cooking?" he asked Nwoye. I will only have a son who is a man. He led it on a thick rope which he tied round his wrist.

"Leave that boy at once!" said a voice in the outer compound
"Leave that boy at once!" said a voice in the outer compound. "His name is Amadi."Another woman said. "What about you? Can you answer my question?"They all shook their heads. but I shall be happy if you marry in Umuofia when we return home. If one says no to the other. and the sound of wooden mortar and pestle as Nwayieke pounded her foo-foo."Where have you been?" he stammered. "He seemed to speak through his nose. Every man can see it in his own compound."When nearly two years later Obierika paid another visit to his friend in exile the circumstances were less happy.A hush fell on the compound immediately. And Okonkwo had already done that. stood immediately behind the only gate in the red walls."As they stood there together. Rain fell as it had never fallen before.""I do not. and his bushy eyebrows and wide nose gave him a very severe look. And she realized too with something like a jerk that Chielo was no longer moving forward. and Umuofia. They guarded the prison. Even in those days he was not a man of many words. Nwoye. Iweka.

"1 have told you to let her alone. The imagery of an efulefu in the language of the clan was a man who sold his machete and wore the sheath to battle. But he threw himself into it like one possessed. prophesying. A bowl of pounded yams can throw him in a wrestling match." said the convert. who was also a diviner of the Afa Oracle. and terror seized her. So I shall ask you to come again the way you came before. They all admired it and said that that was the way things should be done. rubbing her eyes and stretching her spare frame." said Ofoedu. and then flew away. Okonkwo took up his goatskin bag to go.He sighed heavily. He held out his hands to them when they came into his obi. "Life to you. He immediately rose and shook hands with Okoye. But on further thought he told himself that Nwoye was not worth fighting for. A man could not rise beyond the destiny of his chi."We still have a long way to go. Perhaps he had been going to Mbaino and had lost his way. everybody knew by instinct that they were very good to eat. He could not understand what was happening to him or what he had done.

The drum sounded again and the flute blew. and during this time Okonkwo's fame had grown like a bush-fire in the harmattan."1 don't know."Go and bring me some cold water." Ofoedu agreed. It was Nwoye's mother. 'When mother-cow is chewing grass its young ones watch its mouth. "and don't allow it to boil over. But I can tell you. 'There is nothing to fear from someone who shouts." But before they went he whispered something to his first wife.From that day Amikwu took the young bride and she became his wife."He was not an albino. There were little holes from one side to the other in the upper levels of the wall." he said.Ekwefi did not answer. She started to cry. But the Ibo people have a proverb that when a man says yes his chi says yes also. came first. he had begun even in his father's lifetime to lay the foundations of a prosperous future. He could neither marry nor be married by the free-born. It was a day old."Okoli was not there to answer. he was treated with great honor and respect.

"Every day I tell you that jigida and fire are not friends. The missionaries had come to Umuofia. that man was okonkwo. his half-sister.Before it was dusk Ezeani. but Okonkwo was as slippery as a fish in water. She broke them into little pieces across the sole of her foot and began to build a fire. We have heard stories about white men who made the powerful guns and the strong drinks and took slaves away across the seas. another group with hoes and baskets to the village earth pit. So he killed himself too.But the year had gone mad. She trudged slowly along. Nwoye passed and repassed the little red-earth and thatch building without summoning enough courage to enter.Okonkwo was given a plot of ground on which to build his compound.The world was silent except for the shrill cry of insects. One of them was a pathetic cry. If he had killed Ikemefuna during the busy planting season or harvesting it would not have been so bad.Perhaps it never did happen. "Where did you bury your iyi-uwa?""Where they bury children. It was a fierce contest. His name was Okagbue Uyanwa."They do not understand. They thought the priestess might be going to her house.' he thought as he looked at his ten-year-old daughter.

" he said when Okonkwo had spoken. Uzowulu. his children and their mothers in the new year. Okagbue emerged and without saying a word or even looking at the spectators he went to his goatskin bag. but not today. You will have what is good for you and I will have what is good for me." Altogether there were fifty pots of wine. It was only from Nwoye's mother that he heard scraps of the story. gome." Uzowulu replied. They were the lazy easy-going ones who always put off clearing their farms as long as they could. passed through his obi and into Ekwefi's hut and walked into her bedroom. and."I will come with you. and when there was no work to do he sat in a silent half-sleep. "They will put off Ndulue's funeral until his wife has been buried. and in the end it was decided to ostracize the Christians. It was Nwoye's mother. "But you ought to ask why the drum has not beaten to tell Umuofia of his death."There is too much green vegetable. Kiaga had asked the women to bring red earth and white chalk and water to scrub the church for Easter. which were passed round for all to see and then returned to him. I know what it is to ask a man to trust another with his yams." roared Okonkwo.

She hurried through Okonkwo's hut and went outside. 'She should have been a boy. One day as Ezinma was eating an egg Okonkwo had come in unexpectedly from his hut. but he went to the birds and asked to be allowed to go with them." he said sadly. The women and children sent up a great shout and took to their heels. Okonkwo's first wife. Many people looked around. Without it. "Our duty is not to blame this man or to praise that. Nwoye's mother."Ekwefi did as she was asked. That woman. As soon as he left. But there is one more question I shall ask you. but if one picked out the flute as it went up and down and then broke up into short snatches." said Okonkwo. women and children left their work or their play and ran into the open to see the unfamiliar sight.Okonkwo was inwardly pleased at his son's development. was celebrating his daughter's uri. guns and cannon were fired."I wish she were a boy."She will bring her back soon. They were beaten in the prison by the kotma and made to work every morning clearing the government compound and fetching wood for the white Commissioner and the court messengers.

But he has not come to wake me up in the morning for it. roasting and eating maize. eating the peelings. She was full of the power of her god. burning forehead. The law of Umuofia is that if a woman runs away from her husband her bride-price is returned. You are a great man in your clan. so that even when it was said that a ceremony would begin "after the midday meal" everyone understood that it would begin a long time later. another man asked a question: "Where is the white man's horse?" he asked. "But I have also heard that Abame people were weak and foolish. The clan was like a lizard. With this magic fan she beckons to the market all the neighboring clans. lasted only a brief moment. Ekwefi mopped her with a piece of cloth and she lay down on a dry mat and was soon asleep."Father. "it is this eyelid. and Ikemefuna. "I shall survive anything. Kiaga stood firm. and the man growled at him to go on and not stand looking back. and then passed two shares to Nwoye and Ikemefuna."No. He would remember his own childhood. And the other boy was flat on his back.

Ezinma's voice soon faded away and only Chielo was heard moving farther and farther into the distance. The naming ceremony after seven market weeks became an empty ritual. and it could not be done later because harvesting would soon set in. Temporary cooking tripods were erected on every available space by bringing together three blocks of sun-dried earth and making a fire in their midst. They asked who the king of the village was. Fortunately." said Mr. She only began to weep when they got near the iroko tree outside their compound." said Ezinma touching the ground with her finger. no matter how heavily the family ate or how many friends and relatives they invited from neighboring villages. You stay at home. and everyone filled his bags and pots with locusts. and then turning to his brother and his son he said: "Let us go out and whisper together. because Oduche had not died immediately from his wounds. These women never saw the inside of the hut. cooking and eating. Chielo." said Ekwefi. "I shall survive anything. It always surprised him when he thought of it later that he did not sink under the load of despair. Last year neither of them had thrown the other even though the judges had allowed the contest to go on longer than was the custom. and thank Okonkwo for having looked after him so well and for bringing him back. He then adjusted his cloth. have no toes.

But Ekwefi could not see her. "It's true that a child belongs to its father. or "Mother is Supreme?" We all know that a man is the head of the family and his wives do his bidding. "Three or four of us should stay behind. not dead. welcoming it back from its long. I have none now except that young girl who knows not her right from her left. do you know me?" asked the spirit. Unoka loved it all. for Mr. 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. and all were happy." said the joker. whereupon his father beat him heavily. It was the dead man's sixteen-year-old son. "Let us not presume to do so now. the beating of drums and the brandishing and clanging of machetes increased. She walked numbly along. about the next ancestral feast and about the impending war with the village of Mbaino. "she will bring you back very soon. 'If I fall down for you and you fall down for me. it is for you."This is Obierika. the medicine itself was called agadi-nwayi.

The wrestlers were now almost still in each other's grip. He must have a wife.When the women retired. Of course they had all heard the bell-man. At first they were afraid they might die.Okonkwo and his family worked very hard to plant a new farm. but ill. If any one of you prefers to be a woman." she replied. I did not send her away.- that she did not blame others for their good fortune but her own evil chi who denied her any?At last Ezinma was born.""Do you think a thief can do that kind of thing single-handed?" asked Nwankwo.- they merely set the scene. the medicine itself was called agadi-nwayi. She was Okonkwo's second wife Ekwefi."Umuofia kwenu!""Yaa!""Umuofia kwenu!""Yaa!"Evil Forest then thrust the pointed end of his rattling staff into the earth. The women had come to the church with empty waterpots. children sat around their mother's cooking fire telling stories. There was authority in her bearing and she looked every inch the ruler of the womenfolk in a large and prosperous family. that my children do not resemble me. and walked to its beat."My in-law has told you that we went to his house. dressed in garbs of war. and he knew that his father wanted him to be a man.

"There is one important thing which we must not forget."When they had eaten. They cross seven rivers to make their farms. When the will of the goddess had been done."But this particular night was dark and silent. If you are sending him on an errand he flies away before he has heard half of the message."Go and burn your mothers' genitals. He even remembered how he had laughed when Ikemefuna told him that the proper name for a corn cob with only a few scattered grains was eze-agadi-nwayi. And before the cock crowed Okonkwo and his family were fleeing to his motherland. but the villagers told them that there was no king. The imagery of an efulefu in the language of the clan was a man who sold his machete and wore the sheath to battle. The law of the clan is that you should return her bride-price." he said. That is why Tortoise's shell is not smooth. with sticks. He always gnashed his teeth as he listened to those who came to consult him. if he was unable to rule his women and his children (and especially his women) he was not really a man. He fell and fell and fell until he began to fear that he would never stop falling. Ezeudu is dead. The water began to boil. Neighbors sat around. Almost immediately the women came in with a big bowl of foo-foo. You. But it is not our custom to debar anyone from the stream or the quarry.

"Whether you are spirit or man. and about some effeminate men who had refused to come with them. with Ezinma sleeping on her back. In fact. and washed away the yam heaps. my daughter. It was already dusk when the two parties came to this agreement. It was true they were rescuing twins from the bush. and of the forces of nature. her voice cracking like the angry bark of thunder in the dry season. "When I think that it is only eighteen months since the Seed was first sown among you. Umuazu. I would sooner strangle him with my own hands. "Umuofia kwenu. fire does not burn them?" Ezinma. He was light in complexion and his eyes were red and fiery. When they saw it they drove it back to its owner. took out two leaves and began to chew them." he said. When Okonkwo brought him home that day he called his most senior wife and handed him over to her. At one stage Ekwefi was so afraid that she nearly called out to Chielo for companionship and human sympathy. How could such a man be a follower of Christ?"He needs Christ more than you and I." he asked Obierika. To crown it all he had taken two titles and had shown incredible prowess in two inter-tribal wars.

who saw only its back with the many-colored patterns and drawings done by specially chosen women at regular intervals. She stood until Chielo had increased the distance between them and she began to follow again. But before they left each took back the feather he had lent to Tortoise.They came in the cold harmattan season after the harvests had been gathered. No matter how prosperous a man was.There were seven men in Obierika's hut when Okonkwo returned. This was before the planting season began. The neighbors and relations also saw the coincidence and said among themselves that it was very significant. All the family were there and some of the neighbors too.""Yes. They also drank water from small pots and ate kola nuts. Why should that be? How are you different from other men who shave their hair? The same God created you and them. The story was always told of a wealthy man who set before his guests a mound of foo-foo so high that those who sat on one side could not see what was happening on the other. But she had grown so bitter about her own chi that she could not rejoice with others over their good fortune. I am still alive. and earth and sky once again became separate. Ezinma sneezed.""In future call her into your obi. Would he recognize her now? She must have grown quite big. Some of them were too angry to eat. Her husband had brought out more yams than usual because the medicine man had to be fed. One of the things every man learned was the language of the hollowed-out wooden instrument. And Okonkwo had already done that." said Okonkwo.

'"He began to eat and the birds grumbled angrily.The men in the obi had already begun to drink the palm-wine which Akueke's suitor had brought. Uchendu before her."I have come to you for help."Go and tell Akueke's mother that we have finished." said Okagbue." But Death took no notice. Akueni. "People traveled more in those days. He searched his bag again and brought out a small. It is a bad custom because it always leads to a quarrel. they held them over an open fire to burn off the hair. and everyone filled his bags and pots with locusts. But when there is sorrow and bitterness he finds refuge in his motherland. 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. It was a rare achievement." Okonkwo and Obierika said together. It was only after the pot had been emptied that the suitor's father cleared his voice and announced the object of their visit. so she cupped her right hand to shelter the flame. forty.The women had gone to the bush to collect firewood. In his anger he had forgotten that it was the Week of Peace. whereupon Ear fell on the floor in uncontrollable laughter. "Our duty is not to blame this man or to praise that.

It was on the seventh day that he died. He had many friends here and came to see them quite often." Some of them had big sticks and some even machetes." said Mgbogo's next-door neighbor."Obiageli called her "Salt" because she said that she disliked water. the priestess of Agbala. "Our duty is not to blame this man or to praise that. the Evil Forest was a fit home for such undesirable people. Without further argument Okonkwo gave her a sound beating and left her and her only daughter weeping. Nwakibie brought down his own horn. Why had Okonkwo withdrawn to the rear? Ikemefuna felt his legs melting under him." Okonkwo thought within himself." he said. Those things a man built for himself or inherited from his father." said Okonkwo."I beg you to accept this little kola. There was a famine in those days and Tortoise had not eaten a good meal for two moons."Who is that?" he growled." She stood up and pulled out the fan which was fastened into one of the rafters. She sometimes broke into a run and stopped again suddenly. that was how it looked to his father. All the grass had long been scorched brown."Everybody thanked Okonkwo and the neighbors brought out their drinking horns from the goatskin bags they carried.Okonkwo's family was astir like any other family in the neighborhood.

But Unoka was such a man that he always succeeded in borrowing more. Kiaga." he said quietly to Ezinma. But the arrivees persevered."You will blow your eyes out. His first two wives ran out in great alarm pleading with him that it was the sacred week. seeing that the new religion welcomed twins and such abominations. But they were very rare and short-lived. "My son has told me about you. He could return to the clan after seven years. There were huge bowls of foo-foo and steaming pots of soup. which only made the darkness more profound. "Ozoemena was. These sudden bouts of sickness and health were typical of her kind. and the crowd answered. Uzowulu." the medicine man told Okonkwo in a cool. it is for you. "As our people say. one of these women went to Ozoemena's hut and told her."Oho. Ekwefi was also awakened and her benumbed fears revived."I am following Chielo. The drums begin at noon but the wrestling waits until the sun begins to sink.

" said Ezinma at last."You have not eaten for two days. On receiving such a message through a younger brother or sister." They laughed and agreed."Uzowulu's body. He had never been fond of his real father. A vague chill had descended on him and his head had seemed to swell.But apart from the church."Uzowulu's body. But you were a fearless warrior. They did not really want them near to the clan. the Creator of all the world and all the men and women. and as if in sympathy the smoldering log also sighed. and many farmers wept as they dug up the miserable and rotting yams.The first cock had not crowed. At the end of it Okonkwo was fully convinced that the man was mad. but nothing like this had ever happened.The women had gone to the bush to collect firewood.The two teams were ranged facing each other across the clear space.; "Did he die?" asked Ezinma. Then Chielo's renewed outburst came from only a few paces ahead. a loud cheer rose from the crowd. She was particularly fond of Ekwefi's only daughter. he had allowed what he regarded as a reasonable and manly interval to pass and then gone with his machete to the shrine.

" the convert maintained. Why should I? But the Oracle did not ask me to carry out its decision."It is not our custom to fight for our gods. then. and we expected a big feast." Ezinma began. Am I dead? They said I would die if i took care of twins. The only work that men did at this time was covering the walls of their compound with new palm fronds. The next morning they were roasted in clay pots and then spread in the sun until they became dry and brittle." said Ezinma touching the ground with her finger. Ezinma turned left as if she was going to the stream. Do not bear a hand in his death."The market of Umuike is a wonderful place. who was the priest of the earth goddess. He pressed the trigger and there was a loud report accompanied by the wail of his wives and children. I forgot to tell you another thing which the Oracle said."Ekwefi went into her hut and came out again with Ezinma. and Ezinma brought his goatskin bag from the far end of the hut. rubbing her eyes and stretching her spare frame. Okonkwo had committed the female. And it was not too hot either.On the third day he asked his second wife. Evil Forest represented the village of Umueru."He belongs to the clan.

beginning with the eldest man. He counted them. "Whether you are spirit or man. Even those which Nwoye knew already were told with a new freshness and the local flavor of a different clan." Ofoedu agreed.""Have you heard. "Let us give them a portion of the Evil Forest. one of them did something which no one could describe because it had been as quick as a flash.He took a pot of palm-wine and a cock to Nwakibie. one of these women went to Ozoemena's hut and told her." He sipped his wine. The people of the sky thought it must be their custom to leave all the food for their king. He threw down the gun and jumped into the barn and there lay the woman."Oho. If a gang of efulefu decided to live in the Evil Forest it was their own affair. not for hearing. Who knows what may happen tomorrow? Perhaps green men will come to our clan and shoot us."Ekwefi. a thing set apart??a taboo for ever. Nwoye passed and repassed the little red-earth and thatch building without summoning enough courage to enter. "and her child is not twenty-eight days yet." he said sadly. picking his words with great care:"It is Okonkwo that 1 primarily wish to speak to. She cut the yams into small pieces and began to prepare a pottage.

for in spite of their worthlessness they still belonged to the clan.It was clear from the way the crowd stood or sat that the ceremony was for men. As the elders said." she answered. It would not be long before the suitors came. The conversation at once centered on him."But you said it was where they bury children?" asked the medicine man. It was like the pulsation of its heart. There was no festival in all the seasons of the year which gave her as much pleasure as the wrestling match. Ezinma was crying loudly now. The world was now peopled with vague. "there is no slave or free."Answer me!" he roared again. Hisspeech was so eloquent that all the birds were glad they had brought him. forty. love returned once more to her mother. She wore a black necklace which hung down in three coils just above her full. he beat her until she miscarried. but there is too much of his mother in him."The crowd roared with laughter. Nwoye."Is it well?" Okonkwo asked. "Where are you going?" he asked. It was clear from his twinkling eyes that he had important news.

It was the day on which her suitor (having already paid the greater part of her bride-price) would bring palm-wine not only to her parents and immediate relatives but to the wide and extensive group of kinsmen called umunna. She explained to her why they should not marry yet. An evil forest was where the clan buried all those who died of the really evil diseases. He picked it up. And what was more. But I want you to have nothing to do with it. spread her mat on the floor and built a fire. women and children. she found her lying on the mat. And there was eating and drinking till night. Guns were fired on all sides and sparks flew out as machetes clanged together in warriors' salutes. The air was cool and damp with dew. "I know what it is??the wrestling match. Cooking pots went up and down the tripods and foo-foo was pounded in a hundred wooden mortars Some of the women cooked the yams and the cassava. Wherever he went he carried with him the mark of his forbidden caste??long.The moon was now up and she could see Chielo and Ezinma clearly. Ekwefi tried to pull out the horny beak but it was too hard.But Ekwefi did not hear these consolations. Where is my daughter. and Okonkwo filled his horn again."Father. Although he had prospered in his motherland Okonkwo knew that he would have prospered even more in Umuofia. somewhat lamely. The nine egwugwu then went away to consult together in their house.

But I can tell you. and a powerful flute blew a high-pitched blast. she could bear no other person but her father. she had said."It is here. whom he nearly shot." Obierika replied sharply. She did not return to Okonkwo's compound until three days before the naming ceremony. They had not thought about that. But as he flew home his long talon pierced the leaves and the rain fell as it had never fallen before. Many years ago when she was the village beauty Okonkwo had won her heart by throwing the Cat in the greatest contest within living memory. Mgbafo and her brothers were as still as statues into whose faces the artist has molded defiance. metallic and thirsty clap. When Ekwefi had followed the priestess. "If I had a son like him I should be happy. Although he had prospered in his motherland Okonkwo knew that he would have prospered even more in Umuofia. But by the end of the day the sisal rings were burned dry and gray. They were locusts. "Poor child. Her husband had brought out more yams than usual because the medicine man had to be fed."Unoka was an ill-fated man." came her voice. "I had something better to do. Before the day was over he was dead.

Each of them carried a long cane basket. in silence.""That is why the drum has not been beaten to tell Umuofla." He threw his head down and gnashed his teeth. as on that day."At last the great day came and Tortoise was the first to arrive at the meeting place. An evil forest was. Wherever he went he carried with him the mark of his forbidden caste??long. 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."On the following Sunday. Obiako. He sat down again and called two witnesses. and was not given the first or the second burial. He looked it over and said it was done.The next morning the crazy men actually began to clear a part of the forest and to build their house. He was like an elder brother to Nwoye. He had an old rusty gun made by a clever blacksmith who had come to live in Umuofta long ago."Okonkwo bit his lips as anger welled up within him. and it could not be done later because harvesting would soon set in. And so for three years Ikemefuna lived in Okonkwo's household."Where else but in his house in the hills and the caves?" replied the priestess.Qkonkwo ruled his household with a heavy hand. I weed ?C I??; ??Hold your peace!" screamed the priestess.On the third day he asked his second wife.

And that was how he came to look after the doomed lad who was sacrificed to the village of Umuofia by their neighbors to avoid war and bloodshed. Some of them were very violent." he said." he said. "His name is Amadi. Amalinze was the great wrestler who for seven years was unbeaten."I did not say He had a wife. Obierika's relatives and friends began to arrive. Uchendu before her. When she came to the main road.Yam. 'She should have been a boy." asked Obierika." he said to Ikemefuna. my friend. They had built their church there. Anyone seeing Chielo in ordinary life would hardly believe she was the same person who prophesied when the spirit of Agbala was upon her. 'Your dead father wants you to sacrifice a goat to him. Ezinma rushed out of the hut. when she had seen Ogbu-agali-odu. He stepped forward."Do you think you are cutting up yams for cooking?" he asked Nwoye. I will only have a son who is a man. He led it on a thick rope which he tied round his wrist.