University of Algiers 2

Department of English

Study of Literary Texts

Achebe’s Things Fall Apart: Traditions and Customs in Umuofia

Ikemefuna’s fate is finally carried out, and he is killed by Okonkwo and the
other clansmen. Okonkwo has participated in killing a boy who trusts him and
calls him father. Though Okonkwo believes he had no other choice when it
came to striking down Ikemefuna, his death continues to affect him.

Drums and cannons signal the death of Ezeudu, a great warrior and the oldest
man in Okonkwo’s village. Okonkwo remembers when the old and wise man
advised him not to participate in the killing of Ikemefuna. These memories bring
more sorrow and sadness, yet Okonkwo would never admit it. The whole land
of Umuofia is in turmoil of mourning: everyone laments and expresses his grief,
and the egwugwu make frightening appearances. The egwugwu show up to
honor Ezeudu showing how important and great he was.

The egwugwu is a group of nine masked men, one from each of the nine villages. They
function as a sort of a justice system in the community presiding over conflicts and

judgments. They are believed to act in the spirits of the ancestors.

As befits one of such high rank, the funeral ceremonies are very elaborate,
being particularly marked by the firing guns. At the highest of the excitement,
there is a dreadful accident: Okonkwo’s old gun explodes and the dead man’s
sixteen-year-old son is killed.

To kill a clansman in Umuofia is the greatest of crimes, and he who is

responsible is banished from the land. However, since the killing is an accident,
he is permitted to return after seven years. So Okonkwo and his family are
forced to flee before nightfall to the distant native village of Mbanta. When
Okonkwo, his wives and children are gone all their possessions are destroyed by
the tribesmen in a ritual cleansing and purification of his sin.

Okonkwo is severely punished for a crime which is inadvertent. However, the

man does not question things. He just conforms to the traditions of his
community, even though sometimes they are irrational. Traditions in Umuofia
constitute a significant part in people’s lives and most of the time they imprison
their thoughts.