have insulted
may refuse to give us her increase
and we shall all perish
perish
his tone now changed from anger to command
command
you will bring to the shrine of ani tomorrow
tomorrow
one she-goat
one hen
a length of cloth
and a hundred cowries
he rose
okonkwo did as the priest said
he also took with him a part of palm wine
wine inwardly
inwardly
he was repentant
but he was not the man to go about
telling his neighbors that he was in error
error
and so people said he had no respect for
the gods of the clan
his enemies said his good fortune had
gone to his head
they called him
the little bird nza
nza
who so far forgot himself after a heavy
meal that he challenged his chi
no work was done during the week of peace
peace
people called on their neighbors and
drank palm wine
this year they talked of nothing else
but the inso army which okonkwo had committed
committed
it was the first time for many years
that a man had broken the sacred piece
even the oldest men could only remember
one or two other occasions somewhere in
who was the oldest man in the village
was telling two other men who came to
visit him
that the punishment for breaking the
peace of ani had become very mild in
it has not always been so he said
my father told me
that he had been told that in the past
a man who broke the peace was dragged on
the ground through the village
until he died but after a while
this custom was stopped
because it spoiled the peace
somebody told me yesterday
said one of the younger men that in some clans
clans
it is an abomination for a man to die
during the week of peace
they have that custom
in obodoni
if a man dies at this time
he is not buried
but cast into the evil forest
it is a bad custom which these people observe
observe because they lack understanding
because they lack understanding they throw away large numbers of men and
they throw away large numbers of men and women without burial
women without burial and what is the result
and what is the result their clan is full of the evil spirits
their clan is full of the evil spirits of these unburied dead
of these unburied dead hungry
hungry to do harm to the living
after the week of peace every man in his family began to clear
every man in his family began to clear the bush to make new farms
the bush to make new farms the cut bush was left to dry and fire
the cut bush was left to dry and fire was then set to it
was then set to it as the smoke rose into the sky
as the smoke rose into the sky kites appeared from different directions
kites appeared from different directions and hovered over the burning field in
and hovered over the burning field in silent valediction
silent valediction the rainy season was approaching when
the rainy season was approaching when they would go away until the dry season
they would go away until the dry season returned
returned okonkwo spent the next few days
okonkwo spent the next few days preparing his seed yams
preparing his seed yams he looked at each yam carefully to see
he looked at each yam carefully to see whether it was good for sowing
whether it was good for sowing sometimes he decided that a yam was too
sometimes he decided that a yam was too big to be sewn as one seed and he split
big to be sewn as one seed and he split it deftly along its length with his
it deftly along its length with his sharp
sharp knife his eldest son nuoye
knife his eldest son nuoye and
and helped him by fetching the yams and long
helped him by fetching the yams and long baskets from the barn
baskets from the barn and encountering the prepared seeds in
and encountering the prepared seeds in groups of four hundred
groups of four hundred sometimes akonkel gave them a few yams
sometimes akonkel gave them a few yams each to prepare
each to prepare but he always found fault with their
but he always found fault with their effort
effort and he said so with much threatening
and he said so with much threatening do you think you are cutting up yams for
do you think you are cutting up yams for cooking
cooking he asked noye
he asked noye if you split another yam of this size i
if you split another yam of this size i shall break your jaw
shall break your jaw you think you are still a child
you think you are still a child i began to own a farm at your age
i began to own a farm at your age and you
and you he said to ike
he said to ike do you not grow yams where you come from
inwardly okonkwo knew that the boys were still
okonkwo knew that the boys were still too young to understand fully the
too young to understand fully the difficult art of preparing cdms
difficult art of preparing cdms but he thought that one could not begin
but he thought that one could not begin too early
too early yam stood for manliness
yam stood for manliness and he who could feed his family on yams
and he who could feed his family on yams from one harvest to another
from one harvest to another was a very great man indeed
was a very great man indeed okonkwo wanted his son to be a great
okonkwo wanted his son to be a great farmer and a great man
farmer and a great man he would stamp out the disquieting signs
he would stamp out the disquieting signs of laziness which he thought he already
of laziness which he thought he already saw on him
saw on him i will not have a son
i will not have a son who cannot hold up his head in the
who cannot hold up his head in the gathering of the clan
gathering of the clan i would sooner strangle him with my own
i would sooner strangle him with my own hands
hands and if you stand staring at me like that
and if you stand staring at me like that he swore
he swore a martial will break your head for you
some days later when the land had been moistened by two
when the land had been moistened by two or three heavy rains
or three heavy rains okonkwo and his family went to the farm
okonkwo and his family went to the farm with baskets of sea dams their hoes and
with baskets of sea dams their hoes and machetes and the planting began
machetes and the planting began they made single mounds of earth in
they made single mounds of earth in straight lines all over the field and
straight lines all over the field and sewed the ams in them
sewed the ams in them yam
yam the king of crops
the king of crops was a very exacting king
was a very exacting king for three or four moons it demanded hard
for three or four moons it demanded hard work and constant attention from
work and constant attention from cockroach to the chickens went back to
cockroach to the chickens went back to roost
roost the young tendrils were protected from
the young tendrils were protected from the earth heat with rings of sisa leaves
the earth heat with rings of sisa leaves as the reins became heavier the women
as the reins became heavier the women planted maize melons and beans between
planted maize melons and beans between the yam mounds
the yam mounds the yams were then staked
the yams were then staked first with little sticks and later
first with little sticks and later with tall and big tree branches
with tall and big tree branches the women weeded the farm three times at
the women weeded the farm three times at definite periods in the life of the yams
definite periods in the life of the yams neither early nor late
neither early nor late and now
and now the rains had really come
the rains had really come so heavy and persistent that even the
so heavy and persistent that even the village rainmaker no longer claimed to
village rainmaker no longer claimed to be able to intervene
be able to intervene he could not stop the rain now
he could not stop the rain now just as he would not attempt to start it
just as he would not attempt to start it in the heart of the dry season without
in the heart of the dry season without serious danger to his own health
serious danger to his own health the personal dynamism required to
the personal dynamism required to counter the forces of these extremes of
counter the forces of these extremes of weather
weather would be far too great for the human
would be far too great for the human frame
frame and so nature was not interfered with in
and so nature was not interfered with in the middle of the rainy season
the middle of the rainy season sometimes it poured down in such thick
sometimes it poured down in such thick sheets of water
sheets of water that earth and sky seem merged in one
that earth and sky seem merged in one gray wetness
gray wetness was then uncertain whether the low
was then uncertain whether the low rumbling of ahmadyora's thunder came
rumbling of ahmadyora's thunder came from above or below
from above or below at such times in each of the countless
at such times in each of the countless thatched huts of um
thatched huts of um children sat around their mothers
children sat around their mothers cooking fire telling stories
cooking fire telling stories or with their father in his ob
or with their father in his ob warming themselves from a log fire
warming themselves from a log fire roasting and eating maize
roasting and eating maize it was a brief resting period
it was a brief resting period between the exacting and arduous
between the exacting and arduous planting season
planting season and the equally exacting but
and the equally exacting but light-hearted
light-hearted month of harvests
had begun to feel like a member of okonkwo's family
okonkwo's family he still thought about his mother and
he still thought about his mother and his three-year-old sister
his three-year-old sister and he had moments of sadness and
and he had moments of sadness and depression
depression but he and nuoye had become so deeply
but he and nuoye had become so deeply attached to each other that such moments
attached to each other that such moments became less frequent and less poignant
had an endless stock of folk tales even those which newaye knew already
even those which newaye knew already were told with a new freshness
were told with a new freshness and the local flavor of a different clan
remembered this period very vividly till the end of his life
the end of his life he even remembered how he had laughed
he even remembered how he had laughed when ikeme
when ikeme that the proper name for a corn cob with
that the proper name for a corn cob with only a few scattered grains
only a few scattered grains was a agave
was a agave or the teeth of an old woman
or the teeth of an old woman noie's mind had gone immediately to
noie's mind had gone immediately to nwayeke
nwayeke who lived near the udola tree
who lived near the udola tree she had about three teeth and was always
she had about three teeth and was always smoking her pipe
gradually the reins became lighter and less frequent
less frequent and earth and sky once again became
and earth and sky once again became separate
separate the rain fell in thin slanting showers
the rain fell in thin slanting showers through sunshine and quiet breeze
through sunshine and quiet breeze children no longer stayed indoors but
children no longer stayed indoors but ran about singing the rain is falling
ran about singing the rain is falling the sun is shining
the sun is shining alone
alone the nadi is cooking and eating
nuoye always wondered who nadi was and why he should live all by himself
why he should live all by himself cooking and eating
cooking and eating in the end
in the end he decided that nadi must live in that
he decided that nadi must live in that land of ikeme
land of ikeme favorite story where the ant holds his
favorite story where the ant holds his court in splendor and the sands
court in splendor and the sands dance forever
the feast of the new yam was approaching and um was in a festival mood
and um was in a festival mood it was an occasion for giving thanks to
it was an occasion for giving thanks to ani the earth goddess and the source of
ani the earth goddess and the source of all fertility
all fertility ani played a greater part in the life of
ani played a greater part in the life of the people than any other deity
the people than any other deity she was the ultimate judge of morality
she was the ultimate judge of morality and conduct
and conduct and what was more
and what was more she was in close communion with the
she was in close communion with the departed fathers of the clan
departed fathers of the clan whose bodies had been committed to earth
whose bodies had been committed to earth the feast of the new yam was held every
the feast of the new yam was held every year before the harvest began
year before the harvest began to honor the earth goddess and the
to honor the earth goddess and the ancestral spirits of the clan
ancestral spirits of the clan new yams could not be eaten until some
new yams could not be eaten until some had first been offered to these powers
had first been offered to these powers men and women young and old look forward
men and women young and old look forward to the new yam festival
to the new yam festival because it began the season of plenty
because it began the season of plenty the new year
the new year on the last night before the festival
on the last night before the festival yams of the old year were all disposed
yams of the old year were all disposed of by those who still had them
of by those who still had them the new year must begin with tasty fresh
the new year must begin with tasty fresh yams and not the shriveled and fibrous
yams and not the shriveled and fibrous crop of the previous year
crop of the previous year all cooking pots calabashes and wooden
all cooking pots calabashes and wooden bowls were thoroughly washed
bowls were thoroughly washed especially the wooden mortar in which
especially the wooden mortar in which yam was pounded
yam was pounded yam fufu and vegetable soup was the
yam fufu and vegetable soup was the chief food in the celebration
chief food in the celebration so much of it was cooked that no matter
so much of it was cooked that no matter how heavily the family ate or how many
how heavily the family ate or how many friends and relatives they invited from
friends and relatives they invited from neighboring villages
neighboring villages there was always a large quantity of
there was always a large quantity of food left over at the end of the day
food left over at the end of the day the story was always told of a wealthy
the story was always told of a wealthy man
man who set before his guests amount of fufu
who set before his guests amount of fufu so high
so high that those who sat on one side could not
that those who sat on one side could not see what was happening on the other
see what was happening on the other and it was not until late in the evening
and it was not until late in the evening that one of them saw for the first time
that one of them saw for the first time his in-law
his in-law who had arrived during the course of the
who had arrived during the course of the meal
meal and had fallen to on the opposite side
and had fallen to on the opposite side it was only then that they exchanged
it was only then that they exchanged greetings and shook hands over what was
greetings and shook hands over what was left of the food
left of the food the new yam festival was thus
the new yam festival was thus an occasion for joy throughout um
an occasion for joy throughout um and every man whose arm was strong as
and every man whose arm was strong as the igbo people say
the igbo people say was expected to invite large numbers of
was expected to invite large numbers of guests from far and wide
guests from far and wide okonkwo always asked his wife's
okonkwo always asked his wife's relations
relations and since he now had three wives his
and since he now had three wives his guests would make a fairly big crowd
guests would make a fairly big crowd but somehow
but somehow okonkwo could never become as
okonkwo could never become as enthusiastic over feasts as most people
enthusiastic over feasts as most people he was a good eater
he was a good eater and he could drink one or two fairly big
and he could drink one or two fairly big gourds of palm wine
gourds of palm wine but he was always uncomfortable sitting
but he was always uncomfortable sitting around for days
around for days waiting for a feast or getting over it
waiting for a feast or getting over it he would be very much happier working on
he would be very much happier working on his farm
his farm [Music]
[Music] the festival was now only three days
the festival was now only three days away
away okonkwo's wives had scrubbed the walls
okonkwo's wives had scrubbed the walls and the huts with red earth until they
and the huts with red earth until they reflected light
reflected light they had then drawn patterns on them in
they had then drawn patterns on them in white yellow and dark green
white yellow and dark green they then set about painting themselves
they then set about painting themselves with cam wood and drawing beautiful
with cam wood and drawing beautiful black patterns on their stomachs and on
black patterns on their stomachs and on their backs
their backs the children were also decorated
the children were also decorated especially their hair
especially their hair which was shaved in beautiful patterns
which was shaved in beautiful patterns the three women talked excitedly about
the three women talked excitedly about their relations who had been invited
their relations who had been invited and the children reveled in the thought
and the children reveled in the thought of being spoiled by these visitors from
of being spoiled by these visitors from the motherland
the motherland was equally excited
was equally excited the new yam festival seemed to him to be
the new yam festival seemed to him to be a much bigger event here than in his own
a much bigger event here than in his own village
village a place which was already becoming
a place which was already becoming remote and vague in his imagination
remote and vague in his imagination and then
and then the storm burst
the storm burst okonkwo
okonkwo who had been walking about aimlessly in
who had been walking about aimlessly in his compound in suppressed anger
his compound in suppressed anger suddenly found an outlet
suddenly found an outlet who killed this banana tree
who killed this banana tree he asked
he asked a hush fell on the compound immediately
a hush fell on the compound immediately who killed this tree
who killed this tree or are you all deaf and dumb
or are you all deaf and dumb as a matter of fact the tree was very
as a matter of fact the tree was very much alive
much alive okonkwo's second wife had merely cut a
okonkwo's second wife had merely cut a few leaves off it to wrap some food
few leaves off it to wrap some food and she said so
and she said so without further argument
without further argument okonkwo gave her a sound beating
okonkwo gave her a sound beating and left her and her only daughter
and left her and her only daughter weeping
weeping neither of the other wives dared to
neither of the other wives dared to interfere beyond an occasional and
interfere beyond an occasional and tentative
tentative it is enough okonkwo
it is enough okonkwo pleaded from a reasonable distance
his anger thus satisfied okonkwo decided to go out hunting
okonkwo decided to go out hunting he had an old rusty gun made by a clever
he had an old rusty gun made by a clever blacksmith who had come to live in
blacksmith who had come to live in umphia long ago
umphia long ago but although
but although was a great man whose prowess was
was a great man whose prowess was universally acknowledged
universally acknowledged he was not a hunter
he was not a hunter in fact
in fact he had not killed a rat with his gun
he had not killed a rat with his gun and so
and so when he called igeme funa to fetch his
when he called igeme funa to fetch his gun
gun the wife who had just been beaten
the wife who had just been beaten murmured something about
murmured something about guns that never shot
guns that never shot unfortunately for her
unfortunately for her okonkwo heard it
okonkwo heard it and ran madly into his room for the
and ran madly into his room for the loaded gun
loaded gun ran out again
ran out again and aimed at her as she clambered over
and aimed at her as she clambered over the dwarf wall of the barn
the dwarf wall of the barn he pressed the trigger
he pressed the trigger and there was a loud report accompanied
and there was a loud report accompanied by the whale of his wives and children
by the whale of his wives and children [Music]
[Music] he threw down the garden and jumped into
he threw down the garden and jumped into the barn
the barn and barely the woman
and barely the woman very much shaken and frightened
[Music] in spite of this incident
in spite of this incident the new yam festival was celebrated with
the new yam festival was celebrated with great joy in okonkwo's household
great joy in okonkwo's household early that morning as he offered a
early that morning as he offered a sacrifice of new yam and palm oil to his
sacrifice of new yam and palm oil to his ancestors
ancestors he asked them to protect him his
he asked them to protect him his children and their mothers in the new
children and their mothers in the new year
year as the day wore on his in-laws arrived
as the day wore on his in-laws arrived from three surrounding villages
from three surrounding villages and each party brought with them a huge
and each party brought with them a huge pot of palm wine
pot of palm wine and there was eating and drinking till
and there was eating and drinking till night
night when alconquo's in-laws began to leave
when alconquo's in-laws began to leave for their homes
for their homes the second day of the new year was the
the second day of the new year was the day of the great wrestling match between
day of the great wrestling match between okonkwo's village and their neighbors
okonkwo's village and their neighbors it was difficult to say which the people
it was difficult to say which the people enjoyed more
enjoyed more the feasting and fellowship of the first
the feasting and fellowship of the first day
day or the wrestling contest of the second
or the wrestling contest of the second but there was one woman who had no doubt
but there was one woman who had no doubt whatever in her mind
whatever in her mind she was okonkwo's second wife
she was okonkwo's second wife akwafee
akwafee whom he nearly shot
whom he nearly shot there was no festival in all the seasons
there was no festival in all the seasons of the year which gave her as much
of the year which gave her as much pleasure as the wrestling match
pleasure as the wrestling match many years ago
many years ago when she was the village beauty okonkwo
when she was the village beauty okonkwo had won her heart by throwing the cat in
had won her heart by throwing the cat in the greatest contest within living
the greatest contest within living memory
memory she did not marry him then because he
she did not marry him then because he was too poor to pay her bride price
was too poor to pay her bride price but a few years later she ran away from
but a few years later she ran away from her husband and came to live with
her husband and came to live with okonkwo
okonkwo all this happened many years ago
now ekwefi was a woman of 45
ekwefi was a woman of 45 who had suffered a great deal in her
who had suffered a great deal in her time
time but her love of wrestling contests was
but her love of wrestling contests was still as strong as it was thirty years
still as strong as it was thirty years ago
it was not yet noon on the second day of the new yam
on the second day of the new yam festival
festival a kwefi
a kwefi and her only daughter
and her only daughter ezinma
ezinma sat near the fireplace waiting for the
sat near the fireplace waiting for the water in the pot to boil
water in the pot to boil the fowl ekwafi had just killed was in
the fowl ekwafi had just killed was in the wooden mortar
the wooden mortar the water began to boil
the water began to boil and in one deft movement
and in one deft movement she lifted the pot from the fire and
she lifted the pot from the fire and poured the boiling water over the fowl
poured the boiling water over the fowl she put back the empty pot on the
she put back the empty pot on the circular pad in the corner
circular pad in the corner and looked at her palms which were black
and looked at her palms which were black with soot
with soot asinma was always surprised that her
asinma was always surprised that her mother could lift a pot from the fire
mother could lift a pot from the fire with her bare hands
with her bare hands equafee she said
equafee she said is it true that when people are grown up
is it true that when people are grown up fire does not burn them
fire does not burn them ezinma unlike most children called her
ezinma unlike most children called her mother by her name
mother by her name [Music]
[Music] yes
yes replied to kwefi too busy to argue
replied to kwefi too busy to argue her daughter was only 10 years old but
her daughter was only 10 years old but she was wiser than her years
she was wiser than her years but nua's mother
but nua's mother dropped her pot of hot soup the other
dropped her pot of hot soup the other day and it broke on the floor
day and it broke on the floor ekwafi turned the hen over in the mortar
ekwafi turned the hen over in the mortar and began to pluck the feathers
and began to pluck the feathers a quaffy
a quaffy said ma
said ma who had joined in plucking the feathers
who had joined in plucking the feathers my eyelid is twitching
my eyelid is twitching it means you are going to cry
it means you are going to cry said her mother
said her mother no
no azinma said
azinma said it is this eyelid the top one
it is this eyelid the top one that means you will see something
that means you will see something what will i see
what will i see she asked
she asked how could i know
how could i know a kwefi wanted her to work it out
a kwefi wanted her to work it out herself
herself oh ho
oh ho said azin mod last i know what it is the
said azin mod last i know what it is the wrestling match
at last the hen was plucked clean equafee tried to pull out the horny beak
equafee tried to pull out the horny beak but it was too hard
but it was too hard she turned round on her low stool and
she turned round on her low stool and put the beak in the fire for a few
put the beak in the fire for a few moments
moments she pulled again
she pulled again and it came off
and it came off a kwefi
a kwefi a voice called from one of the other
a voice called from one of the other huts
huts it was noyes mother okonkwo's first wife
is that me equafee called back
equafee called back that was the way people answered calls
that was the way people answered calls from outside
from outside they never answered yes for fear it
they never answered yes for fear it might be an evil spirit calling
might be an evil spirit calling will you give azinma some fire to bring
will you give azinma some fire to bring to me
to me her own children
her own children and ikemefuna had gone to the stream
and ikemefuna had gone to the stream ekwafi put a few live coals into a piece
ekwafi put a few live coals into a piece of broken pot
of broken pot and azinma carried it across the clean
and azinma carried it across the clean swept compound to neue's mother
swept compound to neue's mother thank you inma she said
thank you inma she said she was peeling new yams and at a basket
she was peeling new yams and at a basket beside her were green vegetables and
beside her were green vegetables and beans
beans let me make the fire for you
let me make the fire for you azinma offered
azinma offered thank you a sigbo she said
thank you a sigbo she said she often called her
she often called her esigbo which means the good one
esigbo which means the good one ma went outside and brought some sticks
ma went outside and brought some sticks from a huge bundle of firewood
from a huge bundle of firewood she broke them into little pieces across
she broke them into little pieces across the sole of her foot and began to build
the sole of her foot and began to build a fire blowing it with her breath
a fire blowing it with her breath you will blow your eyes out
you will blow your eyes out said no yay's mother looking up from the
said no yay's mother looking up from the yams she was peeling
yams she was peeling use the fan
she stood up and pulled out the fan which was fastened into one of the
which was fastened into one of the rafters
rafters as soon as she got up the troublesome
as soon as she got up the troublesome nanny goat which had been dutifully
nanny goat which had been dutifully eating yam peelings
eating yam peelings dug her teeth into the real thing
dug her teeth into the real thing scooped out two mouthfuls and fled from
scooped out two mouthfuls and fled from the hut to chew the cut in the goat's
the hut to chew the cut in the goat's shed
shed noyee's mother swared her
noyee's mother swared her and settled down again to her peeling
azimus fire was now sending up thick clouds of smoke
clouds of smoke she went on fanning it until it burst
she went on fanning it until it burst into flames
into flames noyes mother thanked her and she went
noyes mother thanked her and she went back to her mother's hut
back to her mother's hut just then
just then the distant beating of drums began to
the distant beating of drums began to reach them
reach them [Music]
[Music] it came from the direction of the elo
it came from the direction of the elo the village playground
the village playground every village had its own elo
every village had its own elo which was as old as the village itself
which was as old as the village itself and where all the great ceremonies and
and where all the great ceremonies and dances took place
dances took place the drums beat the unmistakable
the drums beat the unmistakable wrestling dance
wrestling dance quick
quick light and gay
light and gay and it came floating on the wind
okonkwo cleared his throat and moved his feet to the beat of the
and moved his feet to the beat of the drums
drums it filled him with fire as it had always
it filled him with fire as it had always done from his youth
done from his youth he trembled with the desire to conquer
he trembled with the desire to conquer and subdue
and subdue it was like the desire
it was like the desire for woman
we should be late for the wrestling said azimut to her mother
said azimut to her mother they will not begin until the sun goes
they will not begin until the sun goes down
down but they are beating the drums
but they are beating the drums yes the drums begin at noon
yes the drums begin at noon but the wrestling
but the wrestling waits until the sun begins to sink
waits until the sun begins to sink go and see if your father has brought
go and see if your father has brought out yams for the afternoon
out yams for the afternoon he has
he has noyes mother's already cooking
noyes mother's already cooking go and bring our own men
go and bring our own men we must cook quickly or we should be
we must cook quickly or we should be late for the wrestling
asinma ran in the direction of the barn and brought back two yams from the dwarf
and brought back two yams from the dwarf wall
wall ekwafi peeled the yams quickly
ekwafi peeled the yams quickly the troublesome nanny goat sniffed about
the troublesome nanny goat sniffed about eating the peelings
eating the peelings she cut the yams into small pieces and
she cut the yams into small pieces and began to prepare a pottage using some of
began to prepare a pottage using some of the chicken
the chicken at that moment
at that moment they heard someone crying just outside
they heard someone crying just outside their compound
their compound it was very much like obiageli
it was very much like obiageli noyes sister
called across the yard to noyes mother yes she replied
yes she replied she must have broken her water pot
she must have broken her water pot the weeping was now quite close and soon
the weeping was now quite close and soon the children filed in
the children filed in carrying on their heads various sizes of
carrying on their heads various sizes of pots suitable to their years
came first with the biggest pot closely followed by nuoye and his two
closely followed by nuoye and his two younger brothers
younger brothers obiageli brought up the rear her face
obiageli brought up the rear her face streaming with tears
streaming with tears in her hand was the cloth pad on which
in her hand was the cloth pad on which the pot should have rested on her head
the pot should have rested on her head what happened
what happened her mother asked
her mother asked and obiageli told her mournful story
and obiageli told her mournful story her mother consoled her and promised to
her mother consoled her and promised to buy her another pot
younger brothers were about to tell their mother the true story of the
their mother the true story of the accident
accident when ikeme funa looked at them sternly
when ikeme funa looked at them sternly and they held their peace
and they held their peace the fact was that obiageli had been
the fact was that obiageli had been making inyanga with her pot
making inyanga with her pot she had balanced it on her head
she had balanced it on her head folded her arms in front of her
folded her arms in front of her and began to sway her waist like a
and began to sway her waist like a grown-up young lady
grown-up young lady when the pot fell down and broke she
when the pot fell down and broke she burst out laughing
burst out laughing she only began to weep when they got
she only began to weep when they got near the oroco tree outside their
near the oroco tree outside their compound
the drums were still beating persistent and unchanging
persistent and unchanging their sound was no longer a separate
their sound was no longer a separate thing from the living village
thing from the living village it was like the pulsation of its heart
it was like the pulsation of its heart it throbbed in the air in the sunshine
it throbbed in the air in the sunshine and even in the trees
and even in the trees and filled the village with excitement
and filled the village with excitement equafee ladled her husband's share of
equafee ladled her husband's share of the pottage into a bowl and covered it
the pottage into a bowl and covered it azima took it to him in his obi
okonkwo was sitting on a goatskin already eating his first wife's meal
who had brought it from her mother's hut sat on the floor waiting for him to
sat on the floor waiting for him to finish
finish azinma placed her mother's dish before
azinma placed her mother's dish before him and sat with obiageli
like a woman okonkwo shouted at her
okonkwo shouted at her azima brought her two legs together
azima brought her two legs together and stretched them in front of her
father will you go to see the wrestling azinma asked after a suitable interval
azinma asked after a suitable interval yes he answered
yes he answered will you go
will you go yes
yes and after a pause she said
and after a pause she said can i bring your chair for you
can i bring your chair for you no
no that is a boy's job
that is a boy's job okonkwo was specially fond of azinma
okonkwo was specially fond of azinma she looked very much like a mother
she looked very much like a mother who was once the village beauty
who was once the village beauty but his fondness only showed on very
but his fondness only showed on very rare occasions
rare occasions obiageli broke her part today
obiageli broke her part today eseema said
eseema said yes she has told me about it okonkwo
yes she has told me about it okonkwo said between mouthfuls
said between mouthfuls father
father said obiageli
said obiageli people should not talk when they are
people should not talk when they are eating or pepper may go down the wrong
eating or pepper may go down the wrong way
way that is very true
that is very true do you hear that azinma
do you hear that azinma you are older than obiageli but she has
you are older than obiageli but she has more sense
he uncovered his second wife's dish and began to eat from it
began to eat from it obiaguele took the first dish and
obiaguele took the first dish and returned to her mother's hot
returned to her mother's hot and then
and then and keichi came in bringing the third
and keichi came in bringing the third dish
dish and kaichi was the daughter of okonkwo's
and kaichi was the daughter of okonkwo's third wife
third wife in the distance
in the distance the drums
the drums continued to beat
the whole village turned out on the elo men women
men women and children
and children they stood round in a huge circle
they stood round in a huge circle leaving the center of the playground
leaving the center of the playground free
free the elders and grandees of the village
the elders and grandees of the village sat on their own stools
sat on their own stools brought there by their young sons or
brought there by their young sons or slaves
slaves okonkwo was among them
okonkwo was among them all others stood
all others stood except those who came early enough to
except those who came early enough to secure places on the few stands which
secure places on the few stands which had been built by placing smooth logs on
had been built by placing smooth logs on forked pillars
forked pillars the wrestlers were not there yet
the wrestlers were not there yet and the drummers held the field
and the drummers held the field they too sat just in front of the huge
they too sat just in front of the huge circle of spectators facing the elders
circle of spectators facing the elders behind them
behind them was the big and ancient silk cotton tree
was the big and ancient silk cotton tree which was sacred
which was sacred spirits of good children lived in that
spirits of good children lived in that tree
tree waiting to be born
waiting to be born on ordinary days
on ordinary days young women who desired children came to
young women who desired children came to sit under its shade
there were seven drums and they were arranged according to
and they were arranged according to their sizes in a long wooden
their sizes in a long wooden basket three men beat them with sticks
basket three men beat them with sticks working feverishly from one drum to
working feverishly from one drum to another
another they were possessed by the spirit of the
they were possessed by the spirit of the drums
drums the young men who kept order on these
the young men who kept order on these occasions dashed about consulting among
occasions dashed about consulting among themselves and with the leaders of the
themselves and with the leaders of the two wrestling teams
two wrestling teams who were still outside the circle behind
who were still outside the circle behind the crowd
the crowd once in a while
once in a while two young men carrying palm fronds ran
two young men carrying palm fronds ran round the circle and kept the crowd back
round the circle and kept the crowd back by beating the ground in front of them
by beating the ground in front of them or
or if they were stubborn their legs and
if they were stubborn their legs and feet
at last the two teams danced into the circle and the crowd roared and clapped
circle and the crowd roared and clapped the drums rose to a frenzy
the drums rose to a frenzy the people surged forward
the people surged forward the young men who kept order flew around
the young men who kept order flew around waving their palm frowns
waving their palm frowns old men nodded to the beat of the drums
old men nodded to the beat of the drums and remembered the days when they
and remembered the days when they wrestled to its intoxicating rhythm
the contest began with boys of 15 or 16. there were only three such boys in each
there were only three such boys in each team
team they were not the real wrestlers they
they were not the real wrestlers they merely set the scene
merely set the scene within a short time
within a short time the first two bouts were over
the first two bouts were over but the third created a big sensation
but the third created a big sensation even among the elders who did not
even among the elders who did not usually show their excitement so openly
usually show their excitement so openly it was as quick as the other two perhaps
it was as quick as the other two perhaps even quicker
even quicker but very few people had ever seen that
but very few people had ever seen that kind of wrestling before
kind of wrestling before as soon as the two boys closed in
as soon as the two boys closed in one of them did something which no one
one of them did something which no one could describe
could describe because it had been as quick as a flash
because it had been as quick as a flash and the other boy was flat on his back
and the other boy was flat on his back the crowd roared and clapped and for a
the crowd roared and clapped and for a while drowned the frenzied drums
while drowned the frenzied drums okonkwo sprang to his feet
okonkwo sprang to his feet and quickly sat down again
and quickly sat down again three young men from the victorious boys
three young men from the victorious boys team ran forward
team ran forward carried him shoulder high
carried him shoulder high and danced through the cheering crowd
and danced through the cheering crowd everybody soon knew who the boy was
everybody soon knew who the boy was his name
his name was maduka
was maduka the son
the son of obierica
the drummers stopped for a brief rest before the real matches
before the real matches their bodies shone with sweat
their bodies shone with sweat and they took up fans and began to fan
and they took up fans and began to fan themselves
themselves they also drank water from small pots
they also drank water from small pots and ate cola nuts
and ate cola nuts they became ordinary human beings again
they became ordinary human beings again talking and laughing among themselves
talking and laughing among themselves and with others who stood near them
and with others who stood near them the air
the air which had been stretched taught with
which had been stretched taught with excitement relaxed again
excitement relaxed again it was as if water had been poured on
it was as if water had been poured on the tightened skin of a drum
the tightened skin of a drum many people looked around
many people looked around perhaps for the first time
perhaps for the first time and saw those who stood or sat next to
and saw those who stood or sat next to them
them i did not know it was you
i did not know it was you equafee said to the woman who had stood
equafee said to the woman who had stood shoulder to shoulder with her since the
shoulder to shoulder with her since the beginning of the matches
beginning of the matches i do not blame you
i do not blame you said the woman
said the woman i've never seen such a large crowd of
i've never seen such a large crowd of people
people is it true
is it true that okonkwo nearly killed you with his
that okonkwo nearly killed you with his gun
gun it is true indeed my dear friend
it is true indeed my dear friend i cannot yet find a mouth with which to
i cannot yet find a mouth with which to tell the story
tell the story your chi is very much awake my friend
your chi is very much awake my friend and how is my daughter azima
and how is my daughter azima she has been very well for some time now
she has been very well for some time now perhaps she has come to stay
perhaps she has come to stay i think she has
i think she has how old is she now
how old is she now she is about 10 years old
she is about 10 years old i think she will stay
i think she will stay they usually stay
they usually stay if they do not die before the age of six
i pray she stays today kwafi
today kwafi with a heavy sigh
with a heavy sigh the woman with whom she talked was
the woman with whom she talked was called chiello
called chiello she was the priestess of agbala
she was the priestess of agbala the oracle of the hills and the caves
the oracle of the hills and the caves in ordinary life
in ordinary life cello was a widow with two children
cello was a widow with two children she was very friendly with a kwefi
she was very friendly with a kwefi and they shared a common shed in the
and they shared a common shed in the market
market she was particularly fond of a quaffy's
she was particularly fond of a quaffy's only daughter
only daughter eisenma
eisenma whom she called
whom she called my daughter
my daughter quite often she brought bean cakes and
quite often she brought bean cakes and gave the kwafi some to take home to
gave the kwafi some to take home to azima
azima anyone seeing chiello an ordinary life
anyone seeing chiello an ordinary life would hardly believe she was the same
would hardly believe she was the same person who prophesied when the spirit of
person who prophesied when the spirit of agbala was upon her
the drummers took up their sticks and the air shivered and grew tense like
and the air shivered and grew tense like a titan bow
the two teams were arranged facing each other across the clear space
other across the clear space a young man from one team danced across
a young man from one team danced across the center to the other side
the center to the other side and pointed at whomever he wanted to
and pointed at whomever he wanted to fight
fight they danced back to the center together
they danced back to the center together and then closed in
there were 12 men on each side and the challenge went from one side to
and the challenge went from one side to the other
the other two judges walked around the wrestlers
two judges walked around the wrestlers and when they thought they were equally
and when they thought they were equally matched stopped them
matched stopped them five matches ended in this way
five matches ended in this way but the really exciting moments were
but the really exciting moments were when a man was thrown
when a man was thrown the huge voice of the crowd then rose to
the huge voice of the crowd then rose to the sky and in every direction
the sky and in every direction it was even heard in the surrounding
it was even heard in the surrounding villages
villages the last match
the last match was between the leaders of the teams
was between the leaders of the teams they were among the best wrestlers in
they were among the best wrestlers in all the nine villages
all the nine villages the crowd wondered who would throw the
the crowd wondered who would throw the other this year
other this year some said okafo was the better man
some said okafo was the better man others said he was not the equal
others said he was not the equal the caseway
the caseway last year
last year neither of them had thrown the other
neither of them had thrown the other even though the judges had allowed the
even though the judges had allowed the contest to go on longer than was the
contest to go on longer than was the custom
custom they had the same style
they had the same style and one saw the others plans beforehand
and one saw the others plans beforehand it might happen again this year
it might happen again this year dusk was already approaching when their
dusk was already approaching when their contest began
contest began the drums went mad and the crowds also
the drums went mad and the crowds also they surged forward as the two young men
they surged forward as the two young men danced into the circle
danced into the circle the palm frowns were helpless in keeping
the palm frowns were helpless in keeping them
them back e caseway held out his right hand
back e caseway held out his right hand okafo seized it and they closed in
okafo seized it and they closed in it was a fierce contest
it was a fierce contest ike's way strove to dig in his right
ike's way strove to dig in his right heel behind okafo so as to pitch him
heel behind okafo so as to pitch him backwards in the clever
backwards in the clever style
style but the one knew what the other was
but the one knew what the other was thinking
thinking the crowd had surrounded and swallowed
the crowd had surrounded and swallowed up the drummers whose frantic rhythm was
up the drummers whose frantic rhythm was no longer a mere disembodied sound but
no longer a mere disembodied sound but the very heartbeat of the people
the very heartbeat of the people the wrestlers were now almost still in
the wrestlers were now almost still in each other's grip
each other's grip the muscles on their arms in their
the muscles on their arms in their thighs and on their back stood out and
thighs and on their back stood out and twitched
twitched it looked like an equal match
it looked like an equal match the two judges were already moving
the two judges were already moving forward to separate them
forward to separate them when a caseway now desperate went down
when a caseway now desperate went down quickly on one knee in an attempt to
quickly on one knee in an attempt to fling his man backwards over his head
fling his man backwards over his head it was a sad miscalculation
it was a sad miscalculation quick as the lightning of a manti aura
quick as the lightning of a manti aura okafo raised his right leg and swung it
okafo raised his right leg and swung it over his rival's head
over his rival's head the crowd burst into a thunderous roar
the crowd burst into a thunderous roar akafo was swept off his feet by his
akafo was swept off his feet by his supporters and carried home shoulder
supporters and carried home shoulder high
high they sang his praise
they sang his praise and the young women clapped their hands
and the young women clapped their hands who will wrestle for our village
who will wrestle for our village okafo will wrestle for our village
okafo will wrestle for our village has he thrown a hundred men
has he thrown a hundred men he has thrown four hundred men
he has thrown four hundred men has he thrown a hundred cats
has he thrown a hundred cats he has thrown four hundred cats
he has thrown four hundred cats then send him word to fight for us
for three years lived in okonkwo's household
lived in okonkwo's household and the elders of mwafia seemed to have
and the elders of mwafia seemed to have forgotten about him
forgotten about him he grew rapidly
he grew rapidly like a yam tendril in the rainy season
like a yam tendril in the rainy season and was full of the sap of life
and was full of the sap of life he had become wholly absorbed into his
he had become wholly absorbed into his new family
new family he was like an elder brother to noyie
he was like an elder brother to noyie and from the very first seemed to have
and from the very first seemed to have kindled a new fire in the younger boy
kindled a new fire in the younger boy he made him feel grown up
he made him feel grown up and they no longer spend the evenings in
and they no longer spend the evenings in mother's hut while she cooked
mother's hut while she cooked but now
but now sat with okonkwo in his obi
sat with okonkwo in his obi or watched him as he tapped his palm
or watched him as he tapped his palm tree for the evening wine
tree for the evening wine nothing pleased norway now
nothing pleased norway now more than to be sent for by his mother
more than to be sent for by his mother or another of his father's wives to do
or another of his father's wives to do one of those difficult and masculine
one of those difficult and masculine tasks in the home
tasks in the home like splitting wood or pounding food on
like splitting wood or pounding food on receiving such a message through a
receiving such a message through a younger brother or sister
younger brother or sister no yeah would feign annoyance and
no yeah would feign annoyance and grumble aloud about women and their
grumble aloud about women and their troubles
troubles okonkwo was inwardly pleased at his
okonkwo was inwardly pleased at his son's development
son's development and he knew it was due
and he knew it was due to ikeme
to ikeme he wanted morye to grow into a tough
he wanted morye to grow into a tough young man
young man capable of ruling his father's household
capable of ruling his father's household when he was dead
when he was dead and gone to join the ancestors
and gone to join the ancestors he wanted him to be a prosperous man
he wanted him to be a prosperous man having enough in his barn to feed the
having enough in his barn to feed the ancestors with regular sacrifices
ancestors with regular sacrifices and so he was always happy when he heard
and so he was always happy when he heard him grumbling about women
him grumbling about women that showed that in time
that showed that in time he would be able to control his women
he would be able to control his women folk
folk no matter how prosperous a man was
no matter how prosperous a man was if he was unable to rule his women and
if he was unable to rule his women and his children
his children and especially his women
and especially his women he was not really a man
he was not really a man [Music]
[Music] he was like the man in the song
he was like the man in the song who had ten and one wives and not enough
who had ten and one wives and not enough soup for his fufu
so okonkwo encouraged the boys to sit with him in his obi
with him in his obi and he told them stories of the land
and he told them stories of the land masculine stories of violence and
masculine stories of violence and bloodshed
bloodshed knew that it was right to be masculine
knew that it was right to be masculine and to be violent but somehow
and to be violent but somehow he still preferred the stories that his
he still preferred the stories that his mother used to tell
mother used to tell and which he no doubt still told her
and which he no doubt still told her younger children
younger children stories of the tortoise and his wiley
stories of the tortoise and his wiley ways
ways and of the bird
and of the bird eneke in tioba
eneke in tioba who challenged the whole world to a
who challenged the whole world to a wrestling contest
wrestling contest and was finally thrown
and was finally thrown by the cat
by the cat he remembered the story she often told
he remembered the story she often told of the quarrel between earth and sky
of the quarrel between earth and sky long ago
long ago and how sky withheld rain for seven
and how sky withheld rain for seven years
years until crops withered
until crops withered and the dead could not be buried because
and the dead could not be buried because the hose broke on the stony earth
the hose broke on the stony earth at last
at last vulture was sent to plead with sky
vulture was sent to plead with sky and to soften his heart with a song of
and to soften his heart with a song of the suffering of the sons of men
whenever nuoye's mother sang this song he felt carried away to the distance
he felt carried away to the distance seen in the sky
seen in the sky where vulture
where vulture earth's emissary
earth's emissary sang for mercy
sang for mercy at last sky was moved to pity
at last sky was moved to pity and he gave to vulture rain wrapped in
and he gave to vulture rain wrapped in leaves
leaves of cocoyam
of cocoyam but as he flew home
but as he flew home his long talon pierced the leaves
his long talon pierced the leaves and the rain fell as it had never fallen
and the rain fell as it had never fallen before
before and so heavily did it rain on vulture
and so heavily did it rain on vulture that he did not return to deliver his
that he did not return to deliver his message but flew to a distant land
message but flew to a distant land from where he had a spied a fire
from where he had a spied a fire and when he got there
and when he got there he found it was a man making a sacrifice
he found it was a man making a sacrifice he warmed himself in the fire
he warmed himself in the fire and ate the entrails
that was the kind of story that noyea loved
loved but he now knew
but he now knew that they were foolish women and
that they were foolish women and children
children and he knew that his father wanted him
and he knew that his father wanted him to be a man
to be a man and so he feigned that he no longer
and so he feigned that he no longer cared for women's stories
cared for women's stories and when he did this he saw that his
and when he did this he saw that his father was pleased and no longer rebuked
father was pleased and no longer rebuked him or beat him
him or beat him so nuoye
so nuoye and ikemefuna would listen to okonkwo's
and ikemefuna would listen to okonkwo's stories about tribal wars or how years
stories about tribal wars or how years ago
ago he had stalked his victim
he had stalked his victim overpowered him
overpowered him and obtained his first human head
and obtained his first human head and as he told them of the past
and as he told them of the past they sat in darkness or the dim glow of
they sat in darkness or the dim glow of logs
logs waiting for the women to finish their
waiting for the women to finish their cooking
cooking when they finished
when they finished each brought her bowl of fufu and bowl
each brought her bowl of fufu and bowl of soup to her husband
of soup to her husband an oil lamp was lit
an oil lamp was lit and okonkwo tasted from each bowl
and okonkwo tasted from each bowl and then passed two shares to nueye and
and then passed two shares to nueye and ikemefuna
in this way the moons in the seasons passed
the moons in the seasons passed and then
and then the locusts came
the locusts came it had not happened for many a long year
it had not happened for many a long year the elders said locusts came once in a
the elders said locusts came once in a generation
generation reappeared every year for seven years
reappeared every year for seven years and then disappeared for another
and then disappeared for another lifetime
lifetime they went back to their caves in a
they went back to their caves in a distant land
distant land where they were guarded by a race of
where they were guarded by a race of stunted men
stunted men and then after another lifetime
and then after another lifetime these men opened the caves again
these men opened the caves again and their locusts came
and their locusts came to umuofia
to umuofia they came in the cold harmatan season
they came in the cold harmatan season after the harvests had been gathered
after the harvests had been gathered and ate up all the wild grass in the
and ate up all the wild grass in the fields
fields okonkwo and the two boys were working on
okonkwo and the two boys were working on the red outer walls of the compound
the red outer walls of the compound this was one of the lighter tasks of the
this was one of the lighter tasks of the after harvest season
after harvest season a new cover of thick palm branches and
a new cover of thick palm branches and palm leaves was set on the walls to
palm leaves was set on the walls to protect them from the next rainy season
protect them from the next rainy season okonkwo worked on the outside of the
okonkwo worked on the outside of the wall and the boys worked from within
wall and the boys worked from within there were little holes from one side to
there were little holes from one side to the other in the upper levels of the
the other in the upper levels of the wall
wall and through these
and through these okonkwo passed the rope or tai tai
okonkwo passed the rope or tai tai to the boys and they passed around the
to the boys and they passed around the wooden stays and then back to him
wooden stays and then back to him and in this way the cover was
and in this way the cover was strengthened on the wall
strengthened on the wall the women had gone to the bush to
the women had gone to the bush to collect firewood
collect firewood and the little children to visit their
and the little children to visit their playmates in the neighboring compounds
playmates in the neighboring compounds the harmatan was in the air
the harmatan was in the air and seemed to distill a hazy feeling of
and seemed to distill a hazy feeling of sleep on the world
sleep on the world okonkwo and the boys worked in complete
okonkwo and the boys worked in complete silence
silence which was only broken when a new palm
which was only broken when a new palm frond was lifted onto the wall
frond was lifted onto the wall or when a busy hen moved dry leaves
or when a busy hen moved dry leaves about in her ceaseless search for
about in her ceaseless search for food and then
food and then quite suddenly
quite suddenly a shadow fell on the world
a shadow fell on the world and the sun seemed hidden behind a thick
and the sun seemed hidden behind a thick cloud
cloud okonkwo looked up from his work
okonkwo looked up from his work and wondered if it was going to rain at
and wondered if it was going to rain at such an unlikely time of the year
such an unlikely time of the year but almost immediately
but almost immediately a shout of joy broke out in all
a shout of joy broke out in all directions
directions and umafia
and umafia which had dozed in the noonday haze
which had dozed in the noonday haze broke into life and activity
broke into life and activity locusts are descending
locusts are descending was joyfully chanted everywhere
was joyfully chanted everywhere and men women and children left their
and men women and children left their work or their play and ran into the open
work or their play and ran into the open to see the unfamiliar site
to see the unfamiliar site the locus had not come for many many
the locus had not come for many many years
years and only the old people had seen them
and only the old people had seen them before
before at first
at first a fairly small swarm came
a fairly small swarm came they were the harbingers sent to survey
they were the harbingers sent to survey the land
the land and then appeared on the horizon
and then appeared on the horizon a slow moving mass like a boundless
a slow moving mass like a boundless sheet of black cloud
sheet of black cloud drifting towards a morphia
drifting towards a morphia soon it covered half the sky
soon it covered half the sky and the solid mass was now broken by
and the solid mass was now broken by tiny eyes of light-like shining stardust
tiny eyes of light-like shining stardust it was a tremendous sight
it was a tremendous sight full of power and beauty
full of power and beauty everyone was now about talking excitedly
everyone was now about talking excitedly and praying that the locals should camp
and praying that the locals should camp in um for the night
in um for the night for although locusts had not visited
for although locusts had not visited umofia for many years
umofia for many years everybody knew by instinct that they
everybody knew by instinct that they were very good to eat
were very good to eat and at last the locusts did descend
and at last the locusts did descend they settled on every tree and on every
they settled on every tree and on every blade of grass
blade of grass they settled on the roofs and covered
they settled on the roofs and covered the bare ground
the bare ground mighty tree branches broke away under
mighty tree branches broke away under them
them and the whole country became the brown
and the whole country became the brown earth color of the vast hungry swarm
earth color of the vast hungry swarm many people went out with baskets trying
many people went out with baskets trying to catch them but the elders counseled
to catch them but the elders counseled patience till nightfall
patience till nightfall and they were right
and they were right the locusts settled in the bushes for
the locusts settled in the bushes for the night
the night and their wings became wet with dew
and their wings became wet with dew then
then all lumofia turned out in spite of the
all lumofia turned out in spite of the cold harmattan
cold harmattan and everyone filled his bags and pots
and everyone filled his bags and pots with locusts
with locusts the next morning
the next morning they were roasted in clay pots
they were roasted in clay pots and then spread in the sun until they
and then spread in the sun until they became dry and brittle
became dry and brittle and for many days
and for many days this rare food was eaten with solid palm
this rare food was eaten with solid palm oil
okonkwo sat in his obi crunching happily with ikeme funa and huaye and drinking
with ikeme funa and huaye and drinking palm wine copiously
palm wine copiously when ogwayfi is
when ogwayfi is came in
came in isaiah was the oldest man in this
isaiah was the oldest man in this quarter of a mwelfia
quarter of a mwelfia he had been a great and fearless warrior
he had been a great and fearless warrior in his time
in his time and was now accorded great respect in
and was now accorded great respect in all the clan
all the clan he refused to join in the meal
he refused to join in the meal and asked a conquo to have a word with
and asked a conquo to have a word with him outside
him outside and so they walked out together
and so they walked out together the old man supporting himself with his
the old man supporting himself with his stick
stick when they were out of earshot
when they were out of earshot he said to okonkwo
he said to okonkwo that boy calls you father
that boy calls you father do not bear a hand in his death
do not bear a hand in his death okonkwo was surprised
okonkwo was surprised and was about to say something when the
and was about to say something when the old man continued
old man continued yes
yes umufia has decided to kill him
umufia has decided to kill him the oracle of the hills and the caves
the oracle of the hills and the caves has pronounced it
has pronounced it they will take him outside who mafia as
they will take him outside who mafia as is the custom
is the custom and kill him there
and kill him there but i want you to have nothing to do
but i want you to have nothing to do with it
with it he calls you his father
the next day a group of elders from all the nine
a group of elders from all the nine villages of umafia came to okonkwo's
villages of umafia came to okonkwo's house early in the morning
house early in the morning and before they began to speak in low
and before they began to speak in low tones
were sent out they did not stay very long
they did not stay very long but when they went away
but when they went away okonkwo sat still for a very long time
okonkwo sat still for a very long time supporting his chin in his palms
supporting his chin in his palms later in the day
later in the day he called ikeme
he called ikeme and told him that he was to be taken
and told him that he was to be taken home the next day
home the next day overheard it and burst into tears
overheard it and burst into tears whereupon his father beat him heavily
whereupon his father beat him heavily as for ikeme
as for ikeme he was at a loss
he was at a loss his own home had gradually become very
his own home had gradually become very faint and distant
faint and distant he still missed his mother and his
he still missed his mother and his sister
sister and would be very glad to see them
and would be very glad to see them but somehow
but somehow he knew he was not going to see them
he knew he was not going to see them he remembered once when men had talked
he remembered once when men had talked in low tones with his father
in low tones with his father and it seemed now
and it seemed now as if it was happening all over again
later nuoye went to his mother's hut
nuoye went to his mother's hut and told her that igemefuna was going
and told her that igemefuna was going home
home she immediately dropped her pastel with
she immediately dropped her pastel with which she was grinding pepper
which she was grinding pepper folded her arms across her breast
folded her arms across her breast and sighed
and sighed poor child
the next day the men returned with a pot of wine
the men returned with a pot of wine [Music]
[Music] they were all fully dressed
they were all fully dressed as if they were going to a big clan
as if they were going to a big clan meeting or to pay a visit to a
meeting or to pay a visit to a neighboring village
neighboring village they passed their claws under their
they passed their claws under their right armpit
right armpit and hung their goatskin bags and
and hung their goatskin bags and sheathed machetes over their left
sheathed machetes over their left shoulders
shoulders okonkwo got ready quickly
okonkwo got ready quickly and the party set out with ike me funa
and the party set out with ike me funa carrying the pot of wine
carrying the pot of wine a deathly silence descended on okonkwo's
a deathly silence descended on okonkwo's compound
compound even the very little children seemed to
even the very little children seemed to know
know throughout that day
throughout that day nuoye sat in his mother's heart and
nuoye sat in his mother's heart and tears stood in his eyes
at the beginning of their journey the man of whom wolfia talked and
the man of whom wolfia talked and laughed about the locusts
laughed about the locusts about their women
about their women and about some effeminate men who had
and about some effeminate men who had refused to come with them
refused to come with them but as they drew near to the outskirts
but as they drew near to the outskirts of umuofia
of umuofia silence fell upon them too
the sun rose slowly to the center of the sky
sky and the dry sandy footway began to throw
and the dry sandy footway began to throw up the heat that lay buried in it
up the heat that lay buried in it some birds chirped in the forest
some birds chirped in the forest surround
surround the men trod dry leaves on the sand
the men trod dry leaves on the sand all else
all else was silent
was silent then from the distance
then from the distance came the faint beating of the aque
came the faint beating of the aque it rose and faded with the wind
it rose and faded with the wind a peaceful dance from a distant clan
a peaceful dance from a distant clan it is an ozo dance
it is an ozo dance the men said among themselves
the men said among themselves but no one was sure where it was coming
but no one was sure where it was coming from
from some said
some said is emily
is emily others
they argued for a short while and fell into silence again
and fell into silence again and the elusive dance rose and fell with
and the elusive dance rose and fell with the wind
the wind somewhere a man was taking one of the
somewhere a man was taking one of the titles of his clan with music and
titles of his clan with music and dancing and a great feast
the footway had now become a narrow line in the heart of the forest
in the heart of the forest the short trees and sparse undergrowth
the short trees and sparse undergrowth which surrounded the men's village began
which surrounded the men's village began to give way to giant trees and climbers
to give way to giant trees and climbers which perhaps had stood from the
which perhaps had stood from the beginning of things
beginning of things untouched by the axe and the bushfire
untouched by the axe and the bushfire the sun breaking through their leaves
the sun breaking through their leaves and branches
and branches through a pattern of light and shade on
through a pattern of light and shade on the sandy footway
the sandy footway ikeme
ikeme heard a whisper close behind him
heard a whisper close behind him and turned round sharply
and turned round sharply the man who had whispered now called out
the man who had whispered now called out aloud urging the others to hurry up
aloud urging the others to hurry up we still have a long way to go he said
we still have a long way to go he said then he and another man
then he and another man went before ikeme
went before ikeme and set a faster pace
and set a faster pace thus the men of mafia pursued their way
thus the men of mafia pursued their way armed with sheathed machetes
armed with sheathed machetes and ikeme funa
and ikeme funa carrying a pot of palm wine on his head
carrying a pot of palm wine on his head walked in their midst
walked in their midst although he had felt uneasy at first
although he had felt uneasy at first he was not afraid now
he was not afraid now okonkwo walked behind him
okonkwo walked behind him he could hardly imagine that okonkwo was
he could hardly imagine that okonkwo was not his real father
not his real father he had never been fond of his real
he had never been fond of his real father
father and at the end of three years he had
and at the end of three years he had become very distant indeed
become very distant indeed but his mother and his three-year-old
but his mother and his three-year-old sister
sister of course
of course she would not be three now
she would not be three now but six
but six would he recognize her now
would he recognize her now she must have grown quite big
she must have grown quite big his mother would weep for joy
his mother would weep for joy and thank alconquo for having looked
and thank alconquo for having looked after him so well
after him so well and for bringing him back
and for bringing him back she would want to hear everything that
she would want to hear everything that had happened to him in all these years
had happened to him in all these years could he remember them all
could he remember them all he would tell her about norway and his
he would tell her about norway and his mother
mother and about the locusts
and about the locusts then quite suddenly
then quite suddenly a thought came upon him
a thought came upon him his mother might be dead
his mother might be dead he tried in vain to force the thought
he tried in vain to force the thought out of his mind
out of his mind then he tried to settle the matter
then he tried to settle the matter the way he used to settle such matters
the way he used to settle such matters when he was little boy
when he was little boy he still remembered the song
he sang in his mind and walked with speed if the song ended on his right
speed if the song ended on his right foot
foot his mother was alive
his mother was alive if it ended on his left
if it ended on his left she was dead
she was dead no not dead but
no not dead but ill
ill it ended on the right she was alive and
it ended on the right she was alive and well
well he sang the song again
he sang the song again and it ended on the left
and it ended on the left but the second time did not count
but the second time did not count the first voice gets to chukwu or god's
the first voice gets to chukwu or god's house that was a favorite saying of
house that was a favorite saying of children
felt like a child once more it must be the thought of going home to
it must be the thought of going home to his mother
one of the men behind him cleared his throat
to go on and not stand looking back the way he said it
the way he said it sent cold fear down ikeme funa's back
sent cold fear down ikeme funa's back his hands trembled vaguely on the black
his hands trembled vaguely on the black party carried
party carried why had a conquo withdrawn to the rear
why had a conquo withdrawn to the rear ikeme felt his legs melting under him
ikeme felt his legs melting under him he was afraid to look back
he was afraid to look back as the man who had cleared his throat
as the man who had cleared his throat drew up and raised his machete
drew up and raised his machete okonkwo looked away
okonkwo looked away he heard the blow
he heard the blow the pot fell
the pot fell and broke in the sand
and broke in the sand he heard ikeme cry
he heard ikeme cry my father they have killed me
my father they have killed me as he ran towards him
as he ran towards him dazed with fear
dazed with fear okonkwo drew his machete
okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down
and cut him down he was afraid of being thought weak
he was afraid of being thought weak as soon as his father walked in that
as soon as his father walked in that night
night no yay knew
no yay knew that ike
that ike had been killed
had been killed and something seemed to give way inside
and something seemed to give way inside him
him like the snapping of a titan bow
like the snapping of a titan bow he did not cry
he did not cry he just hung limp
he just hung limp he had had the same kind of feeling not
he had had the same kind of feeling not long ago
long ago during the last harvest season
during the last harvest season every child loved the harvest season
every child loved the harvest season those who were big enough to carry even
those who were big enough to carry even a few yams in a tiny basket went with
a few yams in a tiny basket went with grown-ups to the farm
grown-ups to the farm and if they could not help in digging up
and if they could not help in digging up the yams they could gather firewood
the yams they could gather firewood together for roasting the ones that
together for roasting the ones that would be eaten there on the farm
would be eaten there on the farm this roasted yam soaked in red palm oil
this roasted yam soaked in red palm oil and eaten in the open farm
and eaten in the open farm was sweeter than any meal at home
was sweeter than any meal at home [Music]
[Music] it was after such a day at the farm
it was after such a day at the farm during the last harvest
during the last harvest that nuoye had felt for the first time a
that nuoye had felt for the first time a snapping inside him
snapping inside him like the one he now felt
like the one he now felt they were returning home with baskets of
they were returning home with baskets of yams from a distant farm across the
yams from a distant farm across the stream
stream when they heard the voice
when they heard the voice of an infant
of an infant crying in the thick forest
crying in the thick forest a sudden hush had fallen on the women
a sudden hush had fallen on the women who had been talking and they had
who had been talking and they had quickened their steps
had heard that twins were put in earthenware pots and thrown away in the
earthenware pots and thrown away in the forest
forest but he had never yet come across
but he had never yet come across vague chill had descended on him
vague chill had descended on him and his head seemed to swell
and his head seemed to swell like a solitary walker at night who
like a solitary walker at night who passes an evil spirit on the way
passes an evil spirit on the way then something
then something had given way inside him
had given way inside him it descended on him again this feeling
it descended on him again this feeling when his father walked in
when his father walked in that night
that night after killing ikeme
okonkwo did not taste any food for two days after the death of ikeme funa
days after the death of ikeme funa he drank palm wine from morning till
he drank palm wine from morning till night
night and his eyes were red and fierce like
and his eyes were red and fierce like the eyes of a rat when it was caught by
the eyes of a rat when it was caught by the tail and dashed against the floor
the tail and dashed against the floor he called his son nuoye to sit with him
he called his son nuoye to sit with him in his obi
in his obi but the boy was afraid of him
but the boy was afraid of him and slipped out of the hut as soon as he
and slipped out of the hut as soon as he noticed him dozing
noticed him dozing he did not sleep at night
he did not sleep at night he tried not to think about igemefuna
he tried not to think about igemefuna but the more he tried the more he
but the more he tried the more he thought about him
thought about him once he got up from bed and walked about
once he got up from bed and walked about his compound
his compound but he was so weak that his legs could
but he was so weak that his legs could hardly carry him
hardly carry him he felt like a drunken giant walking
he felt like a drunken giant walking with the limbs of a mosquito
with the limbs of a mosquito now and then
now and then a cold shiver descended on his head
a cold shiver descended on his head and spread down his body
on the third day he asked his second wife
he asked his second wife ekwefi to roast plantains for him
ekwefi to roast plantains for him she prepared it the way he liked
she prepared it the way he liked with slices of oil being and fish
you have not eaten for two days said his daughter
said his daughter is inma
is inma when she brought the food to him
when she brought the food to him so you must finish this
so you must finish this she sat down and stretched her legs in
she sat down and stretched her legs in front of her
front of her okonkwo ate the food absent-mindedly
okonkwo ate the food absent-mindedly she should have been a boy he thought
she should have been a boy he thought as he looked at his ten-year-old
as he looked at his ten-year-old daughter
daughter he passed her a piece of fish
go and bring me some cold water he said azima rushed out of the hut chewing the
azima rushed out of the hut chewing the fish
fish and soon returned with a bowl of cool
and soon returned with a bowl of cool water from the earthen pot in her
water from the earthen pot in her mother's heart
mother's heart okonkwo took the bowl from her and
okonkwo took the bowl from her and gulped the water down
gulped the water down he ate a few more pieces of plantain
he ate a few more pieces of plantain and pushed the dish aside
and pushed the dish aside bring me my bag
bring me my bag he asked
he asked and his ima brought his goatskin bag
and his ima brought his goatskin bag from the far end of the hunt
from the far end of the hunt he searched in it for his snuff bottle
he searched in it for his snuff bottle it was a deep bag
it was a deep bag and took almost the whole length of his
and took almost the whole length of his arm
arm [Music]
[Music] it contained other things apart from his
it contained other things apart from his snuff bottle
snuff bottle there was a drinking horn in it
there was a drinking horn in it and also a drinking gourd
and also a drinking gourd and they knocked against each other as
and they knocked against each other as he searched
he searched when he brought out the snuff bottle he
when he brought out the snuff bottle he tapped it a few times against his
tapped it a few times against his kneecap before taking out some snuff on
kneecap before taking out some snuff on the palm of his left hand
the palm of his left hand then he remembered that he had not taken
then he remembered that he had not taken out his snuff spoon
out his snuff spoon he searched his bag again
he searched his bag again and brought out a small flat ivory spoon
and brought out a small flat ivory spoon with which he carried the brown snuff to
with which he carried the brown snuff to his nostrils
took the dish in one hand and the empty water bowl in the other and went back to
water bowl in the other and went back to her mother's hot
her mother's hot she should have been a boy
she should have been a boy okonkwo said to himself again
okonkwo said to himself again his mind went back to ikeme
his mind went back to ikeme and he shivered
and he shivered if only he could find some work to do
if only he could find some work to do he would be able to forget
he would be able to forget but it was the season of rest between
but it was the season of rest between the harvest and the next planting season
the harvest and the next planting season the only work that men did at this time
the only work that men did at this time was covering the walls of their compound
was covering the walls of their compound with new palm fronds
with new palm fronds and okonkwo had already done that
and okonkwo had already done that he had finished it on the very day the
he had finished it on the very day the locusts came
locusts came when he had worked on one side of the
when he had worked on one side of the wall
wall in hikimofuna in
in hikimofuna in on the other
on the other when did you become a shivering old
when did you become a shivering old woman
woman okonkwo asked himself
okonkwo asked himself you
you who are known in all the nine villages
who are known in all the nine villages for your valor in war
for your valor in war how can a man who has killed five men in
how can a man who has killed five men in battle
battle fall to pieces because he has added a
fall to pieces because he has added a boy to their number
boy to their number okonkwo
okonkwo you have become a woman indeed
he sprang to his feet hung his goatskin bag on his shoulder
hung his goatskin bag on his shoulder and went to visit his friend
and went to visit his friend abirrika
abirrika oberika was sitting outside
oberika was sitting outside under the shade of an orange tree
under the shade of an orange tree making thatches from leaves of the
making thatches from leaves of the raffia palm
raffia palm he exchanged greetings with okonkwo
he exchanged greetings with okonkwo and led the way into his obi
i was coming over to see you as soon as i finished the thatch he said
i finished the thatch he said rubbing off the grains of sand that
rubbing off the grains of sand that clung to his thighs
clung to his thighs is it well
is it well okonkwo asked
okonkwo asked yes reply to biaerica
yes reply to biaerica my daughter's suitor is coming today
my daughter's suitor is coming today and i hope he will clinch the matter of
and i hope he will clinch the matter of the bride price
the bride price i want you to be there
just then of yerica's son
of yerica's son maduka
maduka came into the obi from outside
came into the obi from outside greeted okonkwo and turned towards the
greeted okonkwo and turned towards the compound
come and shake hands with me okonkwo said to the lad
okonkwo said to the lad your wrestling the other day gave me
your wrestling the other day gave me much happiness
much happiness the boy smiled
the boy smiled shook hands with okonkwo
shook hands with okonkwo and went into the compound
and went into the compound he will do great things
he will do great things okonkwo said
okonkwo said if i had a son like him i should be
if i had a son like him i should be happy
happy i am worried about noyie
i am worried about noyie a bowl of pounded yams can throw him in
a bowl of pounded yams can throw him in a wrestling match
a wrestling match his two younger brothers are more
his two younger brothers are more promising
promising but i can tell you obierica
but i can tell you obierica that my children do not resemble me
that my children do not resemble me where are the young suckers that will
where are the young suckers that will grow when the old banana tree dies
grow when the old banana tree dies if azima had been a boy
if azima had been a boy i would have been happier
i would have been happier she has the right spirit
she has the right spirit you worry yourself for nothing
you worry yourself for nothing said obierica
said obierica the children are still very young
the children are still very young no yeah is old enough to impregnate a
no yeah is old enough to impregnate a woman
woman at his age i was already fending for
at his age i was already fending for myself
myself no my friend he is not too young
no my friend he is not too young a chick that will grow into a can
a chick that will grow into a can be spotted the very day it hatches
be spotted the very day it hatches i have done my best to make nuoye grow
i have done my best to make nuoye grow into a man
into a man but there is too much of his mother in
but there is too much of his mother in him
him too much of his grandfather obiereka
too much of his grandfather obiereka thought but he did not say it
thought but he did not say it the same thought also came to okonkwo's
the same thought also came to okonkwo's mind
mind but he had long learned how to lay that
but he had long learned how to lay that ghost
ghost whenever the thought of his father's
whenever the thought of his father's weakness and failure troubled him he
weakness and failure troubled him he expelled it by thinking about his own
expelled it by thinking about his own strength and success
strength and success and so he did now
and so he did now his mind went to his latest show of
his mind went to his latest show of manliness
i cannot understand why you refused to come with us to kill that boy
come with us to kill that boy he asked obierica
he asked obierica because i did not want to
because i did not want to obierico replied sharply
obierico replied sharply i had something better to do
you sound as if you question the authority in the decision of the oracle
authority in the decision of the oracle who said he should die
who said he should die i do not why should i
i do not why should i but the oracle did not ask me to carry
but the oracle did not ask me to carry out its decision
out its decision but someone had to do it
but someone had to do it if we were all afraid of blood
if we were all afraid of blood it would not be done
it would not be done what do you think the oracle would do
what do you think the oracle would do then
you know very well okonkwo that i am not afraid of blood
that i am not afraid of blood and if anyone tells you that i am he is
and if anyone tells you that i am he is telling a lie
telling a lie and let me tell you one thing my friend
and let me tell you one thing my friend if i were you
if i were you i would have stayed at home
i would have stayed at home what you have done will not please the
what you have done will not please the earth
earth it is the kind of action for which the
it is the kind of action for which the goddess
goddess wipes out whole families
the earth cannot punish me for obeying her messenger
her messenger okonkwo said
okonkwo said a child's fingers are not scalded by a
a child's fingers are not scalded by a piece of hot yam which its mother puts
piece of hot yam which its mother puts into its palm
into its palm that is true
that is true obierica agreed
obierica agreed but if the oracle said that my son
but if the oracle said that my son should be killed
should be killed i would neither dispute it
i would neither dispute it nor be the one to do it
they would have gone on arguing had ophidu not come in just then
had ophidu not come in just then [Music]
[Music] it was clear from his twinkling eyes
it was clear from his twinkling eyes that he had important news
that he had important news but it would be impolite to rush him
but it would be impolite to rush him obierica offered him a lobe of the
obierica offered him a lobe of the colonnade he had broken with okonkwo
colonnade he had broken with okonkwo ofuedu ate slowly and talked about the
ofuedu ate slowly and talked about the locusts
locusts when he finished his colonnad he said
when he finished his colonnad he said the things that happened these days are
the things that happened these days are very strange
very strange what has happened
what has happened asked okonkwo
asked okonkwo do you know ogbuwayfi hondulue
said together he died this morning
that is not strange he was the oldest man in ire
man in ire said obie erica
you are right of way to agreed
of way to agreed but you ought to ask why the drum has
but you ought to ask why the drum has not beaten to tell umuofia of his death
not beaten to tell umuofia of his death why
why as toby erica and okonkwo together
as toby erica and okonkwo together that is the strange part of it
that is the strange part of it you know his first wife who walks with a
you know his first wife who walks with a stick
stick yes
yes she is called ozoemena
she is called ozoemena that
is as you know too old to attend
too old to attend during his illness
during his illness his younger wives did that
his younger wives did that when he died this morning one of these
when he died this morning one of these women went to ozo amena's heart and told
women went to ozo amena's heart and told her
her she rose from her mat took her stick and
she rose from her mat took her stick and walked over to the ob
walked over to the ob she knelt on her knees and hands at the
she knelt on her knees and hands at the threshold
threshold and called her husband who was laid on a
and called her husband who was laid on a mat
she called three times and went back to her hut
and went back to her hut when the youngest wife went to call her
when the youngest wife went to call her again to be present at the washing of
again to be present at the washing of the body
the body she found her lying on the mat dead
that is very strange indeed said okonkwo
said okonkwo they will put off
they will put off under louise funeral until his wife has
under louise funeral until his wife has been buried
been buried that is why the drum has not been beaten
that is why the drum has not been beaten to tell umuofia
to tell umuofia it was always said
it was always said that
that and ozo mena had one mind said obi erica
and ozo mena had one mind said obi erica i remember when i was a young boy there
i remember when i was a young boy there was a song about them
was a song about them he could not do anything without telling
he could not do anything without telling her
her i did not know that said okonkwo
i did not know that said okonkwo i thought he was a strong man in his
i thought he was a strong man in his youth
he was indeed sadofo edu
sadofo edu okonkwo shook his head doubtfully
okonkwo shook his head doubtfully he led morpher to war in those days
he led morpher to war in those days said obiereka
okonkwo was beginning to feel like his old self again
old self again all that he required was something to
all that he required was something to occupy his mind
occupy his mind if he had killed ikeme during the busy
if he had killed ikeme during the busy planting season or harvesting it would
planting season or harvesting it would not have been so bad
not have been so bad his mind would have been centered on his
his mind would have been centered on his work
work okonkwo was not a man of thought but of
okonkwo was not a man of thought but of action
action but in absence of work
but in absence of work talking was the next best
talking was the next best soon after ofuedu left
soon after ofuedu left okonkwo took up his goatskin bag to go
okonkwo took up his goatskin bag to go i must go home to tap my palm trees for
i must go home to tap my palm trees for the afternoon he said
who taps your tall trees for you asked obierica
sometimes i wish i had not taken the ozo title said obierica
title said obierica it wounds my heart to see these young
it wounds my heart to see these young men killing palm trees in the name of
men killing palm trees in the name of tapping
tapping it is so indeed
it is so indeed okonkwo agreed
okonkwo agreed but the law of the land must be obeyed
but the law of the land must be obeyed i don't know how we got that law
i don't know how we got that law said
said in many other clans a man of title is
in many other clans a man of title is not forbidden to climb the palm tree
not forbidden to climb the palm tree here we say he cannot climb the tall
here we say he cannot climb the tall tree but he can tap the short one
tree but he can tap the short one standing on the ground
standing on the ground it is like demurragana
it is like demurragana who would not lend his knife for cutting
who would not lend his knife for cutting up dog meat because the dog was taboo to
up dog meat because the dog was taboo to him but offered to use his teeth
him but offered to use his teeth i think it is good that our clan holds
i think it is good that our clan holds the ozo title in high esteem
the ozo title in high esteem said okonkwo
said okonkwo in those other clans you speak of
in those other clans you speak of ozo is so low that every beggar takes it
ozo is so low that every beggar takes it i was only speaking in jest said
i was only speaking in jest said obiarika
obiarika in obame and aninta
in obame and aninta the title is worth less than two
the title is worth less than two calories
calories every man wears the thread of title on
every man wears the thread of title on his ankle
his ankle and does not lose it even if he steals
and does not lose it even if he steals they have indeed soiled the name of ozo
they have indeed soiled the name of ozo said okonkwo as he rose to go
said okonkwo as he rose to go it will not be very long now before my
it will not be very long now before my in-laws come
in-laws come said obierica
said obierica i shall return very soon
i shall return very soon said okonkwo
said okonkwo looking at the position of the sun
there were seven men in obiarica's hut when okonkwo returned
when okonkwo returned the suitor
the suitor was a young man of about 25
was a young man of about 25 and with him were his father and uncle
and with him were his father and uncle on albierica's side where his two elder
on albierica's side where his two elder brothers
brothers and maduka his sixteen-year-old son
asked a quake his mother to send us some coconuts
coconuts said obiereka to his son
said obiereka to his son maduka vanished into the compound like
maduka vanished into the compound like lightning
lightning the conversation at once centered on him
the conversation at once centered on him and everybody agreed that he was as
and everybody agreed that he was as sharp as a razor
sharp as a razor i sometimes think he is too sharp
i sometimes think he is too sharp said obiarica somewhat indulgently
said obiarica somewhat indulgently he hardly ever walks he's always in a
he hardly ever walks he's always in a hurry
hurry if you are sending him on an errand he
if you are sending him on an errand he flies away before he has heard half of
flies away before he has heard half of the message
the message you were very much like that yourself
you were very much like that yourself said his eldest brother
said his eldest brother as our people say
as our people say when mother cow is chewing grass
when mother cow is chewing grass its young ones watch its mouth
its young ones watch its mouth maduka has been watching your mouth
maduka has been watching your mouth as he was speaking the boy returned
as he was speaking the boy returned followed by a quake his half-sister
followed by a quake his half-sister carrying a wooden dish with three cola
carrying a wooden dish with three cola nuts and alligator pepper
nuts and alligator pepper she gave the dish to her father's eldest
she gave the dish to her father's eldest brother
brother and then shook hands very shyly
and then shook hands very shyly with her suitor and his relatives
with her suitor and his relatives she was about 16
she was about 16 and just ripe for marriage
and just ripe for marriage her suitor and his relatives
her suitor and his relatives surveyed her young body with expert eyes
surveyed her young body with expert eyes as if to assure themselves that she was
as if to assure themselves that she was beautiful and ripe
she wore a coiffure which was done up into a crest in the middle of the head
into a crest in the middle of the head cam wood was rubbed lightly into his
cam wood was rubbed lightly into his skin
skin and all over her body
and all over her body were black patterns drawn with huli
were black patterns drawn with huli she wore a black necklace
she wore a black necklace which hung down in three coils just
which hung down in three coils just above her full succulent breasts
above her full succulent breasts on her arms were red and yellow bangles
on her arms were red and yellow bangles and on her waist
and on her waist four or five rows of jigida
four or five rows of jigida or waist beads
or waist beads when she had shaken hands or rather
when she had shaken hands or rather held out her hand to be shaken
held out her hand to be shaken she returned to her mother's hut to help
she returned to her mother's hut to help with the cooking
with the cooking remove your jigida first her mother
remove your jigida first her mother warned
warned as she moved near the fireplace to bring
as she moved near the fireplace to bring the pastel resting against the wall
the pastel resting against the wall every day i tell you that jigida and
every day i tell you that jigida and fire are not friends but you will never
fire are not friends but you will never hear
hear you grew your ears for decoration not
you grew your ears for decoration not for hearing
for hearing one of these days
one of these days your jigeeta will catch fire on your
your jigeeta will catch fire on your waist and then you will know
a quick a move to the other end of the heart
move to the other end of the heart and began to remove the waste beads
and began to remove the waste beads it had to be done slowly and carefully
it had to be done slowly and carefully taking each string separately
taking each string separately else it would break
else it would break and the thousand tiny rings would have
and the thousand tiny rings would have to be strung together again
to be strung together again she rubbed each string downwards with
she rubbed each string downwards with her palms
her palms until it passed the buttocks and slipped
until it passed the buttocks and slipped down to the floor around her feet
down to the floor around her feet the men in the ob
the men in the ob had already begun to drink the palm wine
had already begun to drink the palm wine which a quache suitor had brought
which a quache suitor had brought it was a very good one and powerful
it was a very good one and powerful for in spite of the palm fruit hung
for in spite of the palm fruit hung across the mouth of the pot to restrain
across the mouth of the pot to restrain the lively liquor
the lively liquor white foam rose and spilled over
that wine is the work of a good tapper said okonkwo
said okonkwo the young suitor whose name was ebay
the young suitor whose name was ebay smiled broadly and said to his father
smiled broadly and said to his father do you hear that
do you hear that he then said to the others
he then said to the others he will never admit that i am a good
he will never admit that i am a good tapper
tapper he tapped three of my best palm trees to
he tapped three of my best palm trees to death
death said his father
that was about five years ago said ebay
said ebay who had begun to pour out the wine
who had begun to pour out the wine before i learned how to tap
before i learned how to tap he filled the first horn
he filled the first horn and gave to his father
and gave to his father then he poured out for the others
then he poured out for the others okonkwo brought out his big horn from
okonkwo brought out his big horn from the goatskin bag
the goatskin bag blew into it to remove any dust that
blew into it to remove any dust that might be there
might be there and gave it to ebay to fill
and gave it to ebay to fill as the men drank they talked about
as the men drank they talked about everything except the thing for which
everything except the thing for which they had gathered
they had gathered it was only after the pot had been
it was only after the pot had been emptied
emptied that the suitor's father cleared his
that the suitor's father cleared his voice
voice and announced the object of their visit
and announced the object of their visit a bjerica
a bjerica then presented to him a small bundle of
then presented to him a small bundle of short broomsticks
short broomsticks ukbu counted them
they are 30 he asked
he asked objerica nodded in agreement
we are at last getting somewhere who
who said and then turning to his brother and
said and then turning to his brother and his son he said
his son he said let us go out and whisper together
let us go out and whisper together the three rose and went outside
the three rose and went outside when they returned
when they returned ukebu
ukebu handed the bundle of sticks to objerica
handed the bundle of sticks to objerica he counted them instead of 30
he counted them instead of 30 there were now only 15.
there were now only 15. he passed them over to his eldest
he passed them over to his eldest brother machi who also counted them and
brother machi who also counted them and said
we had not thought to go below 30 but as the dog said
but as the dog said if i fall down for you and you fall down
if i fall down for you and you fall down for me it is play
for me it is play marriage should be a play
marriage should be a play and not a fight
and not a fight so we are falling down again
so we are falling down again he then added ten sticks to the fifteen
he then added ten sticks to the fifteen and gave the bundle
and gave the bundle to
to in this way
in this way a quake's bride price was finally
a quake's bride price was finally settled at twenty bags
it was already dusk when the two parties came to this agreement
go and tell a quaker's mother that we have finished obierica said to his son
have finished obierica said to his son maduka
maduka almost immediately
almost immediately the women came in with a big bowl of
the women came in with a big bowl of fufu
fufu objerica's second wife followed with a
objerica's second wife followed with a pot of soup
pot of soup and maduka brought in a pot of palm wine
and maduka brought in a pot of palm wine [Music]
[Music] as the men ate and drank palm wine they
as the men ate and drank palm wine they talked about the customs of their
talked about the customs of their neighbors
neighbors it was only this morning
it was only this morning siddhobireka
siddhobireka that okonkwo and i were talking about
that okonkwo and i were talking about obame and aninta
obame and aninta where titled men climb trees
where titled men climb trees and pound fufu for their wives
and pound fufu for their wives all their customs are upside down
all their customs are upside down they do not decide bride prices we do
they do not decide bride prices we do with six
with six they haggle and bargain as if they were
they haggle and bargain as if they were buying a goat or a cow in the market
that is very bad said obiere kazelda's brother
said obiere kazelda's brother but what is good in one place is bad in
but what is good in one place is bad in another place
another place inu so they do not bargain at all not
inu so they do not bargain at all not even with broomsticks
even with broomsticks the suitor just goes on bringing bags of
the suitor just goes on bringing bags of calories until his in-laws tell him to
calories until his in-laws tell him to stop
stop it is a bad custom
it is a bad custom because it always leads to a quarrel
the world is large said okonkwo
said okonkwo i've even heard that in some tribes a
i've even heard that in some tribes a man's children belong to his wife and
man's children belong to his wife and her family
her family that cannot be
that cannot be said machi
said machi you might as well say that
you might as well say that the woman lies on top of the man when
the woman lies on top of the man when they are making the children
it is like the story of white men who they say
they say are white like this piece of chalk said
are white like this piece of chalk said objerica
objerica he held up a piece of chalk which every
he held up a piece of chalk which every man kept in his ob
man kept in his ob and with which his guests drew lines on
and with which his guests drew lines on the floor
the floor before they ate cola nuts
before they ate cola nuts and these white men they say
and these white men they say have no toes
have no toes and have you never seen them
and have you never seen them asked machi
asked machi have you
have you asked objerica
asked objerica one of them passes here frequently said
one of them passes here frequently said machi
machi his name
his name is ahmadi
is ahmadi those who knew ahmadi laughed
those who knew ahmadi laughed he was a leper
he was a leper and the polite name for leprosy was
and the polite name for leprosy was the white skin
for the first time in three nights okonkwo slept
okonkwo slept he woke up once in the middle of the
he woke up once in the middle of the night
night his mind went back to the past three
his mind went back to the past three days without making him feel uneasy
days without making him feel uneasy he began to wonder why he had felt
he began to wonder why he had felt uneasy at all
uneasy at all it was like a man wandering in broad
it was like a man wandering in broad daylight
daylight why a dream had appeared so terrible to
why a dream had appeared so terrible to him at night
him at night he stretched himself
he stretched himself and scratched his thigh or a mosquito
and scratched his thigh or a mosquito had bitten him as he slept
had bitten him as he slept another one was wailing near his right
another one was wailing near his right ear
ear he slapped the ear
he slapped the ear and hoped he had killed it
and hoped he had killed it why did he always go for one's ears
why did he always go for one's ears when he was a child
when he was a child his mother had told him a story about it
his mother had told him a story about it but it was as silly as all women's
but it was as silly as all women's stories
stories mosquito she had said
mosquito she had said had asked ear to marry him
had asked ear to marry him whereupon ear
whereupon ear fell on the floor in uncontrollable
fell on the floor in uncontrollable laughter
laughter how much longer do you think you will
how much longer do you think you will live she asked
live she asked you are already a skeleton
you are already a skeleton mosquito went away humiliated
mosquito went away humiliated and any time he passed her way
and any time he passed her way he told ear that he was still alive
okonkwo turned on his side and went back to sleep
to sleep he was roused in the morning by someone
he was roused in the morning by someone banging on his door
banging on his door who is that he growled
who is that he growled he knew it must be a quaffy
he knew it must be a quaffy of his three wives
of his three wives akwayfi was the only one who would have
akwayfi was the only one who would have the audacity to bang on his door
the audacity to bang on his door azima's dying
azima's dying came her voice
came her voice and all the tragedy and sorrow of her
and all the tragedy and sorrow of her life
life were packed in those words
were packed in those words okonkwo sprang from his bed pushed back
okonkwo sprang from his bed pushed back the bolt on his door
the bolt on his door and ran to a kwefi's hot
and ran to a kwefi's hot izinma
izinma lays shivering on a mat beside a huge
lays shivering on a mat beside a huge fire that her mother had kept burning
fire that her mother had kept burning all night
all night it is iba
it is iba said okonkwo
said okonkwo as he took his machete and went to the
as he took his machete and went to the bush to collect the leaves and grasses
bush to collect the leaves and grasses and barks of trees
and barks of trees that went into making the medicine for
that went into making the medicine for eba
eba ekwafi knelt beside the sick child
ekwafi knelt beside the sick child occasionally feeling with her palm the
occasionally feeling with her palm the wet burning forehead
wet burning forehead izima was an only child
izima was an only child in the center of her mother's world
in the center of her mother's world very often
very often it was a zenma who decided what food her
it was a zenma who decided what food her mother should prepare
mother should prepare equafee even gave her such delicacies as
equafee even gave her such delicacies as eggs which children were rarely allowed
eggs which children were rarely allowed to eat because such food tempted them to
to eat because such food tempted them to steal
steal one day
one day as azeema was eating an egg okonkwo had
as azeema was eating an egg okonkwo had come in unexpectedly from his heart
come in unexpectedly from his heart he was greatly shocked
he was greatly shocked and swore to beat ekwayfi if she dared
and swore to beat ekwayfi if she dared to give the child eggs again
to give the child eggs again [Music]
[Music] but it was impossible to refuse azinma
but it was impossible to refuse azinma anything
anything after her father's rebuke she developed
after her father's rebuke she developed an even keener appetite for eggs
an even keener appetite for eggs and she enjoyed above all the secrecy in
and she enjoyed above all the secrecy in which she now ate them
which she now ate them her mother always took her into their
her mother always took her into their bedroom
bedroom and shut the door
izima did not call her mother nay like all children
nay like all children she called her by her name
she called her by her name a kwefi
a kwefi as her father and other grown-up people
as her father and other grown-up people did
did the relationship between them was not
the relationship between them was not only that of mother and child
only that of mother and child there was something in it like the
there was something in it like the companionship of equals which was
companionship of equals which was strengthened by such little conspiracies
strengthened by such little conspiracies as eating eggs in the bedroom
as eating eggs in the bedroom equafee had suffered a good deal in her
equafee had suffered a good deal in her life
life she had borne ten children
she had borne ten children and nine of them had died in infancy
and nine of them had died in infancy usually before the age of three
usually before the age of three as she buried one child after another
as she buried one child after another her sorrow gave way to despair
her sorrow gave way to despair and then to grim resignation
and then to grim resignation [Music]
[Music] the birth of her children
the birth of her children which should be a woman's crowning glory
which should be a woman's crowning glory became for a kwefi
became for a kwefi a mere physical agony devoid of promise
a mere physical agony devoid of promise the naming ceremony after seven market
the naming ceremony after seven market weeks became an empty ritual
weeks became an empty ritual her deepening despair found expression
her deepening despair found expression in the names she gave her children
in the names she gave her children one of them was a pathetic cry
one of them was a pathetic cry on biko
on biko death
death i implore you
i implore you but death took no notice
in his fifteenth month the next child was a girl
the next child was a girl zoe
zoe may it not happen again
may it not happen again she died in her eleventh month
she died in her eleventh month and two others after her
and two others after her equafee then became defined
equafee then became defined and called her next child
death may please himself and he did
and he did after the death of a kwefi's second
after the death of a kwefi's second child
child okonkwo had gone to a medicine man
okonkwo had gone to a medicine man who was also a diviner
who was also a diviner of the offer oracle
of the offer oracle to inquire what was amiss
to inquire what was amiss this man told him that the child
this man told him that the child was an ogbanje
was an ogbanje one of those wicked children who when
one of those wicked children who when they died
they died entered their mother's wombs to be born
entered their mother's wombs to be born again
when your wife becomes pregnant again he said
said let her not sleep in her heart
let her not sleep in her heart let her go and stay with her people
let her go and stay with her people in that way
in that way she will elude her wicked tormentor
she will elude her wicked tormentor and break its evil cycle of birth and
and break its evil cycle of birth and death
death ekwafi did as she was asked
ekwafi did as she was asked as soon as she became pregnant
as soon as she became pregnant she went to live with her old mother in
she went to live with her old mother in another village
another village it was there that her third child was
it was there that her third child was born and circumcised on the eighth day
born and circumcised on the eighth day she did not return to okonkwo's compound
she did not return to okonkwo's compound until three days before the naming
until three days before the naming ceremony
ceremony the child was called
was not given proper burial when he died okonkwo had called in another medicine
okonkwo had called in another medicine man who was famous in the clan for his
man who was famous in the clan for his great knowledge about ogbanje children
great knowledge about ogbanje children his name
his name was
was a very striking figure tall with a full beard and a bald head
with a full beard and a bald head he was light in complexion
he was light in complexion and his eyes were red and fiery
and his eyes were red and fiery he always gnashed his teeth as he
he always gnashed his teeth as he listened to those who came to consult
listened to those who came to consult him
him he asked okonkwo a few questions about
he asked okonkwo a few questions about the dead child
the dead child all the neighbors and relations would
all the neighbors and relations would come to mourn gathered round them
on what market day was it born he asked
replato conquo and it died this morning
and it died this morning okonkwo said yes
okonkwo said yes and only then realized for the first
and only then realized for the first time
time that the child had died on the same
that the child had died on the same market day
market day as it had been born
as it had been born [Music]
[Music] the neighbors and relations
the neighbors and relations also saw the coincidence
also saw the coincidence and said among themselves
and said among themselves it was very significant
it was very significant where do you sleep with your wife
where do you sleep with your wife in your ob
in your ob or in her own heart
or in her own heart ask the medicine man
ask the medicine man in her
in her heart
heart in future
in future call her into europe
the medicine man then ordered that there should be no mourning for the dead child
should be no mourning for the dead child he brought out a sharp razor from the
he brought out a sharp razor from the goat skin bag slung from his left
goat skin bag slung from his left shoulder
shoulder and began to mutilate the child
and began to mutilate the child then he took it away to bury in the evil
then he took it away to bury in the evil forest
forest holding it by the ankle
holding it by the ankle and dragging it on the ground behind
and dragging it on the ground behind him after such treatment
him after such treatment it would think twice before coming again
it would think twice before coming again unless
unless it was one of the stubborn ones who
it was one of the stubborn ones who return
return carrying the stamp of their mutilation
carrying the stamp of their mutilation a missing finger
a missing finger or perhaps
or perhaps a dark line where the medicine man's
a dark line where the medicine man's razor had cut them
by the time onwumbiko died ekwafi had become a very bitter woman
ekwafi had become a very bitter woman her husband's first wife had already had
her husband's first wife had already had three sons all strong and healthy
three sons all strong and healthy when she had borne her third son in
when she had borne her third son in succession
succession okonkwo had gathered a goat for her as
okonkwo had gathered a goat for her as was the custom
was the custom equafee had nothing but good wishes for
equafee had nothing but good wishes for her
her but she had grown so bitter about her
but she had grown so bitter about her own chi
own chi that she could not rejoice with others
that she could not rejoice with others over their good fortune
over their good fortune and so
and so on the day that moliere's mother
on the day that moliere's mother celebrated the birth of her three sons
celebrated the birth of her three sons with feasting and music
with feasting and music ecwefi
ecwefi was the only person in the happy company
was the only person in the happy company who went about with a cloud on her brow
who went about with a cloud on her brow her husband's wife took this for
her husband's wife took this for malevolence as husband's wives were
malevolence as husband's wives were warned to
warned to how could she know that ekwafi's
how could she know that ekwafi's bitterness did not flow outwards to
bitterness did not flow outwards to others
others but inwards
but inwards into her own soul
into her own soul that she did not blame others for their
that she did not blame others for their good fortune
good fortune but her own evil qi
but her own evil qi who denied her any
at last ezinema was born
ezinema was born and although ailing she seemed
and although ailing she seemed determined to live
determined to live at first
at first equafee accepted her as she had accepted
equafee accepted her as she had accepted others
others with listless resignation
with listless resignation but when she lived on to her fourth
but when she lived on to her fourth fifth
fifth and sixth years
and sixth years love returned once more to her mother
love returned once more to her mother and with a love
and with a love anxiety
anxiety she determined to nurse her child to
she determined to nurse her child to health
health and she put all her being into it
and she put all her being into it she was rewarded by occasional spells of
she was rewarded by occasional spells of health during which azima bubbled with
health during which azima bubbled with energy like fresh palm wine
energy like fresh palm wine at such times she seemed beyond danger
at such times she seemed beyond danger but all of a sudden
but all of a sudden she would go down again
she would go down again everybody knew she was an old boundary
everybody knew she was an old boundary these sudden bouts of sickness and
these sudden bouts of sickness and health were typical of her kind
health were typical of her kind but she had lived so long that perhaps
but she had lived so long that perhaps she had decided to stay
she had decided to stay some of them did become tired of their
some of them did become tired of their evil rounds of birth and death or took
evil rounds of birth and death or took pity on their mothers and stayed
pity on their mothers and stayed equafee believed deep inside her that
equafee believed deep inside her that ezinema had come to stay
ezinema had come to stay she believed because it was that faith
she believed because it was that faith alone that gave her own life any kind of
alone that gave her own life any kind of meaning
meaning and this faith had been strengthened
and this faith had been strengthened when a year or so ago a medicine man had
when a year or so ago a medicine man had dug up izeenma's
dug up izeenma's iwa
iwa everyone knew then that she would live
everyone knew then that she would live because her bond with the world of oak
because her bond with the world of oak banje had been broken
banje had been broken ekwafi was reassured
ekwafi was reassured but such was her anxiety for her
but such was her anxiety for her daughter that she could not rid herself
daughter that she could not rid herself completely of her fear
completely of her fear and although she believed that the ee
and although she believed that the ee which had been dug up was genuine
which had been dug up was genuine she could not ignore the fact that some
she could not ignore the fact that some really evil children sometimes misled
really evil children sometimes misled people into digging up a specious one
people into digging up a specious one but azimus
but azimus had looked real enough
had looked real enough it was a smooth pebble wrapped in a
it was a smooth pebble wrapped in a dirty rag
dirty rag the man who dug it up
the man who dug it up was the same
was the same way who was famous in all the clan for
way who was famous in all the clan for his knowledge in these matters
his knowledge in these matters ezinma had not wanted to cooperate with
ezinma had not wanted to cooperate with him at first but that was only to be
him at first but that was only to be expected
expected would yield her secrets easily and most
would yield her secrets easily and most of them never did because they died too
of them never did because they died too young
young before they could be asked questions
before they could be asked questions where did you bury
where did you bury your ee
your ee okagwe asked
okagwe asked was nine then and was just recovering
was nine then and was just recovering from a serious illness
she asked in return you know what it is
you know what it is you buried it in the ground somewhere
you buried it in the ground somewhere so that you can die and return again to
so that you can die and return again to torment your mother
torment your mother eseema looked at her mother whose eyes
eseema looked at her mother whose eyes sad and pleading were fixed on her
answer the question at once who stood beside her
who stood beside her all the family were there and some of
all the family were there and some of the neighbors too
the neighbors too beaver to me
beaver to me the medicine man told okonkwo in a cool
the medicine man told okonkwo in a cool confident voice
confident voice he turned again to azima
he turned again to azima where did you bury
where did you bury your ee
where they buried children she replied
she replied and the quiet spectators murmured to
and the quiet spectators murmured to themselves
themselves come along then
come along then and show me the spot
and show me the spot said the medicine man
said the medicine man the crowd set out with azinma leading
the crowd set out with azinma leading the way
the way and okagwe following closely behind her
and okagwe following closely behind her okonkwo came next
okonkwo came next and a kwefe followed him
and a kwefe followed him when she came to the main road ezinma
when she came to the main road ezinma turned left
turned left as if she was going to the stream
but you said it was where they bury the children
children asked the medicine man
asked the medicine man no
whose feeling of importance was manifest in her spritely wonk
in her spritely wonk she sometimes broke into a run
she sometimes broke into a run and stopped again suddenly
and stopped again suddenly the crowd followed her silently
the crowd followed her silently women and children returning from the
women and children returning from the stream with pots of water on their heads
stream with pots of water on their heads wondered what was happening
wondered what was happening until they saw okagwe and guessed that
until they saw okagwe and guessed that it must be something to do
it must be something to do with ogbanje
with ogbanje they all knew ekwefi and her daughter
they all knew ekwefi and her daughter very well
very well when she got to the big udola tree
when she got to the big udola tree ezinema turned left into the bush
ezinema turned left into the bush and the crowd followed her
and the crowd followed her because of her size she made her way
because of her size she made her way through trees and creepers more quickly
through trees and creepers more quickly than her followers
than her followers the bush was alive with the treaded feet
the bush was alive with the treaded feet on dry leaves and sticks and the moving
on dry leaves and sticks and the moving aside of tree branches
aside of tree branches azima went deeper and deeper
azima went deeper and deeper and the crowd went with her
and the crowd went with her then she suddenly turned around
then she suddenly turned around and began to walk back to the road
and began to walk back to the road everybody stood to let her pass
everybody stood to let her pass and then filed after her
and then filed after her if you bring us all this way for nothing
if you bring us all this way for nothing i shall beat sense into you okonkwo
i shall beat sense into you okonkwo threatened
threatened i have told you to let her alone
i have told you to let her alone i know how to deal with him
led the way back to the road looked left and right
looked left and right and turned right
and turned right and so they arrived home again
where did you bury your eeyi
finally stopped outside her father's obi okogbo's voice was unchanged
okogbo's voice was unchanged it was quiet
it was quiet and confident
and confident it is near that orange tree ezinma said
it is near that orange tree ezinma said and why did you not say so
and why did you not say so you wicked daughter of a kala goli
you wicked daughter of a kala goli okonkwo swore furiously
okonkwo swore furiously the medicine man ignored
the medicine man ignored him come and show me the exact spot
him come and show me the exact spot he said quietly to azima
he said quietly to azima it is here she said when they got to the
it is here she said when they got to the tree
point at the spot with your finger said okay
okay it is here
it is here touching the ground with her finger
touching the ground with her finger okonkwo stood by
okonkwo stood by rumbling like thunder in the rainy
rumbling like thunder in the rainy season
he already put aside his goat skin bag in his big cloth and was in his
in his big cloth and was in his underwear
underwear a long and thin strip of cloth
a long and thin strip of cloth wound round the waist like a belt
wound round the waist like a belt and then passed between the legs to be
and then passed between the legs to be fastened to the belt behind
fastened to the belt behind he immediately set to work digging a pit
he immediately set to work digging a pit rezinma had
rezinma had indicated the neighbors sat around
indicated the neighbors sat around watching the pit becoming deeper and
watching the pit becoming deeper and deeper
deeper the dark topsoil soon gave way to the
the dark topsoil soon gave way to the bright red earth with which women
bright red earth with which women scrubbed the floors and walls of huts
scrubbed the floors and walls of huts okagwe worked tirelessly and in silence
okagwe worked tirelessly and in silence his back shining with perspiration
his back shining with perspiration okonkwo stood by the pit
okonkwo stood by the pit he asked okwe to come up and rest while
he asked okwe to come up and rest while he took a hand but a cog boy said he was
he took a hand but a cog boy said he was not tired yet
a kwefi went into her hut to cook yams her husband had brought out more yams
her husband had brought out more yams than usual because the medicine man had
than usual because the medicine man had to be fed
to be fed ezeema went with her and helped in
ezeema went with her and helped in preparing the vegetables
there is too much green vegetable she said
don't you see the pot is full of yams equafee asked
equafee asked and you know how leaves become smaller
and you know how leaves become smaller after cooking
after cooking yes
that was why the snake lizard killed his mother
mother very true
he gave his mother seven baskets of vegetables to cook and in the end there
vegetables to cook and in the end there were only three
were only three and so he killed her
and so he killed her said
said that is not the end of the story
i remember now he brought another seven baskets and
he brought another seven baskets and cooked them himself
cooked them himself and there were again only three
and there were again only three so he killed himself too
outside the obi okagboy and okonkwo were digging the pit
okagboy and okonkwo were digging the pit to find where ezinma had buried her ee
to find where ezinma had buried her ee neighbors sat around watching
neighbors sat around watching the pit was now so deep that they no
the pit was now so deep that they no longer saw the digger
longer saw the digger they only saw the red earth he threw up
they only saw the red earth he threw up mounting higher and higher
mounting higher and higher okonkwo's
okonkwo's [Music]
[Music] stood near the edge of the pit because
stood near the edge of the pit because he wanted to take in all that happened
had again taken over the digging from okonkwo
okonkwo he worked as usual in silence
he worked as usual in silence the neighbors and okonkwo's wives were
the neighbors and okonkwo's wives were now talking
now talking the children had lost interest and were
the children had lost interest and were playing
playing suddenly
suddenly okagwe sprang to the surface with the
okagwe sprang to the surface with the agility of a leopard
agility of a leopard it is very near now he said
it is very near now he said i have felt it
i have felt it there was immediate excitement
there was immediate excitement and those who were sitting jumped their
and those who were sitting jumped their feet
feet call your wife and child
had heard the noise and run out to see what it was
what it was okagwe went back into the pit which was
okagwe went back into the pit which was now surrounded by spectators
now surrounded by spectators after a few more hole fulls of earth
after a few more hole fulls of earth he struck the iwa
he struck the iwa he raised it carefully with the hole and
he raised it carefully with the hole and threw it to the surface
threw it to the surface some women ran away in fear when it was
some women ran away in fear when it was thrown
thrown but they soon returned
but they soon returned and everyone was gazing at the rag from
and everyone was gazing at the rag from a reasonable distance
a reasonable distance okagwe emerged and without seeing a word
okagwe emerged and without seeing a word or even looking at the spectators
or even looking at the spectators he went to his goatskin bag
he went to his goatskin bag took out two leaves and began to chew
took out two leaves and began to chew them
them when he had swallowed them
when he had swallowed them he took up the rag with left hand and
he took up the rag with left hand and began to untie it
began to untie it and then
and then the smooth shiny pebble
the smooth shiny pebble fell out
fell out he picked it up
is this yours he asked izima
he asked izima yes
yes she replied
she replied all the women shouted with joy
all the women shouted with joy because ekwafi's troubles were at last
because ekwafi's troubles were at last ended
all this had happened more than a year ago
ago and azima had not been ill since
and azima had not been ill since and then suddenly
and then suddenly she had begun to shiver in the night
she had begun to shiver in the night ekwafee brought her to the fireplace
ekwafee brought her to the fireplace spread her mat on the floor and built a
spread her mat on the floor and built a fire
fire but she had got worse and worse
but she had got worse and worse as she knelt by her
as she knelt by her feeling with her palm the wet burning
feeling with her palm the wet burning forehead
forehead she prayed a thousand times
she prayed a thousand times although her husband's wives were saying
although her husband's wives were saying that it was nothing more than eva
that it was nothing more than eva she did not hear them
okonkwo returned from the bush carrying on his left shoulder a large
carrying on his left shoulder a large bundle of grasses and leaves roots and
bundle of grasses and leaves roots and barks of medicinal trees and shrubs he
barks of medicinal trees and shrubs he went into aquafees hot put down his load
went into aquafees hot put down his load and sat down
and sat down get me apart he said
get me apart he said and leave the child alone
and leave the child alone equafee
equafee went to bring the pot and okonkwo
went to bring the pot and okonkwo selected the best from his bundle in
selected the best from his bundle in their due proportions and cut them up
their due proportions and cut them up he put them in the pot
he put them in the pot and a kwafi poured in some water
and a kwafi poured in some water is that enough
is that enough she asked when she had poured in about
she asked when she had poured in about half of the water in the bowl
half of the water in the bowl a little more i said a little are you
a little more i said a little are you deaf
deaf okonkwo roared at her
okonkwo roared at her she set the pot on the fire
she set the pot on the fire and okonkwo took up his machete to
and okonkwo took up his machete to return to his obi
return to his obi you must watch the pot carefully he said
you must watch the pot carefully he said as he went
as he went and don't allow to boil over
and don't allow to boil over if it does its power will be gone
if it does its power will be gone he went away to his heart
he went away to his heart and a kwefi
and a kwefi began to tend the medicine part
began to tend the medicine part almost as if it was itself a sick child
almost as if it was itself a sick child her eyes went constantly from azeema to
her eyes went constantly from azeema to the boiling pot
the boiling pot and back to azeema
and back to azeema okonkwo returned when he felt the
okonkwo returned when he felt the medicine had cooked long enough
medicine had cooked long enough he looked it over
he looked it over and said it was done
and said it was done [Music]
[Music] bring me a low stool for azima he said
bring me a low stool for azima he said and a thick mat
he took down the pot from the fire and placed it in front of the stool
and placed it in front of the stool he then roused his inma and placed her
he then roused his inma and placed her on the stool astride the steaming pot
on the stool astride the steaming pot the thick mat was thrown over both
the thick mat was thrown over both ezinema struggled to escape from the
ezinema struggled to escape from the choking and overpowering steam
choking and overpowering steam but she was held down
but she was held down she started to cry
she started to cry when the mat was at last removed she was
when the mat was at last removed she was drenched in perspiration
drenched in perspiration equafee mopped her with a piece of cloth
equafee mopped her with a piece of cloth and she lay down on a dry mat
and she lay down on a dry mat and was soon
and was soon asleep
large crowds began to gather on the village elo as soon as the edge had worn
village elo as soon as the edge had worn off the sun's heat and it was no longer
off the sun's heat and it was no longer painful on the body
painful on the body most communal ceremonies took place at
most communal ceremonies took place at that time of the day
that time of the day so that even when it was said that a
so that even when it was said that a ceremony would begin
ceremony would begin after the midday meal everyone
after the midday meal everyone understood
understood that it would begin a long time later
that it would begin a long time later when the sun's heat had softened
it was clear from the way the crowd stood or sat that the ceremony was for
stood or sat that the ceremony was for men there were many women
men there were many women but they looked on from the fringe like
but they looked on from the fringe like outsiders
outsiders the title men and elders sat on their
the title men and elders sat on their stools waiting for the trials to begin
stools waiting for the trials to begin in front of them was a row of stools on
in front of them was a row of stools on which nobody sat
which nobody sat there were nine of them
there were nine of them two little groups of people stood at a
two little groups of people stood at a respectable distance beyond the stools
respectable distance beyond the stools they faced the elders
they faced the elders there were three men in one group and
there were three men in one group and three men and one woman in the other
three men and one woman in the other the woman
the woman was ambafal
was ambafal and the three men with her were her
and the three men with her were her brothers
brothers in the other group were her husband
in the other group were her husband uzo wulu and his relatives
uzo wulu and his relatives and her brothers were as still as
and her brothers were as still as statues into whose faces the artist has
statues into whose faces the artist has molded defiance
molded defiance uzohulu and his relative
uzohulu and his relative on the other hand
on the other hand were whispering together
were whispering together it looked like whispering
it looked like whispering but they were really talking at the top
but they were really talking at the top of their voices
of their voices everybody in the crowd was talking
everybody in the crowd was talking it was like the market
it was like the market from a distance the noise was a deep
from a distance the noise was a deep rumble carried by the wind
rumble carried by the wind an iron gong sounded
an iron gong sounded setting up a wave of expectation in the
setting up a wave of expectation in the crowd
crowd everyone looked in the direction of the
everyone looked in the direction of the eguwu house
eguwu house [Music]
[Music] and a powerful flute blew a high pitched
and a powerful flute blew a high pitched blast
blast then came the voices of the egugu
then came the voices of the egugu guttural and awesome
guttural and awesome the waves struck the women in children
the waves struck the women in children and there was a backwards stampede
and there was a backwards stampede but it was momentary
but it was momentary they were already far enough where they
they were already far enough where they stood
stood and there was room for running away if
and there was room for running away if any of the egg
any of the egg should go towards them
should go towards them the drum sounded again and the flute
the drum sounded again and the flute blew
blew the egg house was now a pandemonium of
the egg house was now a pandemonium of quavering voices
quavering voices aru oem de
aru oem de filled the air as the spirits of the
filled the air as the spirits of the ancestors just emerged from the earth
ancestors just emerged from the earth greeted themselves in their esoteric
greeted themselves in their esoteric language
language the egugu house into which they emerged
the egugu house into which they emerged faced the forest away from the crowd
faced the forest away from the crowd who saw only its back with the many
who saw only its back with the many colored patterns and drawings done by
colored patterns and drawings done by specially chosen women at regular
specially chosen women at regular intervals
intervals these women never saw the inside of the
these women never saw the inside of the hut
hut no woman ever did
no woman ever did they scrubbed and painted the outside
they scrubbed and painted the outside walls under the supervision of men
walls under the supervision of men if they imagined what was inside
if they imagined what was inside they kept their imagination to
they kept their imagination to themselves
themselves no woman ever asked questions about the
no woman ever asked questions about the most powerful and the most secret cult
most powerful and the most secret cult in the clan
flew around the dark closed hut like tongues of fire
tongues of fire the ancestral spirits of the clan were
the ancestral spirits of the clan were abroad
abroad the metal gong beat continuously now and
the metal gong beat continuously now and the flute shrill and powerful floated on
the flute shrill and powerful floated on the chaos
the chaos and then
and then the eguwu appeared
the eguwu appeared the women and children sent up a great
the women and children sent up a great shout
shout and took to their heels
and took to their heels it was instinctive
it was instinctive a woman fled as soon as anaguru came
a woman fled as soon as anaguru came inside
inside and when as on that day
and when as on that day nine of the greatest masked spirits in
nine of the greatest masked spirits in the clan came out together
the clan came out together it was a terrifying spectacle
it was a terrifying spectacle even um
even um took to her heels and had to be
took to her heels and had to be restrained by her brothers
each of the nine representative village of the clan
representative village of the clan their leader was called evil forest
their leader was called evil forest smoke poured out of his head
smoke poured out of his head the nine villages of umuofia had grown
the nine villages of umuofia had grown out of the nine sons of the first father
out of the nine sons of the first father of the clan
of the clan evil forest represented the village of
evil forest represented the village of um
um or the children of eru
or the children of eru who was the eldest of the nine sons
pushing the air with his raffia arms the elders of the clan replied
the elders of the clan replied yeah
yeah um
evil forest then thrust the pointed end of his rattling staff into the earth
of his rattling staff into the earth and it began to shake and rattle
and it began to shake and rattle like something agitating with a metallic
like something agitating with a metallic life
life he took the first of the empty stools
he took the first of the empty stools and the eight other egg
and the eight other egg began to sit in order of seniority after
began to sit in order of seniority after him
okonkwo's wives and perhaps other women as well
as well might have noticed that the second
might have noticed that the second degree
degree had the springy walk of okonkwo
had the springy walk of okonkwo and they might also have noticed that
and they might also have noticed that okonkwo was not among the titled men and
okonkwo was not among the titled men and elders who sat behind the row of
but if they thought these things they kept them within themselves
with a springy walk was one of the dead fathers of the clan
was one of the dead fathers of the clan he looked terrible with his smoked
he looked terrible with his smoked raffia body
raffia body a huge wooden face painted white
a huge wooden face painted white except for the round hollow eyes and the
except for the round hollow eyes and the charred teeth that were as big as a
charred teeth that were as big as a man's fingers
man's fingers on his head were two powerful horns
when all the egg woo had sat down and the sound of the many
had sat down and the sound of the many tiny bells and rattles on their bodies
tiny bells and rattles on their bodies had subsided
had subsided evil forest addressed the two groups of
evil forest addressed the two groups of people facing them
i salute you he said spirits always address humans as bodies
bent down and touched the earth with his right
and touched the earth with his right hand as a sign of submission
our father my hand has touched the ground
my hand has touched the ground he said
he said uzo wulu's body do you know me
uzo wulu's body do you know me ask the spirit
ask the spirit how can i know you father
how can i know you father you are beyond our knowledge
evil forests then turn to the other group
group and addressed the eldest of the three
and addressed the eldest of the three brothers
the body of odooque i greet you
i greet you he said
he said and o duque bent down and touch the
and o duque bent down and touch the earth
earth the hearing then began
the hearing then began [Music]
[Music] uzo stepped forward and presented his
uzo stepped forward and presented his case
that woman standing there is my wife [Music]
[Music] i married her with my money and my yams
i married her with my money and my yams i do not owe my in-laws anything
i do not owe my in-laws anything i owe them no yams
i owe them no yams i owe them no coco jams
i owe them no coco jams one morning
one morning three of them came to my house
three of them came to my house beat me up and took my wife and children
beat me up and took my wife and children away
away this happened in the rainy season
this happened in the rainy season i have waited in vain for my wife to
i have waited in vain for my wife to return
return at last i went to my in-laws and said to
at last i went to my in-laws and said to them
them you have taken back your sister i did
you have taken back your sister i did not send her away
not send her away you yourselves took her
you yourselves took her the law of the clan is that you should
the law of the clan is that you should return her bride price
return her bride price but my wife's brothers said they had
but my wife's brothers said they had nothing to tell me
nothing to tell me so i have brought the matter to the
so i have brought the matter to the fathers of the clan
fathers of the clan my case is finished
my case is finished i salute you
your words are good said the leader of the gugu
said the leader of the gugu let us hear oduque
let us hear oduque his words may also be good
his words may also be good odouque was short in thick set
odouque was short in thick set he stepped forward
he stepped forward saluted the spirits
saluted the spirits and began his story
my in-law has told you that we went to his house beat him up and took our
his house beat him up and took our sister and her children away
sister and her children away all that is true
all that is true he told me that he came to take back her
he told me that he came to take back her bride price and we refuse to give it him
bride price and we refuse to give it him that also is true
that also is true my in-law
my in-law uzo
uzo is a beast
is a beast my sister lived with him for nine years
my sister lived with him for nine years during those years no single day passed
during those years no single day passed in the sky without his beating the woman
in the sky without his beating the woman we have tried to settle their quarrels
we have tried to settle their quarrels time without number
time without number and on each occasion
and on each occasion uzo wulu was guilty
two years ago continued
continued when she was pregnant
when she was pregnant he beat her until she miscarried
he beat her until she miscarried it is a lie she miscarried after she had
it is a lie she miscarried after she had gone to sleep with her lover
uzo wulu's body i salute you said evil forest silencing him
said evil forest silencing him what kind of lover sleeps with the
what kind of lover sleeps with the pregnant woman
pregnant woman there was a loud murmur of approbation
there was a loud murmur of approbation from the crowd
from the crowd oduque continued
oduque continued last year
last year when my sister was recovering from an
when my sister was recovering from an illness
illness he beat her again so that if the
he beat her again so that if the neighbors had not gone in to save her
neighbors had not gone in to save her she would have been killed
she would have been killed we heard of it
we heard of it and did as you have been told
and did as you have been told the law of um
the law of um is that if a woman runs away from her
is that if a woman runs away from her husband
husband her bride prices return
her bride prices return but in this case
but in this case she ran away to save her life
she ran away to save her life her two children belong to uzohulu
her two children belong to uzohulu we do not dispute it but they are too
we do not dispute it but they are too young to leave their mother
young to leave their mother if
if in the other hand
in the other hand should recover from his madness
should recover from his madness and come in the proper way to beg his
and come in the proper way to beg his wife to return
wife to return she will do so on the understanding that
she will do so on the understanding that if he ever beats her again
if he ever beats her again we shall cut off his genitals for him
we shall cut off his genitals for him the crowd roared with laughter
the crowd roared with laughter evil forest rose to his feet and order
evil forest rose to his feet and order was immediately restored
was immediately restored a steady cloud of smoke rose from his
a steady cloud of smoke rose from his head
head he sat down again and called two
he sat down again and called two witnesses
witnesses they were both
they were both who's
who's neighbors
neighbors and they agreed about the beating
and they agreed about the beating evil forest then stood up
evil forest then stood up pulled out his staff
pulled out his staff and thrusted into the earth again
and thrusted into the earth again [Music]
[Music] he ran a few steps in the direction of
he ran a few steps in the direction of the women
the women they all fled in terror only to return
they all fled in terror only to return to their places almost immediately
to their places almost immediately the nine egg
the nine egg then went away to consult together in
then went away to consult together in their house
their house they were silent for a long time
they were silent for a long time [Music]
[Music] then the metal gong sounded and the
then the metal gong sounded and the flute was blown
flute was blown the egg
the egg had emerged once again from their
had emerged once again from their underground home
underground home they saluted one another
they saluted one another and then reappeared on the elo
roared evil forest facing the elders and grandees of the
facing the elders and grandees of the clan
clan yah
yah replied the thunderous crowd
replied the thunderous crowd then silence descended from the sky
then silence descended from the sky and swallowed the noise
evil forest began to speak and all the while he spoke everyone was silent
while he spoke everyone was silent the eight other egugu
the eight other egugu were as still as statues
were as still as statues we have heard both sides of the case
we have heard both sides of the case said evil forest
said evil forest our duty
our duty is not to blame this man or to praise
is not to blame this man or to praise that
that but to settle the dispute
but to settle the dispute he turned
he turned to uzo wulu's group
to uzo wulu's group and allowed a short pause
body i salute you
i salute you he said
he said our father
our father my hand has touched the ground
my hand has touched the ground replied uzohulu touching the earth
body do you know me
do you know me how can i know you father
how can i know you father you are beyond our knowledge
you are beyond our knowledge uzohulu replied
uzohulu replied i am evil forest
i am evil forest i kill a man on the day that his life is
i kill a man on the day that his life is sweetest to him
sweetest to him that is true replied
go to your in-laws with a pot of wine and beg your wife to return to you
and beg your wife to return to you it is not bravery when a man fights with
it is not bravery when a man fights with a woman
a woman he turned to oduque
he turned to oduque and allowed a brief pause
i greet you he said my hand is on the ground
my hand is on the ground reply to duque
reply to duque do you know me
do you know me no man can know you
no man can know you reply to duque
reply to duque i am evil forest
i am evil forest i am dry meat that fills the mouth
i am dry meat that fills the mouth i am fire that burns without
i am fire that burns without if your in-law brings wine to you let
if your in-law brings wine to you let your sister go with him
your sister go with him i salute
i salute you he pulled his staff from the hard
you he pulled his staff from the hard earth and thrust it back
i don't know why such a trifle should come before the egg
come before the egg said one elder to another
said one elder to another don't you know what kind of man who's a
don't you know what kind of man who's a wudo is
wudo is he will not listen to any other decision
he will not listen to any other decision replied the other
replied the other as they spoke
as they spoke two other groups of people had replaced
two other groups of people had replaced the first
the first before the egu
before the egu and a great land case began
chapter 11 the night was impenetrably dark
the night was impenetrably dark the moon had been rising later in later
the moon had been rising later in later every night until now
every night until now it was seen only at dawn
it was seen only at dawn and whenever the moon forsook evening
and whenever the moon forsook evening and rose at cockcrow
and rose at cockcrow the nights were as black as charcoal
the nights were as black as charcoal azima and her mother sat on a mat on the
azima and her mother sat on a mat on the floor after their supper of yam fufu and
floor after their supper of yam fufu and leaf soup
leaf soup a palm oil lamp gave out yellowish light
a palm oil lamp gave out yellowish light without it
without it it would have been impossible to eat
it would have been impossible to eat one could not have known where one's
one could not have known where one's mouth was in the darkness of that night
mouth was in the darkness of that night there was an oil lamp in all the four
there was an oil lamp in all the four huts in okonkwo's compound
huts in okonkwo's compound and each hut seen from the others
and each hut seen from the others looked like a soft eye of yellow half
looked like a soft eye of yellow half light
light set in the solid massiveness of night
set in the solid massiveness of night the world was silent
the world was silent except for the shrill cry of insects
except for the shrill cry of insects which was part of the night
which was part of the night and the sound of wooden water and pastel
and the sound of wooden water and pastel as nwyeke pounded her fufu
as nwyeke pounded her fufu lived four compounds away and she was
lived four compounds away and she was notorious for her late cooking
notorious for her late cooking every woman in the neighborhood knew the
every woman in the neighborhood knew the sound of nguyeke's mortar and pastel
sound of nguyeke's mortar and pastel it was also part of the night
okonkwo had eaten from his wife's dishes and was now reclining with his back
and was now reclining with his back against the wall
against the wall he searched his bag and brought out his
he searched his bag and brought out his snuff bottle
snuff bottle he turned it onto his left palm
he turned it onto his left palm but nothing came out
but nothing came out he hit the bottle against his knee to
he hit the bottle against his knee to shake up the tobacco
shake up the tobacco that was always the trouble
that was always the trouble with okay snuff
with okay snuff it very quickly went damp and there was
it very quickly went damp and there was too much salt peter in it
too much salt peter in it okonkwo had not bought snuff from him
okonkwo had not bought snuff from him for a long time
for a long time idigo was the man who knew how to grind
idigo was the man who knew how to grind good snuff
good snuff but he had recently fallen ill
low voices broken now and again by singing
singing reached okonkwo from his wives huts
reached okonkwo from his wives huts as each woman and her children told folk
as each woman and her children told folk stories
stories ekwafee and her daughter ezinma
ekwafee and her daughter ezinma sat on a mat on the floor
sat on a mat on the floor it was a quaffy's turn to tell a story
once upon a time she began
she began all the birds were invited to a feast in
all the birds were invited to a feast in the sky
the sky they were very happy
they were very happy and began to prepare themselves for the
and began to prepare themselves for the great day
great day they painted their bodies with red cam
they painted their bodies with red cam wood and drew beautiful patterns on them
wood and drew beautiful patterns on them with uli
with uli tortoise
tortoise saw all these preparations and soon
saw all these preparations and soon discovered what it all meant
discovered what it all meant nothing that happened in the world of
nothing that happened in the world of the animals ever escaped his notice
the animals ever escaped his notice he was full of cunning
he was full of cunning as soon as he heard of the great feast
as soon as he heard of the great feast in the sky
in the sky his throat began to itch at the very
his throat began to itch at the very thought
thought there was a famine in those days
there was a famine in those days and tortoise had not eaten a good meal
and tortoise had not eaten a good meal for two moons
for two moons his body rattled like a piece of dry
his body rattled like a piece of dry stick in his empty shell
stick in his empty shell so he began to plan
so he began to plan how he would go to the sky
but he had no wings said
said be patient
be patient replied her mother
replied her mother that is the story
that is the story tortoise had no wings
tortoise had no wings but he went to the birds and asked to be
but he went to the birds and asked to be allowed to go with them
allowed to go with them we know you too well
we know you too well said the birds when they had heard him
said the birds when they had heard him you are full of cunning and you are
you are full of cunning and you are ungrateful
ungrateful if we allow you to come with us
if we allow you to come with us you will soon begin your mischief
you will soon begin your mischief you do not know me said tortoise i am a
you do not know me said tortoise i am a changed man
changed man i have learned that a man who makes
i have learned that a man who makes trouble for others is also making it for
trouble for others is also making it for himself
tortoise had a sweet tongue and within a short time all the birds
and within a short time all the birds agreed that he was a changed man
agreed that he was a changed man and they each gave him a feather
and they each gave him a feather with which he made two wings
with which he made two wings at last the great day came
at last the great day came and tortoise was the first to arrive at
and tortoise was the first to arrive at the meeting place
the meeting place when all the birds had gathered together
when all the birds had gathered together they set off in a body
they set off in a body tortoise was very happy and valuable
tortoise was very happy and valuable as he flew among the birds
as he flew among the birds and he was soon chosen as the man to
and he was soon chosen as the man to speak for the party because he was a
speak for the party because he was a great orator
great orator there is one important thing which we
there is one important thing which we must not forget
must not forget he said as they flew on their way
he said as they flew on their way when people are invited to a great feast
when people are invited to a great feast like this
like this they take new names for the occasion
they take new names for the occasion our hosts in the sky will expect us to
our hosts in the sky will expect us to honor this age-old custom
honor this age-old custom none of the birds had heard of this
none of the birds had heard of this costume
costume but they knew that tortoise in spite of
but they knew that tortoise in spite of his failings in other directions was a
his failings in other directions was a widely traveled man who do the customs
widely traveled man who do the customs of different peoples
of different peoples and so they each took a new name
and so they each took a new name when they had all taken
when they had all taken tortoise also took one
tortoise also took one he was to be called
he was to be called all of
all of you at last the party arrived in the sky
you at last the party arrived in the sky and their hosts were very happy to see
and their hosts were very happy to see them
them torres stood up in his many colored
torres stood up in his many colored plumage and thanked them for their
plumage and thanked them for their invitation
invitation his speech was so eloquent that all the
his speech was so eloquent that all the birds were glad they had brought him
birds were glad they had brought him and nodded their heads in approval of
and nodded their heads in approval of all he said
all he said their hosts took him as king of the
their hosts took him as king of the birds
birds especially as he looked somewhat
especially as he looked somewhat different from the others
different from the others after cola nuts had been presented and
after cola nuts had been presented and eaten
eaten the people of the sky set before their
the people of the sky set before their guests the most delectable dishes
guests the most delectable dishes tortoise had ever seen or dreamed of
tortoise had ever seen or dreamed of the soup was brought out hot from the
the soup was brought out hot from the fire
fire and in the very pot in which it had been
and in the very pot in which it had been cooked
cooked it was full of meat and fish
it was full of meat and fish tortoise began to sniff aloud
tortoise began to sniff aloud there was pounded yam
there was pounded yam and also yam porridge
and also yam porridge cooked with palm oil and fresh fish
cooked with palm oil and fresh fish there were also pots of palm wine
there were also pots of palm wine [Music]
[Music] when everything had been set before the
when everything had been set before the guests
guests one of the people of the sky came
one of the people of the sky came forward
forward and tasted a little from each pot
and tasted a little from each pot he then invited the birds to eat
he then invited the birds to eat but tortoise jumped to his feet and
but tortoise jumped to his feet and asked
asked for whom have you prepared this feast
for whom have you prepared this feast for all of you
for all of you replied the man
replied the man [Music]
[Music] tortoise turned to the birds and said
tortoise turned to the birds and said you remember
you remember that my name is all of you
that my name is all of you the custom here is to serve the
the custom here is to serve the spokesman first and the others later
spokesman first and the others later they will serve you when i have eaten
they will serve you when i have eaten he began to eat
he began to eat and the birds grumbled angrily
and the birds grumbled angrily the people of the sky thought it must be
the people of the sky thought it must be their custom to leave all the food for
their custom to leave all the food for their king
their king and so
and so tortoise ate the best part of the food
tortoise ate the best part of the food and then drank two pots of palm wine
and then drank two pots of palm wine so that he was full of food and drink
so that he was full of food and drink and his body filled out in his shell
and his body filled out in his shell birds gathered round to eat what was
birds gathered round to eat what was left and to peck at the bones he had
left and to peck at the bones he had thrown all about the floor
thrown all about the floor some of them were too angry to eat
some of them were too angry to eat they chose to fly home on an empty
they chose to fly home on an empty stomach
stomach but before they left each took back the
but before they left each took back the feather he had lent to tortoise
feather he had lent to tortoise and there he stood
and there he stood in his hard shell full of food and wine
in his hard shell full of food and wine but without any wings to fly home
but without any wings to fly home he asked the birds to take a message for
he asked the birds to take a message for his wife
his wife but they all refused
but they all refused in the end
in the end parrot
parrot who had felt more angry than the others
who had felt more angry than the others suddenly changed his mind and agreed to
suddenly changed his mind and agreed to take the message
take the message tell my wife said tortoise to bring out
tell my wife said tortoise to bring out all the soft things in my house and
all the soft things in my house and cover the compound with them
cover the compound with them so that i can jump down from the sky
so that i can jump down from the sky without very great danger
without very great danger parrot promised to deliver the message
parrot promised to deliver the message and then flew away
and then flew away but when he reached taurus's house
but when he reached taurus's house he told his wife to bring out all the
he told his wife to bring out all the hard things in the house
hard things in the house and so
and so she brought out her husband's hoes
she brought out her husband's hoes machetes spears guns and even his cannon
machetes spears guns and even his cannon tortoise looked down from the sky
tortoise looked down from the sky and saw his wife bringing things out
and saw his wife bringing things out but it was too far to see what they were
but it was too far to see what they were when all seemed ready
when all seemed ready he let himself go
he let himself go he fell
he fell and fell and fell
and fell and fell until he began to fear that he would
until he began to fear that he would never stop falling
never stop falling and then
and then like the sound of his cannon
like the sound of his cannon he crashed on the compound
he crashed on the compound did he die
did he die asked his inma
asked his inma no
no replied a kwefi
replied a kwefi his shell broke into pieces
his shell broke into pieces but there was a great medicine man in
but there was a great medicine man in the neighborhood
the neighborhood tortoise's wife sent for him and he
tortoise's wife sent for him and he gathered all the bits of shell and stuck
gathered all the bits of shell and stuck them together
them together that is why tortoise's shell
that is why tortoise's shell is not smooth
there is no song in the story azima pointed out
pointed out no
no today
today i shall think of another one with a song
i shall think of another one with a song but it is your turn now
once upon a time azima began
azima began [Music]
[Music] tortoise and cat
tortoise and cat went to wrestle against yams
went to wrestle against yams no
no that is not the beginning
that is not the beginning once upon a time
once upon a time there was a great famine in the land of
there was a great famine in the land of animals
animals everybody was lean
everybody was lean except cat who was fat
except cat who was fat and whose bodies shone as if oil was
and whose bodies shone as if oil was rubbed on it
rubbed on it she broke off
she broke off because at that very moment
because at that very moment a loud and high-pitched voice broke the
a loud and high-pitched voice broke the outer silence of the night
outer silence of the night it was chiello
it was chiello the priestess of agbala prophesying
the priestess of agbala prophesying there was nothing new in that
there was nothing new in that once in a while chiello was possessed by
once in a while chiello was possessed by the spirit of her god and she began to
the spirit of her god and she began to prophesy
prophesy but tonight
but tonight she was addressing her prophecy and
she was addressing her prophecy and greetings to okonkwo
greetings to okonkwo and so everyone in his family listened
and so everyone in his family listened the folk story stopped
came the voice like a sharp knife cutting through the night
cutting through the night okonkwo
okonkwo agbala
agbala jio
jerked her head sharply like an animal that had sniffed death in the air
that had sniffed death in the air her heart jumped painfully within her
her heart jumped painfully within her the priestess
the priestess had now reached a conquest compound
had now reached a conquest compound and was talking with him outside his hut
and was talking with him outside his hut she was saying again and again
she was saying again and again that agbala wanted to see his daughter
okonkwo pleaded with her to come back in the morning
the morning because azima was now asleep
because azima was now asleep but
but ignored what he was trying to say and
ignored what he was trying to say and went on shouting that agbala wanted to
went on shouting that agbala wanted to see his daughter
see his daughter her voice was as clear as metal
her voice was as clear as metal and okonkwo's women and children heard
and okonkwo's women and children heard from their hearts all that she said
from their hearts all that she said okonkwo was still pleading that the girl
okonkwo was still pleading that the girl had been ill of late and was asleep
had been ill of late and was asleep ekwafi
ekwafi quickly took her to their bedroom and
quickly took her to their bedroom and placed her on their high bamboo bed
placed her on their high bamboo bed the priestess screamed
the priestess screamed beware of
beware of she warned
she warned beware of exchanging words with agbala
beware of exchanging words with agbala does a man speak when a god speaks
does a man speak when a god speaks beware
beware she walked through a conquest hut into
she walked through a conquest hut into the circular compound
the circular compound and went straight toward ekwefi's hut
and went straight toward ekwefi's hut okonkwo came after her
she called agbala greets you
agbala greets you where is my daughter ezeenma
where is my daughter ezeenma agbala wants to see her
ekwafee came out from her heart carrying her oil lamp in her left hand
carrying her oil lamp in her left hand there was a light wind blowing
there was a light wind blowing so she cupped her right hand to shelter
so she cupped her right hand to shelter the flame
the flame nuoyer's mother also carrying an oil
nuoyer's mother also carrying an oil lamp emerged from her hut
lamp emerged from her hut the children stood in the darkness
the children stood in the darkness outside their hut watching the strange
outside their hut watching the strange event
event okonkwo's youngest wife also came out
okonkwo's youngest wife also came out and joined the others
where does agbala want to see her ekwafee asked
ekwafee asked where else
where else but in his house in the hills and the
but in his house in the hills and the caves replied the priestess
caves replied the priestess i will come with you too
i will come with you too equafee said firmly
equafee said firmly to
to fear the priestess cursed
fear the priestess cursed her voice cracking like the angry bark
her voice cracking like the angry bark of thunder in the dry season
of thunder in the dry season how dare you woman
how dare you woman to go before the mighty agbala of your
to go before the mighty agbala of your own accord
own accord beware woman lest he strike you in his
beware woman lest he strike you in his anger
anger bring me my daughter
equafee went into her heart and came out again with azeem
and came out again with azeem come my daughter
come my daughter said the priestess
said the priestess i shall carry you on my back
i shall carry you on my back a baby on its mother's back does not
a baby on its mother's back does not know that the way is long
know that the way is long isema began to cry
isema began to cry she was used to chiello calling her my
she was used to chiello calling her my daughter
daughter but it was a different cello she now saw
but it was a different cello she now saw in the yellow half light
in the yellow half light don't cry my daughter
don't cry my daughter said the priestess
said the priestess lest aguilar be angry with you
lest aguilar be angry with you don't cry
don't cry said a kwefi
said a kwefi she will bring you back very soon
she will bring you back very soon i shall give you some fish to eat
i shall give you some fish to eat she went into the hut again and brought
she went into the hut again and brought down the smoke black basket in which she
down the smoke black basket in which she kept her dried fish and other
kept her dried fish and other ingredients for cooking soup
ingredients for cooking soup she broke a piece in two and gave it to
she broke a piece in two and gave it to azinma
azinma who clung to her
who clung to her don't be afraid said kwafi stroking her
don't be afraid said kwafi stroking her head
head which was shaved in places leaving a
which was shaved in places leaving a regular pattern of hair
regular pattern of hair they went outside again
they went outside again the priestess
the priestess bent down on one knee and azima climbed
bent down on one knee and azima climbed on her back
on her back her left palm closed on her fish
her left palm closed on her fish and her eyes gleaming with tears
oh began once again to chant greetings to
began once again to chant greetings to her god
her god she turned round sharply and walked
she turned round sharply and walked through okonkwo's hut
through okonkwo's hut bending very low at the eaves
bending very low at the eaves was crying loudly now
was crying loudly now calling on her mother
calling on her mother the two voices disappeared into the
the two voices disappeared into the thick darkness
a strange and sudden weakness descended on ekwafee
on ekwafee as she stood gazing in the direction of
as she stood gazing in the direction of the voices
the voices like a hen whose only chick has been
like a hen whose only chick has been carried away by a kite
carried away by a kite ezinema's voice soon faded away
ezinema's voice soon faded away and only chiello was heard moving
and only chiello was heard moving farther and farther into the distance
farther and farther into the distance why do you stand there as though she had
why do you stand there as though she had been kidnapped
been kidnapped asked okonkwo as he went back to his
asked okonkwo as he went back to his heart
she will bring her back soon noyes mother said but a quaffy
noyes mother said but a quaffy did not hear these consolations
did not hear these consolations she stood for a while
she stood for a while and then all of a sudden
and then all of a sudden made up her mind
made up her mind she hurried through a conquest hut and
she hurried through a conquest hut and went outside
went outside where you going he asked
where you going he asked i am following chielo she replied
i am following chielo she replied and disappeared in the darkness
and disappeared in the darkness okonkwo cleared his throat
okonkwo cleared his throat and brought out his snuff bottle from
and brought out his snuff bottle from the goatskin bag by his side
the priestess's voice was already growing faint in the distance
growing faint in the distance equafee hurried to the main footpath
equafee hurried to the main footpath and turned left in the direction of the
and turned left in the direction of the voice
voice her eyes were useless to her in the
her eyes were useless to her in the darkness
darkness but she picked her way easily on the
but she picked her way easily on the sandy footpath hedged on either side by
sandy footpath hedged on either side by branches and damp leaves
branches and damp leaves she began to run
she began to run holding her breasts with her hands to
holding her breasts with her hands to stop them flapping noisily against her
stop them flapping noisily against her body
body she hit her left foot against an
she hit her left foot against an outcropped root
outcropped root and terror seized her
and terror seized her it was an ill omen
it was an ill omen she ran faster
she ran faster but chiello's voice was still a long way
but chiello's voice was still a long way away
away had she been running to
had she been running to how could she go so fast with azim on
how could she go so fast with azim on her back
her back although the night was cool
although the night was cool equafee was beginning to feel hot from
equafee was beginning to feel hot from her running
her running she continually ran into the luxuriant
she continually ran into the luxuriant weeds and creepers that walled in the
weeds and creepers that walled in the path
path once
once she tripped up and fell
she tripped up and fell only then did she realize with the start
only then did she realize with the start that yellow had stopped her chanting
that yellow had stopped her chanting her heart beat violently
her heart beat violently and she stood still
and she stood still then chiella's renewed outburst came
then chiella's renewed outburst came from only a few paces ahead
from only a few paces ahead but a quaffy could not see her
but a quaffy could not see her she shut her eyes for a while
she shut her eyes for a while and open them again in an effort to see
and open them again in an effort to see but it was useless
but it was useless she could not see beyond her nose
she could not see beyond her nose there were no stars in the sky
there were no stars in the sky because there was a rain cloud
because there was a rain cloud fireflies went about with their tiny
fireflies went about with their tiny green lamps which only made the darkness
green lamps which only made the darkness more profound
more profound between chalo's outbursts the night was
between chalo's outbursts the night was alive with the shrill tremor of forest
alive with the shrill tremor of forest insects woven into the darkness
oh a quaffy trudged behind
a quaffy trudged behind neither getting too near nor keeping too
neither getting too near nor keeping too far back
far back she thought they must be going towards
she thought they must be going towards the sacred cave
the sacred cave now that she walked slowly she had time
now that she walked slowly she had time to think
to think what would she do when they got to the
what would she do when they got to the cave
cave she would not dare to enter
she would not dare to enter she would wait at the mouth
she would wait at the mouth all alone in that fearful place
all alone in that fearful place she thought of all the terrors of the
she thought of all the terrors of the night
night she remembered that night long ago
she remembered that night long ago when she had seen ogbu
when she had seen ogbu odu
odu one of those evil essences loosed upon
one of those evil essences loosed upon the world
the world by the potent medicines which the tribe
by the potent medicines which the tribe had made in the distant past against its
had made in the distant past against its enemies
enemies but had now forgotten how to control
but had now forgotten how to control ekwafi
ekwafi had been returning from the stream with
had been returning from the stream with her mother on a dark night like this
her mother on a dark night like this when they saw its glow
when they saw its glow as it flew in their direction
as it flew in their direction they had thrown down their water pots
they had thrown down their water pots and lane by the roadside expecting the
and lane by the roadside expecting the sinister light to descend on them
sinister light to descend on them and kill them
and kill them that was the only time akwafee ever saw
that was the only time akwafee ever saw ogbu agali odu
ogbu agali odu but although it had happened so long ago
but although it had happened so long ago her blood still ran cold whenever she
her blood still ran cold whenever she remembered that night
the priestess's voice came at longer intervals now
intervals now but its vigor was undiminished
but its vigor was undiminished the air was cool and damp with dew
the air was cool and damp with dew azimus sneezed
azimus sneezed akwafi muttered
akwafi muttered life to you
life to you at the same time the priestess also said
at the same time the priestess also said life to you my daughter
life to you my daughter azima's voice from the darkness
azima's voice from the darkness warmed her mother's heart
warmed her mother's heart she trudged slowly along
she trudged slowly along [Music]
[Music] and then
and then the priestess screamed
the priestess screamed somebody is walking behind me she said
somebody is walking behind me she said whether you are spirit or man
whether you are spirit or man may agbala shave your head with a blunt
may agbala shave your head with a blunt razor
razor may he twist your neck until you see
may he twist your neck until you see your heels
akwafee stood rooted on the spot one mind said to her
one mind said to her woman go home before agbala does you
woman go home before agbala does you harm
harm but she could not
but she could not she stood
she stood until chielo had increased the distance
until chielo had increased the distance between them
between them and she began to follow again
and she began to follow again [Music]
[Music] she had already walked so long that she
she had already walked so long that she began to feel a slight numbness in the
began to feel a slight numbness in the limbs and in the head
limbs and in the head then it occurred to her that they could
then it occurred to her that they could not have been heading for the cave
not have been heading for the cave they must have bypassed it long ago
they must have bypassed it long ago they must be going towards
they must be going towards the farthest village in the clan
the farthest village in the clan cielo's voice
cielo's voice now came after long intervals
it seemed to a kwefi that the night had become a little
that the night had become a little lighter
lighter the cloud had lifted
the cloud had lifted and a few stars were out
and a few stars were out the moon must be preparing to rise its
the moon must be preparing to rise its sullenness over
sullenness over when the moon rose late in the night
when the moon rose late in the night people said it was refusing food as a
people said it was refusing food as a sullen husband refuses his wife's food
sullen husband refuses his wife's food when they have quarreled
the priestess was now saluting the village of umawachi
village of umawachi it was unbelievable the distance they
it was unbelievable the distance they had covered
had covered as they emerged into the open village
as they emerged into the open village from the narrow forest track
from the narrow forest track the darkness was softened
the darkness was softened and it became possible to see the vague
and it became possible to see the vague shape of trees
shape of trees ecuaify screwed her eyes up in an effort
ecuaify screwed her eyes up in an effort to see her daughter and the priestess
to see her daughter and the priestess but whenever she thought she saw their
but whenever she thought she saw their shape
shape it immediately dissolved
it immediately dissolved like a melting lump of darkness
like a melting lump of darkness she walked numbly along
she walked numbly along chiello's voice was now rising
chiello's voice was now rising continuously as when she first set out
continuously as when she first set out a kwefi had a feeling of spacious
a kwefi had a feeling of spacious openness
openness and she guessed they must be on the
and she guessed they must be on the village elo or playground
village elo or playground and she realized too with something like
and she realized too with something like a jerk
a jerk that chiello was no longer moving
that chiello was no longer moving forward
forward she was in fact returning
she was in fact returning equafee quickly moved away from her line
equafee quickly moved away from her line of retreat
of retreat chiello passed by
chiello passed by and they began to go back the way they
and they began to go back the way they had come
had come [Music]
[Music] it was a long and weary journey
it was a long and weary journey and equafee felt like a sleepwalker most
and equafee felt like a sleepwalker most of the way
of the way the moon was definitely rising
the moon was definitely rising and although it had not yet appeared on
and although it had not yet appeared on the sky
the sky its light had already melted down the
its light had already melted down the darkness
darkness ekwafi could now discern the figure of
ekwafi could now discern the figure of the priestess and her burden
the priestess and her burden she slowed down her pace
she slowed down her pace so as to increase the distance between
so as to increase the distance between them
them she was afraid of what might happen if
she was afraid of what might happen if cielo suddenly turned round and saw her
cielo suddenly turned round and saw her she had prayed for the moon to rise
she had prayed for the moon to rise but now
but now she found the half light of the
she found the half light of the incipient moon
incipient moon more terrifying than darkness
more terrifying than darkness the world was now peopled with vague
the world was now peopled with vague fantastic figures
fantastic figures that dissolved under her steady gaze and
that dissolved under her steady gaze and then formed again in new shapes
then formed again in new shapes at one stage
at one stage equafee was so afraid that she nearly
equafee was so afraid that she nearly called out to chiello for companionship
called out to chiello for companionship and human sympathy
and human sympathy what she had seen
what she had seen was the shape of a man climbing a palm
was the shape of a man climbing a palm tree
tree his head pointing to the earth and his
his head pointing to the earth and his legs skywards
legs skywards but at that very moment chiello's voice
but at that very moment chiello's voice rose again in her possessed chanting
rose again in her possessed chanting and a kwafi recoiled
and a kwafi recoiled because there was no humanity there
because there was no humanity there it was not the same chiello
it was not the same chiello who sat with her in the market and
who sat with her in the market and sometimes bought bean cakes for azinma
sometimes bought bean cakes for azinma whom she called her daughter
whom she called her daughter it was a different woman
it was a different woman the priestess of agbala
the priestess of agbala the oracle of the hills and caves
the oracle of the hills and caves akwafee trudged along between two fears
akwafee trudged along between two fears the sound of her be numbed steps
the sound of her be numbed steps seemed to come from some other person
seemed to come from some other person walking behind her
walking behind her her arms were folded across her bare
her arms were folded across her bare breasts
breasts dew fell heavily and the air was cold
dew fell heavily and the air was cold she could no longer think
she could no longer think not even about the terrors of night
not even about the terrors of night she just jogged along in a half sleep
she just jogged along in a half sleep only waking to full life when chielo
only waking to full life when chielo sang
sang [Music]
[Music] at last
at last they took a turning
they took a turning and began to head for the caves
and began to head for the caves from then on chielo never ceased in her
from then on chielo never ceased in her chanting
chanting she greeted her god in a multitude of
she greeted her god in a multitude of names
names the owner of the future
the owner of the future the messenger of earth
the messenger of earth the god who cut a man down when his life
the god who cut a man down when his life was sweetest to him
was sweetest to him equafee
equafee was also awakened
was also awakened and her be numbed fears revived
and her be numbed fears revived the moon was now up
the moon was now up and she could see cielo and ezinema
and she could see cielo and ezinema clearly
clearly how a woman could carry a child of that
how a woman could carry a child of that size so easily and for so long
size so easily and for so long was a miracle
was a miracle but a quaffy was not thinking about that
but a quaffy was not thinking about that chiello
chiello was
could already see the hills looming in the moonlight
the moonlight they formed a circular ring with a break
they formed a circular ring with a break at one point through which the foot
at one point through which the foot track led to the center of the circle
track led to the center of the circle as soon as the priestess stepped into
as soon as the priestess stepped into this ring of hills
this ring of hills her voice was not only doubled in
her voice was not only doubled in strength
strength but was thrown back on all sides
but was thrown back on all sides it was indeed the shrine of a great god
it was indeed the shrine of a great god ekwafi
ekwafi picked her way carefully and quietly
picked her way carefully and quietly she was already beginning to doubt the
she was already beginning to doubt the wisdom of her coming
wisdom of her coming nothing would happen to azima she
nothing would happen to azima she thought
thought and if anything happened to her
and if anything happened to her could she stop it
could she stop it she would not dare to enter the
she would not dare to enter the underground caves
underground caves her coming was quite useless she thought
her coming was quite useless she thought as these things went through her mind
as these things went through her mind she did not realize how close they were
she did not realize how close they were to the cave mouth
to the cave mouth and so
and so when the priestess with ezinema on her
when the priestess with ezinema on her back disappeared through a hole hardly
back disappeared through a hole hardly big enough to pass a hen
big enough to pass a hen a kwafi broke into a run as though to
a kwafi broke into a run as though to stop them
stop them as she stood gazing at the circular
as she stood gazing at the circular darkness which had swallowed them
darkness which had swallowed them tears gushed from her eyes
tears gushed from her eyes and she swore within her that if she
and she swore within her that if she heard azeen mccry
heard azeen mccry she would rush into the cave to defend
she would rush into the cave to defend her against all the gods in the world
her against all the gods in the world she would die with her
having sworn that oath she sat down on a stony ledge
she sat down on a stony ledge and waited
and waited her fear had vanished
her fear had vanished she could hear the priestess's voice
she could hear the priestess's voice all its metal taken out of it by the
all its metal taken out of it by the vast emptiness of the cave
vast emptiness of the cave she buried her face in her lap
she buried her face in her lap and waited
she did not know how long she waited it must have been a very long time
it must have been a very long time her back was turned on the footpath that
her back was turned on the footpath that led out of the hills
led out of the hills she must have heard a noise behind her
she must have heard a noise behind her and turned round sharply
and turned round sharply a man stood there with a machete in his
a man stood there with a machete in his hand
hand ekwayfi uttered a scream and sprang to
ekwayfi uttered a scream and sprang to her feet
her feet don't be foolish
don't be foolish said okonkwo's voice
said okonkwo's voice i thought you were going into the shrine
i thought you were going into the shrine with chiello he mocked
with chiello he mocked a quaffy did not answer
a quaffy did not answer tears of gratitude filled her eyes
tears of gratitude filled her eyes she knew her daughter was safe
she knew her daughter was safe go home and sleep
go home and sleep said okonkwo
said okonkwo i shall wait here
i shall wait too it is almost dawn
it is almost dawn the first has crowed
as they stood there together akwafee's mind went back to the days when they
mind went back to the days when they were young
were young she had married a nene because okonkwo
she had married a nene because okonkwo was too poor then to marry
was too poor then to marry two years after her marriage to a nene
two years after her marriage to a nene she could bear it no longer
she could bear it no longer and she ran away to okonkwo
and she ran away to okonkwo it had been early in the morning
it had been early in the morning the moon was shining
the moon was shining she was going to the stream to fetch
she was going to the stream to fetch water
water okonkwo's house was on the way to the
okonkwo's house was on the way to the stream
stream she went in
she went in and knocked at his door
and knocked at his door and he came out
and he came out even in those days he was not a man of
even in those days he was not a man of many words
many words he just carried her into his bed
he just carried her into his bed and in the darkness
and in the darkness began to feel around her waist
began to feel around her waist for the loose end of her cloth
on the following morning the entire neighborhood wore a festive
the entire neighborhood wore a festive air
air because okonkwo's friend
because okonkwo's friend obierika was celebrating his daughter's
obierika was celebrating his daughter's uri
it was the day on which her suitor having already paid the greater part of
having already paid the greater part of her bride price
her bride price would bring palm wine not only to her
would bring palm wine not only to her parents and immediate relatives
parents and immediate relatives but to the wide and extensive group of
but to the wide and extensive group of kinsmen
kinsmen called umuna
called umuna everybody had been invited
everybody had been invited men women and children
men women and children but it was really a woman's ceremony
but it was really a woman's ceremony and the central figures were the bride
and the central figures were the bride and her mother
and her mother as soon as day broke
as soon as day broke breakfast was hastily eaten
breakfast was hastily eaten and women and children began to gather
and women and children began to gather at obiarika's compound to help the
at obiarika's compound to help the bride's mother in her difficult but
bride's mother in her difficult but happy task of cooking for a whole
happy task of cooking for a whole village
village okonkwo's family was a stir like any
okonkwo's family was a stir like any other family in the neighborhood
other family in the neighborhood nawoya's mother and okonkwo's youngest
nawoya's mother and okonkwo's youngest wife
wife were ready to set out for robie erica's
were ready to set out for robie erica's compound with all their children
compound with all their children nuoye's mother carried a basket of coco
nuoye's mother carried a basket of coco yams
yams a cake of salt and smoked fish which she
a cake of salt and smoked fish which she would present to obiarika's wife
would present to obiarika's wife okonkwo's youngest wife
okonkwo's youngest wife ojugo
ojugo also had a basket of plantains and cocoa
also had a basket of plantains and cocoa yams and a small pot of palm oil
yams and a small pot of palm oil the children carried pots of water
the children carried pots of water ekwafi was tired and sleepy from the
ekwafi was tired and sleepy from the exhausting experiences of the previous
exhausting experiences of the previous night
night it was not very long since they had
it was not very long since they had returned
returned the priestess with azimus sleeping on
the priestess with azimus sleeping on her back
her back had crawled out of the shrine on her
had crawled out of the shrine on her belly like a snake
belly like a snake she had not as much as looked at okonkwo
she had not as much as looked at okonkwo and ekwafi or shown any surprise at
and ekwafi or shown any surprise at finding them at the mouth of the cave
finding them at the mouth of the cave she looked straight ahead of her
she looked straight ahead of her and walked back to the village
and walked back to the village okonkwo and his wife followed at a
okonkwo and his wife followed at a respectful distance
respectful distance they thought the priestess might be
they thought the priestess might be going to her house
going to her house but she went to a conquest compound
but she went to a conquest compound passed through his obi
passed through his obi and into a kuefa's hot and walked into
and into a kuefa's hot and walked into her bedroom
her bedroom she placed his ema carefully on the bed
she placed his ema carefully on the bed and went away
and went away without saying a word to anybody
without saying a word to anybody ezinma was still sleeping when everyone
ezinma was still sleeping when everyone else was a stir and a cuefi asked
else was a stir and a cuefi asked moyer's mother
moyer's mother and odugo
and odugo to explain to obi erica's wife that she
to explain to obi erica's wife that she would be late
would be late she had got ready her basket of coco
she had got ready her basket of coco yams and fish
yams and fish but she must wait for azinma to wake
you need some sleep yourself said noyea's mother
noyea's mother you look very tired
you look very tired as they spoke
as they spoke izima emerged from the heart
izima emerged from the heart rubbing her eyes and stretching her
rubbing her eyes and stretching her spare frame
spare frame she saw the other children with their
she saw the other children with their water pots and remembered that they were
water pots and remembered that they were going to fetch water for obiarica's wife
going to fetch water for obiarica's wife she went back to the hut and brought her
she went back to the hut and brought her pot
pot have you slept enough asked her mother
have you slept enough asked her mother yes she replied
yes she replied let us go
let us go not before you have had your breakfast
not before you have had your breakfast said a quaffy
said a quaffy and she went into her hut to warm the
and she went into her hut to warm the vegetable soup she had cooked last night
vegetable soup she had cooked last night we should be going
we should be going said noyes mother
said noyes mother i will tell objerica's wife that you are
i will tell objerica's wife that you are coming later
coming later and so they all went to help obieraca's
and so they all went to help obieraca's wife
wife nuoye's mother with her four children
nuoye's mother with her four children and ogiugo
and ogiugo with her too
as they trooped through okonkwo's obi he asked
asked who will prepare my afternoon meal
who will prepare my afternoon meal i shall return to do it
i shall return to do it said ogo
okonkwo was also feeling tired and sleepy
sleepy for although nobody else knew it he had
for although nobody else knew it he had not slept at all last night
not slept at all last night he had felt very anxious but did not
he had felt very anxious but did not show it
show it when a crafty had followed the priestess
when a crafty had followed the priestess he had allowed what he regarded as a
he had allowed what he regarded as a reasonable and manly interval to pass
reasonable and manly interval to pass and then gone with his machete to the
and then gone with his machete to the shrine where he thought they must be
shrine where he thought they must be it was only when he had got there that
it was only when he had got there that it had occurred to him
it had occurred to him that the priestess might have chosen to
that the priestess might have chosen to go round the villages first
go round the villages first okonkwo had returned home and sat
okonkwo had returned home and sat waiting
waiting when he thought he had waited long
when he thought he had waited long enough
enough he again returned to the shrine
he again returned to the shrine but the hills and the caves were as
but the hills and the caves were as silent as death
silent as death it was only on his fourth trip that he
it was only on his fourth trip that he had found a kuefi
had found a kuefi and by then
and by then he had become gravely worried
obierica's compound was as busy as an anthill
anthill temporary cooking tripods were erected
temporary cooking tripods were erected on every available space
on every available space by bringing together three blocks of
by bringing together three blocks of sun-dried earth and making a fire in
sun-dried earth and making a fire in their midst
their midst cooking pots went up and down the
cooking pots went up and down the tripods and fufu was pounded in a
tripods and fufu was pounded in a hundred wooden mortars
hundred wooden mortars some of the women cooked the yams and
some of the women cooked the yams and the cassava
the cassava and others prepared vegetable soup
and others prepared vegetable soup young men pounded the fufu or split
young men pounded the fufu or split firewood
firewood the children made endless trips to the
the children made endless trips to the stream
three young men helped obiarika to slaughter the two goats with which the
slaughter the two goats with which the soup was made
soup was made they were very fat goats
they were very fat goats but the fattest of all was tethered to a
but the fattest of all was tethered to a peg near the wall of the compound
peg near the wall of the compound it was as big as a small cow
had sent one of his relatives all the way to umike to buy that goat
way to umike to buy that goat it was the one he would present alive to
it was the one he would present alive to his in-laws
his in-laws the market of
the market of is a wonderful place
is a wonderful place said the young man who had been sent by
said the young man who had been sent by obiarika to buy the giant goat
obiarika to buy the giant goat there are so many people on it that if
there are so many people on it that if you threw up a grain of sand it would
you threw up a grain of sand it would not find a way to fall to earth again
not find a way to fall to earth again it is the result of a great medicine
it is the result of a great medicine said obierica
said obierica the people of um
the people of um wanted their market to grow
wanted their market to grow and swallow up the markets of their
and swallow up the markets of their neighbors
neighbors so they made a powerful medicine
so they made a powerful medicine every market day before the first
every market day before the first crow
crow this medicine stands on the market
this medicine stands on the market ground in the shape of an old woman with
ground in the shape of an old woman with a fan
a fan with this magic fan
with this magic fan she beckons to the market all the
she beckons to the market all the neighboring clans
neighboring clans she beckons in front of her
she beckons in front of her and behind her to her right
and behind her to her right and to her left
and to her left and so everybody comes
and so everybody comes said another man
said another man honest men and thieves
honest men and thieves they can steal your cloth from off your
they can steal your cloth from off your waist in that market
waist in that market yes sid objerica
yes sid objerica i warn nuanquo to keep a sharp eye and a
i warn nuanquo to keep a sharp eye and a sharp ear
sharp ear there was once a man
there was once a man who went to sell a goat
who went to sell a goat he let it on a thick rope which he tied
he let it on a thick rope which he tied round his wrist
round his wrist but as he walked through the market he
but as he walked through the market he realized that people were pointing at
realized that people were pointing at him as they do to a madman
him as they do to a madman he could not understand it
he could not understand it until he looked back
until he looked back and saw that what he led at the end of
and saw that what he led at the end of the tether was not a goat
the tether was not a goat but a heavy log of wood
do you think a thief can do that kind of thing single-handed
thing single-handed asked nuanc
asked nuanc no said obiarica they use medicine
when they had cut the goats throats and collected the blood in a bowl
collected the blood in a bowl they held them over an open fire to burn
they held them over an open fire to burn off the hair
off the hair and the smell of burning hair blended
and the smell of burning hair blended with the smell of cooking
with the smell of cooking then they washed them
then they washed them and cut them up for the women who
and cut them up for the women who prepared the soup
prepared the soup all this ant hill activity was going
all this ant hill activity was going smoothly when a sudden interruption came
smoothly when a sudden interruption came [Music]
[Music] it was a cry in the distance
it was a cry in the distance oji odu archu iggyo
oji odu archu iggyo the one that uses its tail to drive
the one that uses its tail to drive flies away
flies away every woman immediately abandoned
every woman immediately abandoned whatever she was doing
whatever she was doing and rushed out in the direction of the
and rushed out in the direction of the cry we cannot all rush out like that
cry we cannot all rush out like that leaving what we are cooking to burn in
leaving what we are cooking to burn in the fire
the fire shouted sheila the priestess
shouted sheila the priestess three or four of us should stay behind
three or four of us should stay behind it is true said another woman we will
it is true said another woman we will allow three or four women to stay behind
allow three or four women to stay behind five women stayed behind to look after
five women stayed behind to look after the cooking parts
the cooking parts and all the rest rushed away to see the
and all the rest rushed away to see the cow that had been let loose
cow that had been let loose when they saw it they drove it back to
when they saw it they drove it back to its owner
its owner who had once paid the heavy fine which
who had once paid the heavy fine which the village imposed on anyone whose cow
the village imposed on anyone whose cow was let loose on his neighbor's crops
was let loose on his neighbor's crops when the women had exactly the penalty
when the women had exactly the penalty they checked among themselves to see if
they checked among themselves to see if any woman had failed to come out when
any woman had failed to come out when the cry had been raised
the cry had been raised where's mogo asked one of them
where's mogo asked one of them she is ill in bed
she is ill in bed said mcbogo's next door neighbor she is
said mcbogo's next door neighbor she is eva
eva the only other person is udenko said
the only other person is udenko said another woman
another woman and her child is not 28 days yet
and her child is not 28 days yet those women whom be erica's wife had not
those women whom be erica's wife had not asked to help her with the cooking
asked to help her with the cooking returned to their homes
returned to their homes and the rest went back in a body to
and the rest went back in a body to ovierca's compound
ovierca's compound whose cow was it
whose cow was it asked the women who had been allowed to
asked the women who had been allowed to stay behind
stay behind it was my husband's
it was my husband's said
one of the young children who opened the gate of the cow shed
early in the afternoon the first two pots of palm one arrived
the first two pots of palm one arrived from obiaraga's in-laws
from obiaraga's in-laws they were duly presented to the women
they were duly presented to the women who drank a cup or two each to help them
who drank a cup or two each to help them in their cooking
in their cooking some of it also went to the bride and
some of it also went to the bride and her attended maidens
her attended maidens who were putting the last delicate
who were putting the last delicate touches of razor to her coiffure
touches of razor to her coiffure and cam wood on her smooth skin
and cam wood on her smooth skin [Music]
[Music] when the heat of the sun began to soften
when the heat of the sun began to soften objerica's son maduka
objerica's son maduka took a long broom and swept the ground
took a long broom and swept the ground in front of his father's obi
in front of his father's obi and as if they had been waiting for that
and as if they had been waiting for that of erica's relatives and friends began
of erica's relatives and friends began to arrive
to arrive every man with his goatskin bag hung on
every man with his goatskin bag hung on one shoulder
one shoulder and a rolled goatskin mat under his arm
and a rolled goatskin mat under his arm some of them
some of them were accompanied by their sons bearing
were accompanied by their sons bearing carved wooden stools
carved wooden stools okonkwo was one of them
okonkwo was one of them they sat in a half circle and began to
they sat in a half circle and began to talk of many things
talk of many things it would not be long before the suitors
it would not be long before the suitors came
came okonkwo brought out his snuff bottle
okonkwo brought out his snuff bottle and offered it to oak waify asenwa who
and offered it to oak waify asenwa who sat next to him
took it tapped it on his kneecap
tapped it on his kneecap rubbed his left palm on his body to dry
rubbed his left palm on his body to dry it before tipping a little snuff into it
it before tipping a little snuff into it his actions were deliberate
his actions were deliberate and he spoke as he performed them
i hope our in-laws will bring many pots of wine
of wine although they come from a village that
although they come from a village that is known for being
is known for being they ought to know
they ought to know that a kwakee is the bride for a king
they dare not bring fewer than 30 pots said okonkwo
said okonkwo i shall tell them my mind if they do
i shall tell them my mind if they do at that moment
at that moment obiarika's son
obiarika's son maduka
maduka let out the giant goat from the inner
let out the giant goat from the inner compound for his father's relatives to
compound for his father's relatives to see
see they all admired it and said that that
they all admired it and said that that was the way things should be done
was the way things should be done the goat was then led back to the inner
the goat was then led back to the inner compound
compound very soon after the in-laws began to
very soon after the in-laws began to arrive
arrive young men and boys in single file
young men and boys in single file each carrying a pot of wine came first
each carrying a pot of wine came first aviarica's relatives counted the parts
aviarica's relatives counted the parts as they came
as they came 20
20 25
25 there was a long break
there was a long break and the hosts looked at each other as if
and the hosts looked at each other as if to say
to say i told you
i told you then more pots came
then more pots came 30
30 35
35 40.
40. 45
45 the hosts nodded in approval and seemed
the hosts nodded in approval and seemed to say
to say now they are behaving like men
now they are behaving like men all together
all together there were 50 parts of wine
there were 50 parts of wine after the pot bears came ebay the suitor
after the pot bears came ebay the suitor and the elders of his family
and the elders of his family they sat in a half moon
they sat in a half moon thus completing a circle with their
thus completing a circle with their hosts
hosts the pots of wine stood in their midst
the pots of wine stood in their midst then the bride her mother
then the bride her mother and a half dozen other women and girls
and a half dozen other women and girls emerged from the inner compound
emerged from the inner compound and went round the circle shaking hands
and went round the circle shaking hands with all
with all the bride's mother led the way
the bride's mother led the way followed by the bride in the other women
followed by the bride in the other women the married women were their best
the married women were their best clothes
clothes and the girls wore red and black waist
and the girls wore red and black waist beads and anklets of brass
beads and anklets of brass when the women retired
when the women retired obierica presented colonnades to his
obierica presented colonnades to his in-laws
in-laws his eldest brother broke the first one
his eldest brother broke the first one life to all of us
life to all of us he said as he broke it
he said as he broke it and let there be friendship between your
and let there be friendship between your family and ours
family and ours the crowd answered
we are giving you our daughter today she will be a good wife to you
she will be a good wife to you she will bear you nine sons like the
she will bear you nine sons like the mother of our town
the oldest man in the camp of the visitors replied
visitors replied it will be good for you
it will be good for you and it will be good for us
this is not the first time my people have come to marry your daughter
have come to marry your daughter my mother was one of you
my mother was one of you hey hey
hey hey and this will not be the last
and this will not be the last because you understand us
because you understand us and we understand you
and we understand you you
you are a great family
prosperous men and great warriors
and great warriors he looked in the direction of okonkwo
he looked in the direction of okonkwo your daughter
your daughter will bear us sons like you
will bear us sons like you hey
the cola was eaten and the drinking of palm wine began
and the drinking of palm wine began [Music]
[Music] groups of four or five men sat round
groups of four or five men sat round with a pot in their midst
with a pot in their midst as the evening wore on
as the evening wore on food was presented to the guests
food was presented to the guests there were huge bowls of fufu and
there were huge bowls of fufu and steaming pots of soup
steaming pots of soup there were also parts of yam pottage
there were also parts of yam pottage it was a great feast
as night fell burning torches were set on wooden
burning torches were set on wooden tripods and the young men raised a song
tripods and the young men raised a song the elders sat in a big circle and the
the elders sat in a big circle and the singers went round singing each man's
singers went round singing each man's praise as they came before him
praise as they came before him they had something to say for every man
they had something to say for every man some were great farmers
some were great farmers some were orators who spoke for the clan
some were orators who spoke for the clan okonkwo was the greatest wrestler and
okonkwo was the greatest wrestler and warrior alive
warrior alive when they had gone round the circle
when they had gone round the circle they settled down in the center
they settled down in the center and girls came from the inner compound
and girls came from the inner compound to dance
to dance at first the bride was not among them
at first the bride was not among them but when she finally appeared holding a
but when she finally appeared holding a in her right hand
in her right hand a loud cheer rose from the crowd
a loud cheer rose from the crowd all the other dancers made way for her
all the other dancers made way for her she presented the to the musicians
she presented the to the musicians and began to dance
and began to dance her brass anklets rattled as she danced
her brass anklets rattled as she danced and her body gleamed with cam wood in
and her body gleamed with cam wood in the soft yellow light
the soft yellow light the musicians
the musicians with their wood clay and metal
with their wood clay and metal instruments
instruments went from song to song
went from song to song and they were all gay
they sang the latest song in the village if i hold her hand
if i hold her hand she says don't touch
she says don't touch if i hold her foot she says don't touch
if i hold her foot she says don't touch but when i hold her waist beads
but when i hold her waist beads she pretends not to know
the night was already far spent when the guests rose to go
guests rose to go taking their bride home to spend seven
taking their bride home to spend seven marked weeks with her suitors family
marked weeks with her suitors family they sang songs as they went
they sang songs as they went and on their way they paid short
and on their way they paid short courtesy visits to prominent men like
courtesy visits to prominent men like okonkwo before they finally left for
okonkwo before they finally left for their village
their village okonkwo
okonkwo made a presence of two to them
go didi gogodigo di go godigo
di go godigo it was the aque talking to the clan
it was the aque talking to the clan one of the things every man learned was
one of the things every man learned was the language of the hollowed-out wooden
the language of the hollowed-out wooden instrument
boomed the canon at intervals the first had not crowed
the first had not crowed newmofia was still swallowed up in sleep
newmofia was still swallowed up in sleep and silence when the akwa began to talk
and silence when the akwa began to talk and the cannon shattered this islands
and the cannon shattered this islands men stirred on their bamboo beds and
men stirred on their bamboo beds and listened anxiously
listened anxiously somebody was dead
somebody was dead cannon seemed to rend the sky
cannon seemed to rend the sky diego godigo dd gogo
diego godigo dd gogo floated in the message-laden night air
floated in the message-laden night air the faint and distant wailing of women
the faint and distant wailing of women settled like a sediment of sorrow on the
settled like a sediment of sorrow on the earth
earth now and again
now and again a full chested lamentation rose above
a full chested lamentation rose above the wailing whenever a man came into the
the wailing whenever a man came into the place of death
place of death he raised his voice once or twice in
he raised his voice once or twice in manly sorrow
manly sorrow and then sat down with the other men
and then sat down with the other men listening to the endless wailing of the
listening to the endless wailing of the women
women and the esoteric language of the ekwei
and the esoteric language of the ekwei now and again the canon boomed
now and again the canon boomed the wailing of the women would not be
the wailing of the women would not be heard beyond the village
heard beyond the village but the aque
but the aque carried the news to all the nine
carried the news to all the nine villages
villages and even beyond
and even beyond it began by naming the clan
it said this over and over again and as it dwelt on it
and as it dwelt on it anxiety mounted in every heart that
anxiety mounted in every heart that heaved on a bamboo bed that night
heaved on a bamboo bed that night then it went near
then it went near and named the village
iguedo of the yellow grounding stone
of the yellow grounding stone it was okonkwo's village
it was okonkwo's village again and again
again and again iguedo was called and men waited
iguedo was called and men waited breathlessly in all the nine villages
breathlessly in all the nine villages at last the man was named
at last the man was named and the people side
is dead a cold shiver ran down okonkwo's
a cold shiver ran down okonkwo's as he remembered the last time the old
as he remembered the last time the old man had visited him
man had visited him that boy calls you father
that boy calls you father he had said
he had said bear no hand in his death
is a great man and so all the clan was at his funeral
and so all the clan was at his funeral the ancient drums of death beat
the ancient drums of death beat guns and cannon were fired
guns and cannon were fired and men dashed about in frenzy
and men dashed about in frenzy cutting down every tree or animal they
cutting down every tree or animal they saw
saw jumping over walls and dancing on the
jumping over walls and dancing on the roof
roof it was a warrior's funeral
it was a warrior's funeral and from morning till night
and from morning till night warriors came and went in their age
warriors came and went in their age groups
groups they all wore smoked raffia skirts
they all wore smoked raffia skirts and their bodies were painted with chalk
and their bodies were painted with chalk and charcoal
and charcoal now and again
now and again an ancestral spirit
an ancestral spirit or a gugu appeared from the underworld
or a gugu appeared from the underworld speaking in a tremendous unearthly voice
speaking in a tremendous unearthly voice and completely covered in raffia
and completely covered in raffia some of them were very violent
some of them were very violent and there had been a mad rush for
and there had been a mad rush for shelter earlier in the day
shelter earlier in the day when one appeared with a sharp machete
when one appeared with a sharp machete and was only prevented from doing
and was only prevented from doing serious harm by two men who restrained
serious harm by two men who restrained him with the help of a strong rope tied
him with the help of a strong rope tied around his waist
around his waist sometimes
sometimes he turned round and chased those men
he turned round and chased those men and they ran for their lives
and they ran for their lives but they always returned to the long
but they always returned to the long rope he trailed behind
rope he trailed behind he sang in a terrifying voice
he sang in a terrifying voice that a queen su
that a queen su or evil spirit had entered his
or evil spirit had entered his eye but the most dreaded of all was yet
eye but the most dreaded of all was yet to come
to come he was always alone
he was always alone and was shaped like a coffin
and was shaped like a coffin a sickly odor hung in the air wherever
a sickly odor hung in the air wherever he went
he went and flies went with him even the
and flies went with him even the greatest medicine man took shelter when
greatest medicine man took shelter when he was near
he was near many years ago
many years ago another egg
another egg had dared to stand his ground before him
had dared to stand his ground before him and had been transfixed to the spot for
and had been transfixed to the spot for two days
two days this one
this one had only one hand
had only one hand and it carried a basket full of water
but some of the egg woo were quite harmless
harmless one of them was so old and infirm that
one of them was so old and infirm that he leaned heavily on a stick
he leaned heavily on a stick he walked unsteadily to the place where
he walked unsteadily to the place where the corpse was laid
the corpse was laid gazed at it a while and went away again
gazed at it a while and went away again to the underworld
to the underworld the land of the living was not far
the land of the living was not far removed from the domain of the ancestors
removed from the domain of the ancestors there was coming and going between them
there was coming and going between them especially at festivals
especially at festivals and also when an old man died
and also when an old man died because an old man
because an old man was very close to the ancestors
was very close to the ancestors a man's life from birth to death
a man's life from birth to death was a series of transition rights which
was a series of transition rights which brought him nearer and nearer to his
brought him nearer and nearer to his ancestors isaiah
ancestors isaiah had been the oldest man in his village
had been the oldest man in his village and at his death
and at his death there were only three men in the whole
there were only three men in the whole clan who were older
clan who were older and four or five others in his own age
and four or five others in his own age group
group whenever one of these ancient bed
whenever one of these ancient bed appeared in the crowd to dance
appeared in the crowd to dance unsteadily the funeral steps of the
unsteadily the funeral steps of the tribe
tribe younger men gave way
younger men gave way and the tumult subsided
and the tumult subsided it was a great funeral
it was a great funeral such as befitted noble warrior
such as befitted noble warrior as the evening drew near
as the evening drew near the shouting and the firing of guns the
the shouting and the firing of guns the beating of drums and the brandishing and
beating of drums and the brandishing and clanging of machetes increased
clanging of machetes increased ezeru
ezeru had taken three titles in his life
had taken three titles in his life it was a rare achievement
it was a rare achievement there were only four titles in the clan
there were only four titles in the clan and only one or two men in any
and only one or two men in any generation
generation ever achieved the fourth and highest
ever achieved the fourth and highest when they did
when they did they became the lords of the land
they became the lords of the land because he had taken titles
because he had taken titles isaiah
isaiah was to be buried after dark
was to be buried after dark with only a glowing brand to light the
with only a glowing brand to light the sacred ceremony
but before this quiet and final right the tumult increased tenfold
the tumult increased tenfold drums beat violently
drums beat violently and men leaped up and down in frenzy
and men leaped up and down in frenzy guns were fired on all sides
guns were fired on all sides and sparks flew out as machetes clanged
and sparks flew out as machetes clanged together in warriors salutes
together in warriors salutes the air was full of dust and the smell
the air was full of dust and the smell of gunpowder
of gunpowder it was then
it was then that the one-handed spirit came
that the one-handed spirit came carrying a basket full of water
carrying a basket full of water people made way for him on all sides and
people made way for him on all sides and the noise subsided
the noise subsided even the smell of gunpowder was
even the smell of gunpowder was swallowed
swallowed in this sickly smell that now filled the
in this sickly smell that now filled the air
air he danced a few steps to the funeral
he danced a few steps to the funeral drums
drums and then
and then went to see the corpse
he called in his guttural voice if you had been poor in your last life
if you had been poor in your last life i would have asked you to be rich when
i would have asked you to be rich when you come again
you come again but you were rich
but you were rich if you had been a coward
if you had been a coward i would have asked you to bring courage
i would have asked you to bring courage but you're a fearless warrior
but you're a fearless warrior if you had died young
if you had died young i would have asked you to get life
i would have asked you to get life but you lived long
but you lived long so i shall ask you
so i shall ask you to come again
to come again the way you came before
the way you came before if your death
if your death was the death of nature
was the death of nature go in peace
go in peace but if a man caused it
but if a man caused it do not allow him a moment's rest
he danced a few more steps and went away
and went away the drums and the dancing began again
the drums and the dancing began again and reached fever heat
and reached fever heat darkness was around the corner and the
darkness was around the corner and the burial was near
burial was near guns fired the last salute and the
guns fired the last salute and the cannon rent the sky
cannon rent the sky and then from the center of the
and then from the center of the delirious fury
delirious fury came a cry of agony and shouts of horror
came a cry of agony and shouts of horror it was as if a spell had been cast
it was as if a spell had been cast all was silent
all was silent in the center of the crowd
in the center of the crowd a boy lay in a pool of blood
a boy lay in a pool of blood it was the dead man's 16 year old son
it was the dead man's 16 year old son who with his brothers and half brothers
who with his brothers and half brothers had been dancing the traditional
had been dancing the traditional farewell to their father
farewell to their father okonkwo's gun had exploded
okonkwo's gun had exploded and a piece of iron had pierced the
and a piece of iron had pierced the boy's heart
boy's heart the confusion that followed was without
the confusion that followed was without parallel in the tradition of umuofia
parallel in the tradition of umuofia violent deaths were frequent
violent deaths were frequent but nothing like this had ever happened
the only course open to okonkwo was to flee from the clan
was to flee from the clan it was a crime against the earth goddess
it was a crime against the earth goddess to kill a klansman
to kill a klansman and a man who committed it must flee
and a man who committed it must flee from the land
from the land the crime was of two kinds
the crime was of two kinds male and female
male and female okonkwo had committed the female
okonkwo had committed the female because it had been inadvertent
because it had been inadvertent he could return to the clan
he could return to the clan after seven years
that night he collected his most valuable
he collected his most valuable belongings into headloads
belongings into headloads his wives wept bitterly
his wives wept bitterly and their children wept with them
and their children wept with them without knowing why
without knowing why albierica
albierica and a half dozen other friends came to
and a half dozen other friends came to help and to console him
help and to console him they each made nine or ten trips
they each made nine or ten trips carrying our conquest yams to store in
carrying our conquest yams to store in obiarica's barn
obiarica's barn and before the crowed
and before the crowed okonkwo and his family were fleeing to
okonkwo and his family were fleeing to his motherland
it was a little village called mbanta just beyond the borders of umbano
as soon as the day broke a large crowd of men from a zeodus
a large crowd of men from a zeodus quarter stormed okonkwo's compound
quarter stormed okonkwo's compound dressed in garbs of war
dressed in garbs of war they set fire to his houses
they set fire to his houses demolished his red walls
demolished his red walls killed his animals and destroyed his
killed his animals and destroyed his barn
barn it was the justice of the earth goddess
it was the justice of the earth goddess and they were merely her messengers
and they were merely her messengers they had no hatred in their hearts
they had no hatred in their hearts against okonkwo
against okonkwo his greatest friend
his greatest friend obierica was among them
obierica was among them they were merely cleansing the land
they were merely cleansing the land which okonkwo had polluted with the
which okonkwo had polluted with the blood of a clansmen
obiarika was a man who thought about things
things when the will of the goddess had been
when the will of the goddess had been done
done he sat down in his obi
he sat down in his obi and mourned his friend's calamity
and mourned his friend's calamity why should a man suffer so grievously
why should a man suffer so grievously for an offense he had committed
for an offense he had committed inadvertently
inadvertently but although he thought for a long time
but although he thought for a long time he found no answer
he found no answer he was merely led into greater
he was merely led into greater complexities
complexities he remembered
he remembered his wife's twin children whom he had
his wife's twin children whom he had thrown away
thrown away what crime had they committed
what crime had they committed the earth
the earth had decreed that they were an offense on
had decreed that they were an offense on the land and must be destroyed
the land and must be destroyed and if the clan did not exact punishment
and if the clan did not exact punishment for an offense against the great goddess
for an offense against the great goddess her wrath was loosed on all the land
her wrath was loosed on all the land and not just on the offender
and not just on the offender as the elders said
as the elders said if one finger brought oil
if one finger brought oil it soiled the others
okonkwo was well received by his mother's kinsmen in banta
mother's kinsmen in banta the old man who received him was his
the old man who received him was his mother's younger brother
mother's younger brother who was now the eldest surviving member
who was now the eldest surviving member of that family
of that family his name was uchendu
his name was uchendu and it was he who had received okonkwo's
and it was he who had received okonkwo's mother 20 and 10 years before
mother 20 and 10 years before when she had been brought home from
when she had been brought home from umalphia to be buried with her people
umalphia to be buried with her people okonkwo was only a boy then
okonkwo was only a boy then and uchendu still remembered him crying
and uchendu still remembered him crying the traditional farewell
the traditional farewell mother
mother mother
mother mother is going
mother is going that was many years ago
that was many years ago today
today okonkwo was not bringing his mother home
okonkwo was not bringing his mother home to be buried with her people
to be buried with her people he was taking his family of three wives
he was taking his family of three wives and their children to seek refuge in his
and their children to seek refuge in his motherland
motherland as soon as
as soon as saw him with his sad and weary company
saw him with his sad and weary company he guessed what had happened
he guessed what had happened and asked no questions
and asked no questions it was not until the following day that
it was not until the following day that okonkwo told him the full story
okonkwo told him the full story the old man listened silently
the old man listened silently to the end
to the end and then said with some relief
and then said with some relief it is a female ocho
it is a female ocho and he arranged the requisite rights and
and he arranged the requisite rights and sacrifices
okonkwo was given a plot of ground on which to build his compound and two or
which to build his compound and two or three pieces of land on which to farm
three pieces of land on which to farm during the coming planting season
during the coming planting season with the help of his mother's kinsmen
with the help of his mother's kinsmen he built himself an obi and three huts
he built himself an obi and three huts for his wives
for his wives he then installed his personal god
he then installed his personal god and the symbols of his departed fathers
and the symbols of his departed fathers each of uchendu's five sons contributed
each of uchendu's five sons contributed 300 cdms to enable their cousin to plant
300 cdms to enable their cousin to plant a farm
a farm for as soon as the first rain came
for as soon as the first rain came farming would begin
farming would begin at last the rain came
at last the rain came it was sudden and tremendous for two or
it was sudden and tremendous for two or three moons the sun had been gathering
three moons the sun had been gathering strength till it seemed to breathe a
strength till it seemed to breathe a breath of fire on the earth
breath of fire on the earth all the grass had long been scorched
all the grass had long been scorched brown
brown and the sands felt like live coals to
and the sands felt like live coals to the feet
the feet evergreen trees wore a dusty coat of
evergreen trees wore a dusty coat of brown
brown the birds were silenced in the forests
the birds were silenced in the forests and the world lay panting under the live
and the world lay panting under the live vibrating heat
vibrating heat and then came the clap of thunder
and then came the clap of thunder it was an angry metallic and thirsty
it was an angry metallic and thirsty clap
clap unlike the deep and liquid rumbling of
unlike the deep and liquid rumbling of the rainy season
the rainy season a mighty wind arose and filled the air
a mighty wind arose and filled the air with dust palm trees swayed as the wind
with dust palm trees swayed as the wind combed their leaves into flying crests
combed their leaves into flying crests like strange and fantastic coffee
like strange and fantastic coffee when the rain finally came
when the rain finally came it was in large solid drops of frozen
it was in large solid drops of frozen water
water which the people called the nuts of the
which the people called the nuts of the water of heaven
water of heaven they were hard
they were hard and painful on the body as they fell
and painful on the body as they fell yet young people ran about happily
yet young people ran about happily picking up the cold nuts and throwing
picking up the cold nuts and throwing them into their mouths to melt
them into their mouths to melt the earth quickly came to life
the earth quickly came to life and the birds in the forests flooded
and the birds in the forests flooded around and chirped merrily
around and chirped merrily a vague scent of life and green
a vague scent of life and green vegetation was diffused in the air
vegetation was diffused in the air as the rain began to fall more soberly
as the rain began to fall more soberly and in smaller liquid drops
and in smaller liquid drops children sought for shelter
children sought for shelter and all were happy refreshed
and all were happy refreshed and
thankful okonkwo and his family worked very hard to plant a new farm
very hard to plant a new farm but it was like beginning life anew
but it was like beginning life anew without the vigor and enthusiasm of
without the vigor and enthusiasm of youth
youth like learning to become left-handed in
like learning to become left-handed in old age
old age work no longer had for him the pleasure
work no longer had for him the pleasure it used to have
it used to have and when there was no work to do
and when there was no work to do he sat in a silent half sleep
he sat in a silent half sleep his life
his life had been ruled by a great passion
had been ruled by a great passion to become one of the lords of the clan
to become one of the lords of the clan that had been his life spring
that had been his life spring and he had all but achieved it
and he had all but achieved it then
then everything had been broken
everything had been broken [Music]
[Music] he had been cast out of his clan
he had been cast out of his clan like a fish onto a dry sandy beach
like a fish onto a dry sandy beach panting
panting clearly his personal god or chi
clearly his personal god or chi was not made for great things
was not made for great things a man could not rise beyond the destiny
a man could not rise beyond the destiny of his chi
of his chi the saying of the elders was not true
the saying of the elders was not true that if a man said ea
that if a man said ea his chi also affirmed
his chi also affirmed here was a man whose chi said nay
here was a man whose chi said nay despite his own affirmation
despite his own affirmation the old man
the old man uchendu
uchendu saw clearly that okonkwo had yielded to
saw clearly that okonkwo had yielded to despair
despair and he was greatly troubled
and he was greatly troubled he would speak to him after the isa ify
he would speak to him after the isa ify ceremony
the youngest of uchendu's five sons amiku was marrying a new wife
the bride price had been paid and all but the last ceremony had been
and all but the last ceremony had been performed
performed amiku and his people had taken palm wine
amiku and his people had taken palm wine to the bride's kinsmen
to the bride's kinsmen about two moons before okonkwo's arrival
about two moons before okonkwo's arrival in banta
in banta until was time for the final ceremony of
until was time for the final ceremony of confession
confession the daughters of the family were all
the daughters of the family were all there
there some of them having come a long way from
some of them having come a long way from their homes in distant villages
their homes in distant villages uchendu's eldest daughter had come from
uchendu's eldest daughter had come from a bodo
a bodo nearly half a day's journey away
nearly half a day's journey away the daughters of uchendu's brothers were
the daughters of uchendu's brothers were also there
also there it was a full gathering of um
it was a full gathering of um in the same way as they would meet if a
in the same way as they would meet if a death occurred in the family
death occurred in the family there were 22 of them
there were 22 of them they sat in a big circle on the ground
they sat in a big circle on the ground and the bride sat in the center
and the bride sat in the center with a hen in her right hand
with a hen in her right hand uchendu sat by her
uchendu sat by her holding the ancestral staff of the
holding the ancestral staff of the family
family all the other men stood outside the
all the other men stood outside the circle watching
circle watching their wives watched also
their wives watched also it was evening
it was evening and the sun was setting
uchendu's eldest daughter in jide
in jide asked the questions
remember that if you do not answer truthfully
that if you do not answer truthfully you will suffer or even die at
you will suffer or even die at childbirth she began
childbirth she began how many men have lain with you
how many men have lain with you since my brother first expressed the
since my brother first expressed the desire to marry you
desire to marry you none
none she answered simply
she answered simply answer truthfully
answer truthfully urge the other women
urge the other women none
none asked in g day
asked in g day none
none she answered
she answered swear on this staff of my father's
swear on this staff of my father's serchendu
serchendu i swear said the bride
uchendu took the hen from her slit its throat with a sharp knife
slit its throat with a sharp knife and allowed some of the blood to fall in
and allowed some of the blood to fall in his ancestral staff
his ancestral staff from that day
from that day amiku took the young bride to his hut
amiku took the young bride to his hut and she became his wife
and she became his wife the daughters of the family did not
the daughters of the family did not return to their homes immediately but
return to their homes immediately but spent two or three days with their
spent two or three days with their kinsmen
on the second day uchendu called together his sons and
uchendu called together his sons and daughters and his nephew okonkwo
daughters and his nephew okonkwo the men brought their goatskin mats with
the men brought their goatskin mats with which they sat on the floor
which they sat on the floor and the women sat on a sisal mat
and the women sat on a sisal mat spread on a raised bank of earth
spread on a raised bank of earth uchendu pulled gently at his gray beard
uchendu pulled gently at his gray beard and gnashed his teeth then he began to
and gnashed his teeth then he began to speak quietly and deliberately
speak quietly and deliberately picking his words with great care
it is a that i primarily wish to speak to
that i primarily wish to speak to he began
he began but i want all of you to note what i am
but i want all of you to note what i am going to say
going to say i am an old man
i am an old man and you are all children
and you are all children [Music]
[Music] i know more about the world than any of
i know more about the world than any of you
you if there is anyone among you who thinks
if there is anyone among you who thinks he knows more
he knows more let him speak up
let him speak up he paused
he paused but no one spoke
why is okonkwo with us today this is not his clan
this is not his clan we are only his mother's kinsmen
we are only his mother's kinsmen he does not belong here
he does not belong here he is an exile condemned for seven years
he is an exile condemned for seven years to live in a strange land
to live in a strange land and so he is bowed with grief
and so he is bowed with grief but there is just one question i would
but there is just one question i would like to ask him
like to ask him can you tell me okonkwo
can you tell me okonkwo why it is that one of the commonest
why it is that one of the commonest names we give our children
names we give our children is
is ineca or mother is supreme
ineca or mother is supreme we all know that a man is the head of
we all know that a man is the head of the family and his wives do his bidding
the family and his wives do his bidding a child belongs to its father
a child belongs to its father and his family and not to its mother and
and his family and not to its mother and her family
her family a man belongs to his fatherland
a man belongs to his fatherland and not to his motherland
and not to his motherland and yet we say
and yet we say neca
neca mother is supreme
mother is supreme why is that
why is that there was a silence
i do not know the answer okonkwo replied
you do not know the answer so you see that
so you see that you are a child
you are a child you have many wives and many children
you have many wives and many children more children than i have
more children than i have you are a great man in your clan
you are a great man in your clan but you are still a child
but you are still a child my child
my child listen to me and i shall tell you
listen to me and i shall tell you but there is one more question i shall
but there is one more question i shall ask you
ask you why is it
why is it that when a woman dies she is taken home
that when a woman dies she is taken home to be buried with her own kinsmen
to be buried with her own kinsmen she is not buried with her husband's
she is not buried with her husband's kinsmen why is that
kinsmen why is that your mother was brought home to me
your mother was brought home to me and buried with my people
and buried with my people why was that
why was that okonkwo shook his head
he does not know that either seruchendo
seruchendo and yet he is full of sorrow
and yet he is full of sorrow because he has to come live in his
because he has to come live in his motherland for a few years
motherland for a few years he laughed a mirthless laugh
he laughed a mirthless laugh and turned to his sons and daughters
and turned to his sons and daughters what about you
what about you can you answer my question
can you answer my question they all shook their heads
they all shook their heads then listen to me
then listen to me he said
he said and cleared his throat
it's true that a child belongs to its father
father but when a father beats his child
but when a father beats his child it seeks sympathy in its mother's heart
it seeks sympathy in its mother's heart a man belongs to his fatherland when
a man belongs to his fatherland when things are good and life is sweet
things are good and life is sweet but when there is sorrow and bitterness
but when there is sorrow and bitterness he finds refuge in his motherland
he finds refuge in his motherland your mother is there to protect you
your mother is there to protect you she is buried there and that is why we
she is buried there and that is why we say that mother is supreme
is it right that you okonkwo should bring to your mother a heavy face
should bring to your mother a heavy face and refuse to be
and refuse to be comforted be careful
comforted be careful or you may displease the dead
or you may displease the dead your duty is to comfort your wives and
your duty is to comfort your wives and children
children and take them back to your fatherland
and take them back to your fatherland after seven years
after seven years but if you allow sorrow to weigh you
but if you allow sorrow to weigh you down and kill you
down and kill you they will all die in exile
they will all die in exile he paused for a long mile
he paused for a long mile these
these are now your kinsmen
are now your kinsmen he waved at his sons and daughters
he waved at his sons and daughters you think you are the greatest sufferer
you think you are the greatest sufferer in the world
in the world do you know that men are sometimes
do you know that men are sometimes banished for life
banished for life do you know that men sometimes lose all
do you know that men sometimes lose all their yams and even their children
their yams and even their children i had six wives once
i had six wives once i have none now
i have none now except that young girl
except that young girl who knows not her right from her left
who knows not her right from her left do you know how many children i have
do you know how many children i have buried
buried children i begot in my youth and
children i begot in my youth and strength
strength 22
22 i did not hang myself and i am still
i did not hang myself and i am still alive
alive if you think you are the greatest
if you think you are the greatest sufferer in the world ask my daughter
sufferer in the world ask my daughter a queenie how many twins she has born
a queenie how many twins she has born and thrown away
and thrown away have you not heard the song they sing
have you not heard the song they sing when a woman dies
for whom is it well for whom is it well
for whom is it well there is no one for whom it is well
chapter 15 [Music]
it was in the second year of okonkwo's exile that his friend of the erika came
exile that his friend of the erika came to visit him
to visit him he brought with him two young men
he brought with him two young men each of them carrying a heavy bag on his
each of them carrying a heavy bag on his head
head okonkwo helped them put down their loads
okonkwo helped them put down their loads it was clear that the bags were full of
it was clear that the bags were full of calories
calories okonkwo was very happy to receive his
okonkwo was very happy to receive his friend
friend his wives and children were very happy
his wives and children were very happy too
too and so were his cousins and their wives
and so were his cousins and their wives when he sent for them and told them who
when he sent for them and told them who his guest was
his guest was you must take him to salute our father
you must take him to salute our father said one of the cousins
said one of the cousins yes replied okonkwo
yes replied okonkwo we are going directly
we are going directly but before they went
but before they went he whispered something to his first wife
he whispered something to his first wife she nodded and soon the children were
she nodded and soon the children were chasing one of their
uchendu had been told by one of his
had been told by one of his grandchildren
grandchildren that three strangers had come to
that three strangers had come to okonkwo's house
okonkwo's house he was therefore waiting to receive them
he was therefore waiting to receive them he held out his hands to them when they
he held out his hands to them when they came into his obi
came into his obi and after they had shaken hands
and after they had shaken hands he asked okonkwo who they were
he asked okonkwo who they were this
this is obierica my great friend
is obierica my great friend i have already spoken to you about him
i have already spoken to you about him yes said the old man
yes said the old man turning to be erica
turning to be erica my son has told me about you
my son has told me about you and i am happy you have come to see us
and i am happy you have come to see us i knew your father
i knew your father yueka
yueka he was a great man
he was a great man he had many friends here
he had many friends here and came to see them quite often
and came to see them quite often those were good days
those were good days when a man had friends in distant clans
when a man had friends in distant clans your generation does not know that
your generation does not know that you stay at home
you stay at home afraid of your next door neighbor
afraid of your next door neighbor even a man's motherland is strange to
even a man's motherland is strange to him nowadays
him nowadays he looked at okonkwo
he looked at okonkwo i am an old man
i am an old man and i like to talk
and i like to talk that is all i am good for now
that is all i am good for now he got up painfully
he got up painfully went into an inner room
went into an inner room and came back with a color nut
who are the young men with you he asked as he sat down again on his
he asked as he sat down again on his goatskin
goatskin okonkwo told him
ah he said
he said welcome my sons
welcome my sons he presented the color not to them
he presented the color not to them and when they had seen it and thanked
and when they had seen it and thanked him he broke it and they ate
him he broke it and they ate go into that room
go into that room he said to okonkwo pointing with his
he said to okonkwo pointing with his finger
finger you will find a pot of wine there
you will find a pot of wine there okankwo brought the wine and they began
okankwo brought the wine and they began to drink
to drink it was a day old and very strong
yes sir
sir after a long silence
after a long silence people traveled more in those days
people traveled more in those days there is not a single clan in these
there is not a single clan in these parts
parts that i do not know very well
that i do not know very well animta
animta um
have you heard asto bierika that obama is no more
asto bierika that obama is no more how is that
how is that asked to chendu and okonkwo together
a bombay has been wiped out said obiereka
said obiereka it is a strange and terrible story
it is a strange and terrible story if i had not seen the few survivors with
if i had not seen the few survivors with my own eyes and heard their story with
my own eyes and heard their story with my own ears
my own ears i would not have believed
i would not have believed was it not on an ak day that they fled
was it not on an ak day that they fled into mafia he asked his two companions
into mafia he asked his two companions and they nodded their heads
and they nodded their heads three moons ago
three moons ago said obiereka
said obiereka on an ak market day
on an ak market day a little band of fugitives came into our
a little band of fugitives came into our town
town most of them were sons of our land whose
most of them were sons of our land whose mothers had been buried with us
mothers had been buried with us but there were some too
but there were some too who came because they had friends in our
who came because they had friends in our town
town and others who could think of nowhere
and others who could think of nowhere else open to escape
else open to escape and so they fled into mafia with a
and so they fled into mafia with a woeful story
woeful story he drank his palm wine
he drank his palm wine and okonkwo filled his horn again
and okonkwo filled his horn again he continued
he continued during the last planting season
during the last planting season a white man had appeared in their clan
a white man had appeared in their clan and albino
and albino suggested okonkwo
suggested okonkwo he was not an albino
he was not an albino he was quite different he sipped his
he was quite different he sipped his wine
wine and he was riding an iron horse
and he was riding an iron horse the first people who saw him ran away
the first people who saw him ran away but he stood beckoning to them
but he stood beckoning to them in the end
in the end the fearless ones went near and even
the fearless ones went near and even touched him
touched him the elders consulted their oracle
the elders consulted their oracle and it told them
and it told them that the strange man would break their
that the strange man would break their clan
clan and spread destruction among them
and spread destruction among them obiarica again drank a little of his
obiarica again drank a little of his wine
wine [Music]
[Music] and so they killed the white man
and so they killed the white man and tied his iron horse to their sacred
and tied his iron horse to their sacred tree
tree because it looked
because it looked as if it would run away to call the
as if it would run away to call the man's friends
man's friends i forgot to tell you another thing which
i forgot to tell you another thing which the oracle said
the oracle said it said that other white men were on
it said that other white men were on their way
their way they were locusts it said
they were locusts it said and that first man was their harbinger
and that first man was their harbinger sent to explore the terrain
sent to explore the terrain and so they killed him
what did the white man say before they killed him
killed him as duchendu
as duchendu he said nothing
he said nothing answered one of obiarika's companions
he said something only
only they did not understand him said
they did not understand him said obiarika
obiarika he seemed to speak through his nose
one of the men told me said obi-erica's other companion
said obi-erica's other companion that he repeated over and over again
that he repeated over and over again a word
a word that resembled
perhaps he'd been going to himbino
he'd been going to himbino and it lost his way
anyway resumed obiarica they killed him and tied up his iron
they killed him and tied up his iron horse
horse this was before the planting season
this was before the planting season began
began for a long time nothing happened
for a long time nothing happened the rains had come
the rains had come and yams had been sown
and yams had been sown the iron horse was still tied to the
the iron horse was still tied to the sacred silk cotton tree
sacred silk cotton tree and then one morning three white men
and then one morning three white men led by a band of ordinary men like us
led by a band of ordinary men like us came to the clan
came to the clan they saw the iron horse and went away
they saw the iron horse and went away again
again most of the men and women of obame had
most of the men and women of obame had gone to their farms
gone to their farms only a few of them saw these white men
only a few of them saw these white men and their followers
and their followers for many market weeks nothing else
for many market weeks nothing else happened
happened they have a big market in obama on every
they have a big market in obama on every other awful day and as you know the
other awful day and as you know the whole clan gathers there
whole clan gathers there that was the day it happened
that was the day it happened the three white men
the three white men and a very large number of other men
and a very large number of other men surrounded the market
surrounded the market they must have used a powerful medicine
they must have used a powerful medicine to make themselves invisible
to make themselves invisible until the market was full
until the market was full and they began to shoot
and they began to shoot everybody was killed
everybody was killed except the old and the sick who were at
except the old and the sick who were at home
home and a handful of men and women whose chi
and a handful of men and women whose chi were wide awake and brought them out of
were wide awake and brought them out of that market
that market he paused
their clan is now completely empty even the sacred fish in their mysterious
even the sacred fish in their mysterious lake have fled
lake have fled and the lake has turned the color of
and the lake has turned the color of blood
blood a great evil has come upon their land
a great evil has come upon their land as the oracle had warned
as the oracle had warned there was a long silence
there was a long silence uchendu ground his teeth together
uchendu ground his teeth together audibly
audibly then he burst out
never kill a man who says nothing those men of obame were fools
those men of obame were fools what they know about the man
what they know about the man he ground his teeth again
he ground his teeth again and told a story to illustrate his point
mother kite once sent her daughter to bring food
bring food she went
she went and brought back a duckling you have
and brought back a duckling you have done very well
done very well said mother kite to her daughter
said mother kite to her daughter but tell me
but tell me what did the mother of this duckling say
what did the mother of this duckling say when you swooped and carried its child
when you swooped and carried its child away
away it said nothing replied the young kite
it said nothing replied the young kite it just walked away
it just walked away you must return the duckling said mother
you must return the duckling said mother kite
kite there is something ominous behind the
there is something ominous behind the silence
silence and so daughter kite returned the
and so daughter kite returned the duckling and took a chick instead
what did the mother of this chick do asked the old kite
asked the old kite it cried and raved and cursed me
it cried and raved and cursed me said the young kite
said the young kite then we can eat the chick
then we can eat the chick said her mother
said her mother there is nothing to fear from someone
there is nothing to fear from someone who shouts
who shouts those men of aubamey
those men of aubamey were fools
they were fools said okonkwo after a pause
said okonkwo after a pause they had been warned that danger was
they had been warned that danger was ahead
ahead they should have armed themselves with
they should have armed themselves with their guns and their machetes
their guns and their machetes even when they went to market
even when they went to market they have paid for their foolishness
they have paid for their foolishness said obiereka
said obiereka but i am greatly afraid
but i am greatly afraid we have heard stories about white men
we have heard stories about white men who made the powerful guns and the
who made the powerful guns and the strong drinks and took slaves away
strong drinks and took slaves away across the seas
across the seas but no one thought the stories were true
the world has no end and what is good among one people
and what is good among one people is an abomination with others
is an abomination with others we have albinos among us
we have albinos among us do you not think
do you not think that they came to our clan by mistake
that they came to our clan by mistake that they have strayed from their way
that they have strayed from their way to a land where everybody is like them
okonkwo's first wife soon finished her cooking
soon finished her cooking and set before their guests a big meal
and set before their guests a big meal of pounded yams and bitter leaf soup
of pounded yams and bitter leaf soup okonkwo's
okonkwo's brought in a pot of sweet wine tapped
brought in a pot of sweet wine tapped from the raffia palm
from the raffia palm you are a big man now
you are a big man now of erica said to nuoye
of erica said to nuoye your friend
your friend aneni
aneni asked me to greet you
asked me to greet you is he well
is he well as norway
as norway we are all well said obiarica
eseema brought them a bowl of water with which to wash their hands
with which to wash their hands after that they began to eat and to
after that they began to eat and to drink the wine
drink the wine [Music]
[Music] when did you set out from home
when did you set out from home asked okonkwo
asked okonkwo we had meant to set out from my house
we had meant to set out from my house before cockroach said obiarica
before cockroach said obiarica but nueke
but nueke did not appear until it was quite light
did not appear until it was quite light never make an early morning appointment
never make an early morning appointment with a man who has just married a new
with a man who has just married a new wife
wife they all laughed
they all laughed as nueche married a wife
as nueche married a wife astor conquo
astor conquo he has married okadigbo's second
he has married okadigbo's second daughter
daughter said obiarica
said obiarica that is very good said okonkwo
that is very good said okonkwo i do not blame you for not hearing the
i do not blame you for not hearing the crow
when they had eaten ovie erica pointed at the two heavy bags
that is the money from your yams he said i sold the big ones as soon as you left
i sold the big ones as soon as you left later on i sold some of the cdm's and
later on i sold some of the cdm's and gave out others to share croppers
gave out others to share croppers i shall do that every year until you
i shall do that every year until you return
return but i thought you would need the money
but i thought you would need the money now and so i brought it
now and so i brought it who knows what may happen tomorrow
who knows what may happen tomorrow perhaps green men will come to our clan
perhaps green men will come to our clan and shoot us
and shoot us god will not permit it
god will not permit it said okonkwo
said okonkwo i do not know how to thank you
i do not know how to thank you i can tell you said obierica
i can tell you said obierica kill one of your sons for me
that will not be enough said okonkwo
said okonkwo then kill yourself
then kill yourself said obiarika
said obiarika forgive me
forgive me said okonkwo smiling
said okonkwo smiling i shall not talk about thanking you
i shall not talk about thanking you anymore
when nearly two years later
nearly two years later obierica paid another visit to his
obierica paid another visit to his friend in exile
friend in exile the circumstances were less happy
the circumstances were less happy the missionaries had come to umufia
the missionaries had come to umufia they had built their church there
they had built their church there won a handful of converts and were
won a handful of converts and were already sending evangelists to the
already sending evangelists to the surrounding towns in villages
surrounding towns in villages that was a source of great sorrow to the
that was a source of great sorrow to the leaders of the clan
leaders of the clan but many of them believed that the
but many of them believed that the strange faith and the white man's god
strange faith and the white man's god would not last
would not last none of his converts was a man whose
none of his converts was a man whose word was heated in the assembly of the
word was heated in the assembly of the people
people none of them was a man of title
none of them was a man of title they were mostly the kind of people that
they were mostly the kind of people that were called
were called afulafu
afulafu worthless empty men
worthless empty men the imagery of an efu lefu in the
the imagery of an efu lefu in the language of the clan
language of the clan was a man who sold his machete and wore
was a man who sold his machete and wore the sheath to battle
the sheath to battle chiello
chiello the priestess of agbala
the priestess of agbala called the converts the excrement of the
called the converts the excrement of the clan
clan and the new faith was a mad dog that had
and the new faith was a mad dog that had come to eat it up
come to eat it up what moved obiarica to visit okonkwo
what moved obiarica to visit okonkwo was the sudden appearance of the
was the sudden appearance of the latter's son nuoye
latter's son nuoye among the missionaries in mafia
what are you doing here obi-erika had asked when after many
obi-erika had asked when after many difficulties the missionaries had
difficulties the missionaries had allowed him to speak to the boy
allowed him to speak to the boy i am one of them
i am one of them replied nuoye
how was your father obi erica asked not knowing what else to
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