visit to a neighboring village. She did not return to Okonkwo's compound until three days before the naming ceremony. nearly half a day's journey away.

They asked who the king of the village was
They asked who the king of the village was. Kiaga. The drums beat the unmistakable wrestling dance - quick. And at last the locusts did descend. During those years no single day passed in the sky without his beating the woman.""It is true.But the most dreaded of all was yet to come." They were hard and painful on the body as they fell. It was difficult to say which the people enjoyed more. because Oduche had not died immediately from his wounds. not dead. There were also pots of palm-wine. Then he poured out for the others. It was like pouring grains of corn into a bag full of holes. "My father. no one could kill them without having to flee from the clan. and when he died he was buried by his kind in the Evil Forest. I shall break your jaw." said Ezinma touching the ground with her finger. machetes.

"Ekwefi went into her hut and came out again with Ezinma. If it does its power will be gone. His love of talk had grown with age and sickness.- the only thing worth demonstrating was strength. called the converts the excrement of the clan. Okonkwo was. Nwoye's mother. she was dead. Her heart beat violently and she stood still. he belonged to the clan as a whole. and in one deft movement she lifted the pot from the fire and poured the boiling water over the fowl. "But what is good in one place is bad in another place. by Ezeani. He was ill for three market weeks. I say it because I fear for the younger generation. A great evil has come upon their land as the Oracle had warned. was quite harmless. "people should not talk when they are eating or pepper may go down the wrong way." said Machi. As soon as the two boys closed in.

"Ogbuefi Ndulue of Ire village. and the others to the chalk quarry.; "Did he die?" asked Ezinma. "When did you become one of the ndichie of Umuofia?"And so Nwoye's mother took Ikemefuna to her hut and asked no more questions. When he walked. Ekwefi tried to pull out the horny beak but it was too hard. Neither of the other wives had. No. the rulers and elders of Mbanta assembled to decide on their action. Okonkwo helped them put down their loads. ran out again and aimed at her as she clambered over the dwarf wall of the barn. nine of the greatest masked spirits in the clan came out together it was a terrifying spectacle. Obiageli brought up the rear. He could not understand what was happening to him or what he had done. They were possessed by the spirit of the drums. A vague scent of life and green vegetation was diffused in the air.When the women retired. Everyone was puzzled. Her coming was quite useless. each carrying a pot of wine.

He. Very often it was Ezinma who decided what food her mother should prepare."Obiageli called her "Salt" because she said that she disliked water. The married women wore their best cloths and the girls wore red and black waist-beads and anklets of brass. Evil Forest represented the village of Umueru." The man who had contradicted him had no titles. It always surprised him when he thought of it later that he did not sink under the load of despair. The law of the clan is that you should return her bride-price."Okoli was not there to answer."It is false. "The evil you have done can ruin the whole clan. my dear friend. and in the end they were received by them They asked for a plot of land to build on. who clung to her. entered their mothers' wombs to be born again.Chielo's voice was now rising continuously. they set off in a body. a loud cheer rose from the crowd. When he began again. The crowd followed her silently.

Gradually the rains became lighter and less frequent. If we allow you to come with us you will soon begin your mischief. I have come to pay you my respects and also to ask a favor. It was a great feast. The sun breaking through their leaves and branches threw a pattern of light and shade on the sandy footway. She was the ultimate judge of morality and conduct. What did they know about the man?" He ground his teeth again and told a story to illustrate his point. overpowered him and obtained his first human head. and soon the children were chasing one of their cocks. and because of their ash-colored shorts they earned the additional name of Ashy Buttocks. You know as well as I do that our forefathers ordained 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."I sometimes think he is too sharp. The men brought their goatskin mats. unhappily. They sympathized with their neighbors with much shaking of the head.The Feast of the New Yam was held every year before the harvest began. Okonkwo said he was sorry for what he had said.' he thought as he looked at his ten-year-old daughter.""That cannot be. But it only lasted till the end of the service.

"Who killed this banana tree?" he asked." And so they all went to help Obierika's wife??Nwoye's mother with her four children and Ojiugo with her two. to Obierika's compound. Obierika's relatives counted the pots as they came. she was dead. Okonkwo. And there was eating and drinking till night. As long as they lasted. The glowing logs only served to light up vaguely the dark figure of the priestess. and looked at her palms. And so at a very early age when he was striving desperately to build a barn through share-cropping Okonkwo was also fending for his father's house. the old man supporting himself with his stick. His visitor was amazed. Ekwefi had been returning from the stream with her mother on a dark night like this when they saw its glow as it flew in their direction."Don't be afraid. But she had grown so bitter about her own chi that she could not rejoice with others over their good fortune. That is a wise action. She could not see beyond her nose. Young men and boys in single file." said Uchendu"I swear.

He would speak to him after the isa-ifi ceremony. After her father's rebuke she developed an even keener appetite for eggs. I kill a man on the day that his life is sweetest to him. which was full of men who had offended against the white man's law. That also is true. If you turn against me when I am dead I will visit you and break your neck. He is an exile."Oye. that man was okonkwo. Here was a man whose chi said nay despite his own affirmation. And he was already beginning to know some of the simple stories they told. when his father had not been dead very long. Cam wood was rubbed lightly into her skin. but every farmer knew that without sunshine the tubers would not grow. They also drank water from small pots and ate kola nuts. The naming ceremony after seven market weeks became an empty ritual. And at last the locusts did descend. Ezinma was crying loudly now. And she had agreed. living in a special area of the village.

His name was Uchendu. so she cupped her right hand to shelter the flame. After such treatment it would think twice before coming again. waiting for the women to finish their cooking. The married women wore their best cloths and the girls wore red and black waist-beads and anklets of brass. "Our duty is not to blame this man or to praise that. The elders said locusts came once in a generation. And there was eating and drinking till night. The spell of sunshine which always came in the middle of the wet season did not appear.""They dare not bring fewer than thirty pots.By the time Onwumbiko died Ekwefi had become a very bitter woman." he said. "What will the heathen say of us when they hear that we receive osu into our midst? They will laugh. And."Tell them. he was treated with great honor and respect. At last Vulture was sent to plead with Sky. He sang the song again. and they no longer spent the evenings in his mother's hut while she cooked. As our people say.

""It is the result of a great medicine. blew into it to remove any dust that might be there. and evil fortune followed him to the grave. first with little sticks and later with tall and big tree branches."They say that Okoli killed the sacred python. The Oracle said to him. If we should try to drive out the white men in Umuofia we should find it easy."They would have gone on arguing had Ofoedu not come in just then. in spite of his failings in other directions."It is here. all the same. or playground.Onwumbiko was not given proper burial when he died. and Ekwefi asked Nwoye's mother and Ojiugo to explain to Obierika's wife that she would be late. They came to discover what the future held for them or to consult the spirits of their departed fathers. degenerate and effeminate? Perhaps he was not his son." said Ekwefi with a heavy sigh. "Let us not presume to do so now."Our father. like a son.

We heard of it."Look at that wall. Ezinma rushed out of the hut. But the Hills and the Caves were as silent as death. But although it had happened so long ago." Quite often she bought beancakes and gave Ekwefi some to take home to Ezinma. What she had seen was the shape of a man climbing a palm tree." said the interpreter. When everyone had drunk two or three horns.'"He began to eat and the birds grumbled angrily. But in absence of work. because her father had called her one evening and said to her: "There are many good and prosperous people here. Ikemefuna felt like a child once more. Ezeudu is dead.When all the egwugwu had sat down and the sound of the many tiny bells and rattles on their bodies had subsided." he answered. But it was as silly as all women's stories. She turned round on her low stool and put the beak in the fire for a few moments. A steady cloud of smoke rose from his head. only more holy than the village variety.

and Odukwe bent down and touched the earth. a machete for cutting down the soft cassava stem. Her husband and his family were already becoming highly critical of such a woman and were not unduly perturbed when they found she had fled to join the Christians.""Ee-e-e!""And this will not be the last. called him by his name and went back to her hut. "You fear that you will die. But when a father beats his child. Ezinma brought her two legs together and stretched them in front of her. The drums beat the unmistakable wrestling dance - quick. and allowed a brief pause."Ekwefi. If I had not seen the few survivors with my own eyes and heard their story with my own ears. guns and even his cannon. or "Mother is Supreme?" We all know that a man is the head of the family and his wives do his bidding.When the mat was at last removed she was drenched in perspiration. only waking to full life when Chielo sang. "In those other clans you speak of." Okonkwo and Obierika said together.Evil Forest began to speak and all the while he spoke everyone was silent. Ekwefi was beginning to feel hot from her running.

"Those that hear my words are my father and my mother."Oho. There was no festival in all the seasons of the year which gave her as much pleasure as the wrestling match. All the family were there and some of the neighbors too. But he was so weak that his legs could hardly carry him."If you bring us all this way for nothing I shall beat sense into you.The way into the shrine was a round hole at the side of a hill. Those who were big enough to carry even a few yams in a tiny basket went with grown-ups to the farm.""I think she will stay. do you know me?""How can I know you. or "Mother is Supreme?" We all know that a man is the head of the family and his wives do his bidding. Would he recognize her now? She must have grown quite big. Ikemefuna was equally excited. was called a flaming fire. But he was always uncomfortable sitting around for days waiting for a feast or getting over it.Ekwefi rose early on the following morning and went to her farm with her daughter. It tried Okonkwo's patience beyond words. and she swore within her that if she heard Ezinma cry she would rush into the cave to defend her against all the gods in the world. Okonkwo bent down and looked into her hut. and offered prayers to them on behalf of himself.

reappeared every year for seven years and then disappeared for another lifetime. The elders and grandees of the village sat on their own stools brought there by their young sons or slaves. Ekwefi screwed her eyes up in an effort to see her daughter and the priestess. he is not too young. by Ezeani.There were twelve men on each side and the challenge went from one side to the other. Uzowulu. by Ezeani." His tone now changed from anger to command. my daughter. Some of them were too angry to eat. They were talking excitedly among themselves because the white man had said he was going to live among them. Every man rose in order of years and took a share. "But I cannot understand these things you tell me. they said to themselves. Nwoye had heard that twins were put in earthenware pots and thrown away in the forest. "You might as well say that the woman lies on top of the man when they are making the children. With this magic fan she beckons to the market all the neighboring clans.""There is no story that is not true." said Obierika.

As she knelt by her. Sometimes when he went to big village meetings or communal ancestral feasts he allowed Ikemefuna to accompany him.Obierika was a man who thought about things. He was in fact an outcast.' said her mother. Every man and woman came out to see the white man. The fowl Ekwefi had just killed was in the wooden mortar. 1 know how to deal with them. He dared not go too near the missionaries for fear of his father. Instead of saying "myself" he always said "my buttocks. my hand has touched the ground. feeling with her palm the wet. vibrating heat. unhappily. Umuofia."Odukwe was short and thickset. Even in those days he was not a man of many words. women and children. She hurried through Okonkwo's hut and went outside.- they must be going towards Umuachi.

and two others after her."Thank you. Among the Ibo the art of conversation is regarded very highly. and then flew away.""That is true. especially the youngest. She was the priestess of Agbala. Another one was wailing near his right ear. She was peeling new yams. Neither of the other wives dared to interfere beyond an occasional and tentative. Nwoye's mother is already cooking. Okonkwo brought out l??s big horn from the goatskin bag. a light rain had fallen during the night and the soil would not be very hard. whose feeling of importance was manifest in her sprightly walk. who would not lend his knife for cutting up dogmeat because the dog was taboo to him. Ezinma was always surprised that her mother could lift a pot from the fire with her bare hands. Then it occurred to her that they could not have been heading for the cave. and from the very first seemed to have kindled a new fire in the younger boy. "My son has told me about you.' replied the young kite.

Elumelu. If the song ended on his right foot."A little more?? I said a little. Some women ran away in fear when it was thrown. Okonkwo's youngest wife. A steady cloud of smoke rose from his head. He was greatly shocked and swore to beat Ekwefi if she dared to give the child eggs again. Tortoise's wife sent for him and he gathered all the bits of shell and stuck them together. And what do you think the Oracle would do then?""You know very well. which had been dutifully eating yam peelings."But you said it was where they bury children?" asked the medicine man.""I do not."The white man's court has decided that it should belong to Nnama's family. And what is the result? Their clan is full of the evil spirits of these unburied dead. and his eyes were red and fierce like the eyes of a rat when it was caught by the tail and dashed against the floor. She was alive and well. For how else could he explain his great misfortune and exile and now his despicable son's behavior? Now that he had time to think of it. There was a famine in those days and Tortoise had not eaten a good meal for two moons."Unoka was an ill-fated man. unhappily.

Men and women. "when she was pregnant. But on one point there was general agreement??the active principle in that medicine had been an old woman with one leg." answered one of Obierika's companions. "But I have also heard that Abame people were weak and foolish. or obi. but somehow he still preferred the stories that his mother used to tell."That was all he had said. And she realized too with something like a jerk that Chielo was no longer moving forward. It was instinctive. a long and thin strip of cloth wound round the waist like a belt and then passed between the legs to be fastened to the belt behind. indeed. This man told him that the child was an ogbanje. Evil Forest rose to his feet and order was immediately restored. It was a story of brothers who lived in darkness and in fear. and soon the children were chasing one of their cocks."Okonkwo brought the wine and they began to drink. and the planting began. There were only three such boys in each team. And so it was time for the final ceremony of confession.

" He filled the first horn and gave to his father."Forgive me. A man can now leave his father and his brothers. cooking and eating. who walked away and never returned. like a solitary walker at night who passes an evil spirit an the way. He had become wholly absorbed into his new family. looking up from the yams she was peeling. Some of it also went to the bride and her attendant maidens. "As for me. women and children. He hoped to get another four hundred yams from one of his father's friends at Isiuzo."Do you think you are cutting up yams for cooking?" he asked Nwoye. mother is going. The sound of her benumbed steps seemed to come from some other person walking behind her. Dangerous animals became even more sinister and uncanny in the dark. The sun breaking through their leaves and branches threw a pattern of light and shade on the sandy footway. It was a great feast. but they grew women's crops. followed by Akueke.

Aninta. and the meeting continued."And so three goats were slaughtered and a number of fowls. As the elders said." said Okonkwo. The faint and distant wailing of women settled like a sediment of sorrow on the earth. We would then not be held accountable for their abominations. years ago. The elders sat in a big circle and the singers went round singing each man's praise as they came before him. But tonight she was addressing her prophecy and greetings to Okonkwo." said an old man. "on an Eke market day a little band of fugitives came into our town. more terrible and more sinister than the anger."Ask Akueke's mother to send us some kola nuts."Come and show me the exact spot. He is an exile. woman. Each of his three wives had her own hut. "Umuofia kwenu.""Let them laugh.

How could she know that Ekwefi's bitterness did not flow outwards to others but inwards into her own soul." he said. A proud heart can survive a general failure because such failure does not prick its pride. She hurried through Okonkwo's hut and went outside. But almost immediately a shout of joy broke out in all directions."Answer me!" he roared again.""You sound as if you question the authority and the decision of the Oracle. People laughed at him because he was a loafer. The white man has no sense. Most communal ceremonies took place at that time of the day. The missionaries had come to Umuofia. It came from the direction of the ilo. He was poor and his wife and children had barely enough to eat. He was still young but he had won fame as the greatest wrestler in the nine villages. and they had been immediately thrown away." said his daughter Ezinma when she brought the food to him. He could fashion out flutes from bamboo stems and even from the elephant grass. They were all fully dressed as if they were going to a big clan meeting or to pay a visit to a neighboring village. She did not return to Okonkwo's compound until three days before the naming ceremony. nearly half a day's journey away.