Nwoye.""Ee-e-e!"The oldest man in the camp of the visitors replied: "It will be good for you and it will be good for us.

and after that the dry season
and after that the dry season. You see. but they were really talking at the top of their voices. He searched his bag and brought out his snuff-bottle. Ikemefuna came first with the biggest pot. who must taste his wine before anyone else. "So you must finish this."He gave his mother seven baskets of vegetables to cook and in the end there were only three. Akueni. Okonkwo took up his goatskin bag to go. "You fear that you will die. As long as they lasted."I shall return very soon. As the rains became heavier the women planted maize. The pot fell and broke in the sand. sandy footway began to throw up the heat that lay buried in it. They were the harbingers sent to survey the land. and two others after her.""Have you heard."Uzowulu's body. "Yaa!".

"Where is Ojiugo?" he asked his second wife. Akueni. Each of his three wives had her own hut. Evil Forest rose to his feet and order was immediately restored. Of course they had all heard the bell-man. Even those which Nwoye knew already were told with a new freshness and the local flavor of a different clan. she thought.At last the day came by which all the missionaries should have died. They had thrown down their water-pots and lain by the roadside expecting the sinister light to descend on them and kill them."Yes. If there is any one among you who thinks he knows more let him speak up. And what made it worse in Okonkwo's case was that he had to support his mother and two sisters from his meagre harvest. She broke a piece in two and gave it to Ezinma. But it was useless. His own hut. They too sat just in front of the huge circle of spectators. It was Ekwefl's turn to tell a story. She was particularly fond of Ekwefi's only daughter. what do we do? Do we go and stop his mouth? No. I shall give you some fish to eat. Ekwefi believed deep inside her that Ezinma had come to stay.

"The people of Umuike wanted their market to grow and swallow up the markets of their neighbors. sad and pleading. You.The arrival of the missionaries had caused a considerable stir in the village of Mbanta. Okonkwo had gone to a medicine man. But when he reached Tortoise's house he told his wife to bring out all the hard things in the house. 'You are full of cunning and you are ungrateful. Worshippers and those who came to seek knowledge from the god crawled on their belly through the hole and found themselves in a dark. As soon as Uchendu saw him with his sad and weary company he guessed what had happened." said Obierika. was celebrating his daughter's uri. Nwoye's callow mind was greatly puzzled."Before God. And then like the sound of his cannon he crashed on the compound."We cannot all rush out like that. Each of his three wives had her own hut. It was an angry. and during this time Okonkwo's fame had grown like a bush-fire in the harmattan. nearly half a day's journey away."Who is that?" he growled. He asked Okagbue to come up and rest while he took a hand.

her blood still ran cold whenever she remembered that night. Some of these prisoners had thrown away their twins and some had molested the Christians. as usual. his harvest will be good or bad according to the strength of his arm. The egwugwu house into which they emerged faced the forest. It was indeed the shrine of a great god.' said her mother. She went in and knocked at his door and he came out. Obiageli. Okonkwo. Okonkwo saw clearly the high esteem in which he would be held. and was about to say something when the old man continued:"Yes. whereupon his father beat him heavily. No woman ever asked questions about the most powerful and the most secret cult in the clan. "Okonkwo! Agbala ekme gio-o-o-o! Agbala cholu ifu ada ya Ezinmao-o-o-oi"At the mention of Ezinma's name Ekwefi jerked her head sharply like an animal that had sniffed death in the air. that was how it looked to his father.Share-cropping was a very slow way of building up a barn of one's own. and so they made them that offer which nobody in his right senses would accept. And then from the center of the delirious fury came a cry of agony and shouts of horror. A chick that will grow into a cock can be spotted the very day it hatches.At the beginning of their journey the men of Umuofia talked and laughed about the locusts.

As the rains became heavier the women planted maize."The missionary ignored him and went on to talk about the Holy Trinity. For two or three moons the sun had been gathering strength till it seemed to breathe a breath of fire on the earth. blew into it to remove any dust that might be there. when she had seen Ogbu-agali-odu." Some of them had big sticks and some even machetes. And when. Who else among his children could have read his thoughts so well? With two beautiful grown-up daughters his return to Umuofia would attract considerable attention. Then it went nearer and named the village: " Iguedo of the yellow grinding-stone!" It was Okonkwo's village. Okonkwo walked behind him. dressed in garbs of war. quietly and deliberately. "Agbala greets you. bringing the third dish." answered his first wife.- that she did not blame others for their good fortune but her own evil chi who denied her any?At last Ezinma was born.That was the kind of story that Nwoye loved. The oldest member of this extensive family was Okonkwo's uncle. It was only after the pot had been emptied that the suitor's father cleared his voice and announced the object of their visit." He looked at Okonkwo. Her two children belong to Uzowulu.

The earth burned like hot coals and roasted all the yams that had been sown. or "Mother is Supreme?" We all know that a man is the head of the family and his wives do his bidding. who had been talking. There was nothing new in that. which was rubbed with red earth so that it shone.Okagbue went back into the pit.Okonkwo was sitting on a goatskin already eating his first wife's meal. without serious danger to his own health. And so he was always happy when he heard him grumbling about women. He thought of his mother and his three-year-old sister and wept bitterly.Anasi was a middle-aged woman.As the man who had cleared his throat drew up and raised his machete. food and palm-wine. It told of one sheep out on the hills. one of them did something which no one could describe because it had been as quick as a flash." He paused for a long while. Okonkwo wanted his son to be a great farmer and a great man. whose name was Ibe. Then all Umuofia turned out in spite of the cold harmattan.Qkonkwo ruled his household with a heavy hand. The first cock has crowed.

" said Ofoedu. Every village had its own ilo which was as old as the village itself and where all the great ceremonies and dances took place. but in doing so he would have taken something from the full penalty of seven years. neither early nor late. Nwoye's mother. Every child loved the harvest season. That was why Okonkwo had been Chosen by the nine villages to carry a message of war to their enemies unless they agreed to give up a young man and a virgin to atone for the murder of Udo's wife. "people should not talk when they are eating or pepper may go down the wrong way. They were both Uzowulu's neighbors. As they cut grass in the morning the younger men sang in time with the strokes of their machetes:"Kotma of the ashy buttocks. They too sat just in front of the huge circle of spectators. They argued for a short while and fell into silence again.""That means you will see something. As far as the villagers were concerned. I shall give you twice four hundred yams. and he was not afraid of war. the top one. We must fight these men and drive them from the land. turning to Obierika." said Uchendu. They were already far enough where they stood and there was room for running away if any of them should go towards them.

He would remember his own childhood. And so he killed her. That week they won a handful more converts.The sun rose slowly to the center of the sky." Okonkwo was specially fond of Ezinma."No. Do you know how many children I have buried??children I begot in my youth and strength? Twenty-two. now said"You told us with your own mouth that there was only one god. with love. He drank palm-wine from morning till night. and Ikemefuna. The drums beat the unmistakable wrestling dance - quick.""You do not understand. His eldest son.After the death of Ekwefi's second child. who had joined in plucking the feathers. His own home had gradually become very faint and distant. saw clearly that Okonkwo had yielded to despair and he was greatly troubled. They had something to say for every man. the people of the sky set before their guests the most delectable dishes Tortoise had even seen or dreamed of. There was a famine in those days and Tortoise had not eaten a good meal for two moons.

" He turned to Odukwe. They told the white man and he smiled benevolently."You have not eaten for two days."Yes. but no one spoke. my hand has touched the ground. It was therefore understood that Ekwefi would provide cassava lor the feast.As the broken kola nuts were passed round. After that nothing happened for a long time between the church and the clan. who drank a cup or two each."Okonkwo was very lucky in his daughters. She sometimes broke into a run and stopped again suddenly. She was used to Chielo calling her "my daughter. and the sands felt like live coals to the feet."The court messengers did not like to be called Ashy-Buttocks. If you think you are the greatest sufferer in the world ask my daughter. The children had lost interest and were playing."1 don't know."Okonkwo brought the wine and they began to drink. Aninta. He went into the obi and saluted his father.

The children stood in the darkness outside their hut watching the strange event. It was as if water had been poured on the tightened skin of a drum. They called him the little bird nza who so far forgot himself after a heavy meal that he challenged his chi. He who brings kola brings life. but he had not expected he would be so generous. The fire did not burn with a flame. Uchendu's eldest daughter had come from Obodo. In that way she will elude her wicked tormentor and break its evil cycle of birth and death."Uzowulu's body. He was like the man in the song who had ten and one wives and not enough soup for his foo-foo."It has not always been so. Some of them did become tired of their evil rounds of birth and death." said the woman.- instead of thirty there were now only fifteen. When he died this morning. There was a drinking horn in it. and in the end Okonkwo overcame his sorrow."Oye. was among them. they settled on the roofs and covered the bare ground. Obierika.

But it was really not true that Okonkwo's palm-kernels had been cracked for him by a benevolent spirit. They saluted one another and then reappeared on the ilo. For days and nights together it poured down in violent torrents. "Tortoise and Cat went to wrestle against Yams??no."Tortoise turned to the birds and said: 'You remember that my name is All of you." And he told him what an osu was. Then he would show his wealth by initiating his sons into the ozo society. "Somebody is walking behind me!" she said. Many of these messengers came from Umuru on the bank of the Great River. I have only called you together because it is good for kinsmen to meet. burning forehead. but if one picked out the flute as it went up and down and then broke up into short snatches." she said. She had not as much as looked at Okonkwo and Ekwefi or shown any surprise at finding them at the mouth of the cave. breakfast was hastily eaten and women and children began to gather at Obierika's compound to help the bride's mother in her difficult but happy task of cooking for a whole village.Thus the men of Umuofia pursued their way. Because he had taken titles. The priestess was now saluting the village of Umuachi. Some of them had been heavily whipped." was joyfully chanted everywhere. carrying a wooden dish with three kola nuts and alligator pepper.

And then suddenly like one possessed he shot out his left hand and pointed in the direction of Mbaino."It is here. and he sent his kotma to catch Aneto.""It is the result of a great medicine."When your wife becomes pregnant again. and the sound of wooden mortar and pestle as Nwayieke pounded her foo-foo.""Is he staying long with us?" she asked. It was a little village called Mbanta. and what is good among one people is an abomination with others." said some of the elders.But the most dreaded of all was yet to come. but even now they have not found the mouth with which to tell of their suffering. Nothing that happened in the world of the animals ever escaped his notice. now desperate. He lelt a relief within as the hymn poured into his parched soul. But he has not come to wake me up in the morning for it. that Ekwensu." His staff came down again. The villagers were so certain about the doom that awaited these men that one or two converts thought it wise to suspend their allegiance to the new faith. he was treated with great honor and respect. Okonkwo was.

hung above the fireplace. And. and it was said that. He dared not go too near the missionaries for fear of his father. "God will laugh at them on the judgment day."Our father. Ekwefi muttered. How do you think we can fight when our own brothers have turned against us? The white man is very clever." said Okonkwo. His own home had gradually become very faint and distant. It was the first time for many years that a man had broken the sacred peace. Some of them were not at home and only four came in. and they ran for their lives. Perhaps she has come to stay. broken now and again by singing. They were grieved by the indignity and mourned for their neglected farms. Even as a little boy he had resented his father's failure and weakness.Then the missionaries burst into song. He shrugged his shoulders and went away to tap his afternoon palm-wine. If ever a man deserved his success.Then the missionaries burst into song.

Had she been running too? How could she go so fast with Ezinma on her back? Although the night was cool.It was going to be Okonkwo's last harvest in Mbanta.""I shall wait too. who laughed uneasily because. It seemed as if the world had gone mad. It was only from Nwoye's mother that he heard scraps of the story. If I were you I would have stayed at home. as you know. Okonkwo. She turned round on her low stool and put the beak in the fire for a few moments. "It is a strange and terrible story. He pressed the trigger and there was a loud report accompanied by the wail of his wives and children. Okonkwo's son. I shall give you some fish to eat."Ezinma is dying. But when a father beats his child."We had meant to set out from my house before cockcrow.After the wine had been drunk Okonkwo laid his difficulties before Nwakibie." replied Uzowulu." He went away to his hut and Ekwefi began to tend the medicine pot almost as if it was itself a sick child. The heathen say you will die if you do this or that.

"Unless you shave off the mark of your heathen belief I will not admit you into the church.As the palm-wine was drunk one of the oldest members of the umunna rose to thank Okonkwo:"If I say that we did not expect such a big feast I will be suggesting that we did not know how openhanded our son. He did not know who the girl was. Njide. Then he would show his wealth by initiating his sons into the ozo society." replied Okonkwo. when his father had not been dead very long. and ate up all the wild grass in the fields. all of a sudden. father? You are beyond our knowledge. Okonkwo's son.""Ee-e-e!""Prosperous men and great warriors. The drums rose to a frenzy. "Ee-e-e!""We are giving you our daughter today. making music and feasting. met to hear a report of Okonkwo's mission. Unoka. But it would be impolite to rush him. the one young and beautiful.""Oho. We put our fingers into our ears to stop us hearing.

The sickness was an abomination to the earth." he said. We are only his mother's kinsmen. Now Ekwefi was a woman of forty-five who had suffered a great deal in her time. followed by the bride and the other women. It was Okonkwo's uncle. To abandon the gods of one's father and go about with a lot of effeminate men clucking like old hens was the very depth of abomination. No ogbanje would yield her secrets easily. They surged forward as the two young men danced into the circle. behind the crowd. how he had often wandered around looking for a kite sailing leisurely against the blue sky." she replied. and." Okonkwo agreed. one of them did something which no one could describe because it had been as quick as a flash. is a beast."Okonkwo had just blown out the palm-oil lamp and stretched himself on his bamboo bed when he heard the ogene of the town crier piercing the still night air. In the end Oduche died and Aneto was taken to Umuru and hanged. For a long time nothing happened." said Ekwefi. or obi.

As Idigo had said. Kiaga had asked the women to bring red earth and white chalk and water to scrub the church for Easter. But for a young man whose father had no yams.As night fell."A little more?? I said a little."Where is Mgbogo?" asked one of them. in each of the countless thatched huts of Umuofia." Okonkwo threatened. and was about to say something when the old man continued:"Yes." she replied. Only the really great men in the clan were able to do this. And then it became known that the white man's fetish had unbelievable power."The weeping was now quite close and soon the children filed in. I cannot yet find a mouth with which to tell the story. And they were all gay. And supporting his mother also meant supporting his father.""Very true. That was the only time Ekwefi ever saw Ogbu-agali-odu. As soon as she became pregnant she went to live with her old mother in another village. And so although Okonkwo was still young. When all the birds had gathered together.

This was before the planting season began. the fear of failure and of weakness. Among the Ibo the art of conversation is regarded very highly. it seeks sympathy in its mother's hut. the farthest village in the clan. At the opposite end of the compound was a shed for the goats. Those were good days when a man had friends in distant clans. I began to own a farm at your age. he had allowed what he regarded as a reasonable and manly interval to pass and then gone with his machete to the shrine."Did she ask you to feed them before she went?""Yes. all the descendants of Okolo. when they came." said Ekwefi." he said. No punishment was prescribed for a man who killed the python knowingly. Marriage should be a play and not a fight so we are falling down again.At last they took a turning and began to head for the caves."The crowd answered-. And Okonkwo had already done that. Her suitor and his relatives surveyed her young body with expert eyes as if to assure themselves that she was beautiful and ripe."Remove your jigida first.

And she had agreed. Some of them did become tired of their evil rounds of birth and death. and on her waist four or five rows of jigida. too. And he was afraid to look back. refreshed and thankful. It was only when he had got there that it had occurred to him that the priestess might have chosen to go round the villages first. Anyone who knew his grim struggle against poverty and misfortune could not say he had been lucky. The two voices disappeared into the thick darkness. Ekwefi trudged along between two fears."The birds gathered round to eat what was left and to peck at the bones he had thrown all about the floor.Although Nwoye had been attracted to the new faith from the very first day." said Okonkwo. There is only one true God and He has the earth. a place which was already becoming remote and vague in his imagination. especially these days when young men are afraid of hard work. have no toes. called him by his name and went back to her hut. They were called kotma.- instead of thirty there were now only fifteen."Unoka was like that in his last days.

It looked like an equal match."He uncovered his second wife's dish and began to eat from it. Once in a while two young men carrying palm fronds ran round the circle and kept the crowd back by beating the ground in front of them or. A child belongs to its father and his family and not to its mother and her family.The next morning the crazy men actually began to clear a part of the forest and to build their house.The missionaries spent their first four or five nights in the marketplace. And there he stood in his hard shell full of food and wine but without any wings to fly home. Ezinma turned left as if she was going to the stream.Go-di-di-go-go-di-go. The nine egwugwu then went away to consult together in their house. But let us ostracize these men. burning forehead. Maduka.A hush fell on the compound immediately. "Your wrestling the other day gave me much happiness."Where have you been?" he stammered. When they had all taken. And he did pounce on people quite often. A sudden hush had fallen on the women. But her love of wrestling contests was still as strong as it was thirty years ago. On the second day Uchendu called together his sons and daughters and his nephew.

It was full of meat and fish. They did not stay very long. gome. One mind said to her: "Woman." said Okagbue. who was then an ailing man. And so he feigned that he no longer cared for women's stories. like a hunter's dog that suddenly goes mad and turns on his master. Mr. in their proper order. I sow the yams when the first rain has fallen."When did you become a shivering old woman. "We are going directly. And they began to shoot. as the saying goes. All was silent.Qkonkwo ruled his household with a heavy hand. who were still outside the circle. They seemed to forget all about him as soon as they had taken the decision." Obierika said to Nwoye.""Ee-e-e!"The oldest man in the camp of the visitors replied: "It will be good for you and it will be good for us.