The “African-Ness” of Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

The â€Å"African-ness† of Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe In Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, the African culture is depicted by following the life of Okonkwo, a rather customary and conventional African villager. Achebe wanted to write a novel that portrays accurately the African society in the mid to late 1800s in Nigeria, at the time the novel is set. As a child, Achebe spoke the Ibo language, but he was raised in a Christian home. Achebe used the knowledge he gained from the African life to put together history and fiction into a novel that he believes correctly illustrates the African culture before and after the arrival of the Christian missionaries. Thus, the reader is given a taste of the â€Å"African-ness† of the novel through Achebe’s†¦show more content†¦The African folklore of the Ibo society also flourishes in events such as the celebration of Uri which takes place one day before a wedding. Traditional dances are witnessed and African music is played. Therefore, the African folklore, the body of exp ressive culture, is represented by Achebe in this novel through tales and celebration. This adds to the African aspect of this novel. Achebe also uses social structure and statuses to picture to depict the African culture and life. In the Ibo social structure, the villager harvest yams every year and then purchase titles with the yams they harvest. This is how men became prestigious in the village of Umofia. This system is used to encourage hard work in the Ibo society, and thus, the wealth and importance of a man is measured by the titles he holds and the yams he harvests. Moreover, to be a strong leader in this African society, one had to possess the Ibo values. Achebe expresses these values through the different characters in the story. For instance, through the character of Okonkwo, who was considered a successful man and a leader in his tribe before his exile, Achebe proves that the ideal Ibo values are hard work, stamina, physical and emotional strength, courage, cooperation a nd personal worth. Achebe also shows that in this Ibo society, men play a major role in governing the village and are given most of the privileges. Apparently,Show MoreRelatedOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 Pagesglobalization, both of which can be seen as hallmarks of the opening decades of the twentieth century. This intermingling of the forces and processes that were arguably essential components 2 †¢ INTRODUCTION of two epochs we routinely set apart as centuries suggests the need for flexibility in demarcating phases of world history, and for determining beginnings and endings that accord with major shifts in political and socioeconomic circumstances and dynamics rather than standard but arbitrary