pleasure it used to have." He drank his palm-wine. The rains had come and yams had been sown. or the teeth of an old woman. whom she called "my daughter.

He saw himself and his fathers crowding round their ancestral shrine waiting in vain for worship and sacrifice and finding nothing but ashes of bygone days
He saw himself and his fathers crowding round their ancestral shrine waiting in vain for worship and sacrifice and finding nothing but ashes of bygone days.All the umunna were invited to the feast. These people are daily pouring filth over us."Come along.Go-di-di-go-go-di-go. Ekwefi even gave her such delicacies as eggs. The neighbors and relations also saw the coincidence and said among themselves that it was very significant. All the other dancers made way for her. Okonkwo worked on the outside of the wall and the boys worked from within.The youngest of Uchendu's five sons.'"Parrot promised to deliver the message. Again and again Iguedo was called and men waited breathlessly in all the nine villages.Even in his first year in exile he had begun to plan for his return."Tortoise turned to the birds and said: 'You remember that my name is All of you. We put our fingers into our ears to stop us hearing. Nwoye's mother carried a basket of coco-yams."Agbala do-o-o-o! Agbala ekeneo-o-o-o-o. and sometimes two rainbows. somewhat lamely. As soon as he left. It was the poetry of the new religion. But before they left each took back the feather he had lent to Tortoise. "Your friend Anene asked me to greet you. But no one who had ever crawled into his awful shrine had come out without the fear of his power.

I began to fend for myself at an age when most people still suck at their mothers' breasts. I am an old man and you are all children.Three young men helped Obierika to slaughter the two goats with which the soup was made. It was full of meat and fish. The muscles on their arms and their thighs and on their backs stood out and twitched. The heathen speak nothing but falsehood. Young men and boys in single file. "The evil you have done can ruin the whole clan. "Who will drink the dregs?" he asked. He knew that Nwakibie would not refuse him. and from morning till night warriors came and went in their age groups. "you. where the white men first came many years before and where they had built the center of their religion and trade and government. Everybody had been invited??men. But let us ostracize these men. Sometimes it poured down in such thick sheets of water that earth and sky seemed merged in one gray wetness. Ogbuefi Ezeugo was a powerful orator and was always chosen to speak on such occasions. especially as he looked somewhat different from the others. Di-go-go-di-go-di-di-go-go floated in the message-laden night air. I salute you. She cut the yams into small pieces and began to prepare a pottage. When one came to think of it. father? You are beyond our knowledge.""That is very strange.

The moon was now up and she could see Chielo and Ezinma clearly. It was not the same Chielo who sat with her in the market and sometimes bought beancakes for Ezinma."Perhaps I have been away too long. fifth and sixth years. I did not send her away. panting. It had not happened for many a long year." Ekwefi said to the woman who had stood shoulder to shoulder with her since the beginning of the matches."Yes.When she had shaken hands.The women had gone to the bush to collect firewood. 'It just walked away. He had lost the years in which he might have taken the highest titles in the clan. You grew your ears for decoration. There were five groups. and we would be like Abame. nine wives and thirty children. The cloud had lifted and a few stars were out. It was therefore understood that Ekwefi would provide cassava lor the feast. When the pot fell down and broke she burst out laughing." He sipped his wine. They had something to say for every man. "It is not to pay you back for all you did for me in these seven years. They chose to fly home on an empty stomach.

and the whole country became the brown-earth color of the vast. Nwakibie brought down his own horn. he would use his fists.Just then the distant beating of drums began to reach them. It was a gay and airy kind of rain." said Obierika. Beyond that limit no man was suffered to go. But as they drew near to the outskirts of Umuofia silence fell upon them too. Some kinsmen ate it with egusi soup and others with bitter-leaf soup. It said that other white men were on their way. or waist beads. "It's true that a child belongs to its father." she replied and disappeared in the darkness. He heard Ikemefuna cry. 'Your dead father wants you to sacrifice a goat to him. In the end Okonkwo threw the Cat. They were both Uzowulu's neighbors.' Do you know what he told the Oracle? He said.All this anthill activity was going smoothly when a sudden interruption came. In the end the fearless ones went near and even touched him. The happy voices of children playing in open fields would then be heard. My sister lived with him for nine years."He said something. The rainbow began to appear.

"I was coming over to see you as soon as I finished that thatch. Nwoye knew that it was right to be masculine and to be violent. were fixed on her. And so on this particular night as the crier's voice was gradually swallowed up in the distance.But it was really not true that Okonkwo's palm-kernels had been cracked for him by a benevolent spirit. She slowed down her pace so as to increase the distance between them. the shouting and the firing of guns. roasting and eating maize. And indeed he was possessed by the fear of his father's contemptible life and shameful death. Even those which Nwoye knew already were told with a new freshness and the local flavor of a different clan." The crowd agreed. Later in the day he called Ikemefuna and told him that he was to be taken home the next day. I salute you. We are only his mother's kinsmen.When all the egwugwu had sat down and the sound of the many tiny bells and rattles on their bodies had subsided. food was presented to the guests."Locusts are descending. and the crowd answered. Cam wood was rubbed lightly into her skin. and two others after her. "I have never seen such a large crowd of people. It was an angry."What did he say?" the white man asked his interpreter. and the elusive dance rose and fell with the wind.

But everybody knew that he was going to die and Aneto got his belongings together in readiness to flee.There were no stars in the sky because there was a rain-cloud.When she had shaken hands. He put them in the pot and Ekwefi poured in some water. and in its place a sort of smile hovered.Okonkwo sprang from his bed.Okonkwo was inwardly pleased at his son's development. At last Ogbuefi Ezeugo stood up in the midst of them and bellowed four times.Then the tragedy of his first son had occurred. If they became more troublesome than they already were they would simply be driven out of the clan."We shall be late for the wrestling."That wine is the work of a good tapper."Sit like a woman!" Okonkwo shouted at her. as her father and other grownup people did. Okonkwo. But let us drink the wine first."The night was already far spent when the guests rose to go. 'She should have been a boy. may Agbala shave your head with a blunt razor! May he twist your neck until you see your heels!"Ekwefi stood rooted to the spot." He laughed a mirthless laughter.- and in this way the cover was strengthened on the wall. Do not bear a hand in his death."Umuofia kwenu.Suddenly Okagbue sprang to the surface with the agility of a leopard.

'If I fall down for you and you fall down for me."Remove your jigida first. The inhabitants of Mbanta expected them all to be dead within four days. She was the priestess of Agbala."When they had eaten. very shyly."Agbala do-o-o-o! Agbala ekeneo-o-o-o-o. And then came the clap of thunder.""Ee-e-e!""Prosperous men and great warriors. "lest Agbala be angry with you. And then suddenly she had begun to shiver in the night."Yaa!" replied the thunderous crowd. He passed her a piece of fish. But it had gone on living and gradually becoming stronger. he kept it secret. He worshipped them with sacrifices of kola nut. Nwoye's callow mind was greatly puzzled. Nwoye was there.' he thought as he looked at his ten-year-old daughter." But he was a man of commanding presence and the clansmen listened to him." said one of the women.""You do not understand. "But I cannot understand these things you tell me."Remove your jigida first.

"that I shall bring many iron horses when we have settled down among them. Women and children returning from the stream with pots of water on their heads wondered what was happening until they saw Okagbue and guessed that it must be something to do with ogbanje. But such was her anxiety for her daughter that she could not rid herself completely of her fear."Go and burn your mothers' genitals. As soon as she became pregnant she went to live with her old mother in another village. and the elders of his family.When all the egwugwu had sat down and the sound of the many tiny bells and rattles on their bodies had subsided. but in doing so he would have taken something from the full penalty of seven years."Has Nweke married a wife?" asked Okonkwo. and his happiest moments were the two or three moons after the harvest when the village musicians brought down their instruments. And he found that Okonkwo did not wish to speak about Nwoye." He then added ten sticks to the fifteen and gave the bundle to Ukegbu. And for the first time they had a woman. And when he did this he saw that his father was pleased. The whole church raised a protest and was about to drive these people out. for in spite of their worthlessness they still belonged to the clan. they talked about everything except the thing for which they had gathered. He rounded off his prayer and went to see what it was all about. to harvest cassava tubers." he said. And so they fled into Umuofia with a woeful story. Go and see if your father has brought out yams for the afternoon.The two teams were ranged facing each other across the clear space. Okonkwo ground his teeth in disgust.

He heard Ikemefuna cry. took her stick and walked over to the obi. He was greatly surprised." he intoned. A great evil has come upon their land as the Oracle had warned. Every man of Umuofia was asked to gather at the market place tomorrow morning." He waved his arm where most of the young men sat. or old woman."Every year." Obierika again drank a little of his wine. Tortoise also took one."Unless you shave off the mark of your heathen belief I will not admit you into the church. And so he regretted every day of his exile. who had begun to pour out the wine.""You were very much like that yourself. Even as a little boy he had resented his father's failure and weakness. There were also pots of palm-wine. My in-law. Okonkwo stood by the pit. Ekwefi muttered. As our people say. decorating them with a colorful and plaintive tune. His eldest brother broke the first one."We are at last getting somewhere.

He brought with him two young men." Okonkwo said. The rain became lighter and lighter until it fell in slanting showers. Kiaga stopped them and began to explain. Sometimes another village would ask Unoka's band and their dancing egwugwu to come and stay with them and teach them their tunes. a debtor. Nothing happened at its proper time. If a man kills the sacred python in the secrecy of his hut. We must fight these men and drive them from the land. Okonkwo had clearly washed his hands and so he ate with kings and elders. who went to plait her hair at her friend's house and did not return early enough to cook the afternoon meal. But I want you to have nothing to do with it. The egwugwu had emerged once again from their underground home.""God will not permit it. Near the barn was a small house.The men in the obi had already begun to drink the palm-wine which Akueke's suitor had brought. It was a warrior's funeral. "But if the Oracle said that my son should be killed I would neither dispute it nor be the one to do it. So I shall ask you to come again the way you came before. The women and children sent up a great shout and took to their heels. light and gay. and the polite name for leprosy was "the white skin. And although she believed that the iyi-uwa which had been dug up was genuine. When they did.

It seemed as if the world had gone mad. Nwoye's mother and Ojiugo would provide the other things like smoked fish.Having sworn that oath.""That is very true." urged the other women"None?" asked Njide. But that was only to be expected.Many others spoke. "and don't allow it to boil over. After a few more hoe-fuls of earth he struck the iyi-uwa. and Umuofia was still swallowed up in sleep and silence when the ekwe began to talk. Chielo. he immediately bought gourds of palm-wine. impotent ash. "1 told you. The elders of the clan replied. Ekwefi quickly took her to their bedroom and placed her on their high bamboo bed. The earth goddess whom you have insulted may refuse to give us her increase. and it ended on the left. and the lad Ikemefuna."None." said another man."Don't you know what kind of man Uzowulu is? He will not listen to any other decision. beans and cassava. They were duly presented to the women.

" said Obierika.""Not before you have had your breakfast. first with little sticks and later with tall and big tree branches.But before this quiet and final rite. Nothing that happened in the world of the animals ever escaped his notice. If. women and children left their work or their play and ran into the open to see the unfamiliar sight."Listen to me. Then he took it away to bury in the Evil Forest. "let her not sleep in her hut. He was in fact a coward and could not bear the sight of blood. but he did not say it. Trees were uprooted and deep gorges appeared everywhere. who was once the village beauty. Here was a man whose chi said nay despite his own affirmation. hungry to do harm to the living. He fell and fell and fell until he began to fear that he would never stop falling." said Obiageli. Dangerous animals became even more sinister and uncanny in the dark. She could not see beyond her nose.""It is true. He grew rapidly like a yam tendril in the rainy season. was among them. Dew fell heavily and the air was cold.

She could no longer think. and the new faith was a mad dog that had come to eat it up. and thank Okonkwo for having looked after him so well and for bringing him back. and although it had not yet appeared on the sky its light had already melted down the darkness. He was therefore waiting to receive them. This was one of the lighter tasks of the after-harvest season. or rather to his death. Evil Forest addressed the two groups of people facing them. some were orators who spoke for the clan." roared Okonkwo.Then the missionaries burst into song.The contest began with boys of fifteen or sixteen. The sound of her benumbed steps seemed to come from some other person walking behind her. Okonkwo's fear was greater than these. Then the bride. The cut bush was left to dry and fire was then set to it. and in one deft movement she lifted the pot from the fire and poured the boiling water over the fowl.The way into the shrine was a round hole at the side of a hill. But he was not the man to go about telling his neighbors that he was in error."You know what it is.""What did the white man say before they killed him?" asked Uchendu."She will bring her back soon. and it came floating on the wind. tapped it on his kneecap.

the sky. had gained ground. And this was the message. and no longer rebuked him or beat him. A sudden fury rose within him and he felt a strong desire to take up his machete." Okonkwo made a sound full of disgust. It seemed as if the world had gone mad. Rain fell as it had never fallen before. The musicians with their wood. The three women talked excitedly about the relations who had been invited. Go and see if your father has brought out yams for the afternoon. Nwoye's mother swore at her and settled down again to her peeling. A steady cloud of smoke rose from his head. and allowed a murmur of suppressed anger to sweep the crowd. Kiaga had asked the women to bring red earth and white chalk and water to scrub the church for Easter. My mother's people have been good to me and 1 must show my gratitude."As he was speaking the boy returned. Two years after her marriage to Anene she could bear it no longer and she ran away to Okonkwo.There were twelve men on each side and the challenge went from one side to the other. She hit her left foot against an outcropped root. that night. Three men beat them with sticks.""That is true. and they nodded their heads.

That woman. and he loved this season of the year. "Let us give them a portion of the Evil Forest. Anasi was the first wife and the others could not drink before her. She hurried through Okonkwo's hut and went outside. "that Okonkwo and I were talking about Abame and Aninta. the king of crops. "Your wrestling the other day gave me much happiness. 'She should have been a boy. unless it be the emotion of anger. "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. And he did pounce on people quite often. "Our own men and our sons have joined the ranks of the stranger. Their hosts took him as the king of the birds. He wanted Nwoye to grow into a tough young man capable of ruling his father's household when he was dead and gone to join the ancestors. others Abame or Aninta. They came when misfortune dogged their steps or when they had a dispute with their neighbors.When the rain finally came. I kill a man on the day that his life is sweetest to him. sang for mercy. I salute you. now said"You told us with your own mouth that there was only one god.But there was a young lad who had been captivated. Obiageli.

His father. It was one of those gay and rollicking tunes of evangelism which had the power of plucking at silent and dusty chords in the heart of an Ibo man."Why is Okonkwo with us today? This is not his clan.That was many years ago. and which she no doubt still told to her younger children??stories of the tortoise and his wily ways."Ask Akueke's mother to send us some kola nuts." said his daughter Ezinma when she brought the food to him. If we allow you to come with us you will soon begin your mischief. His words may also be good. Anyone seeing Chielo in ordinary life would hardly believe she was the same person who prophesied when the spirit of Agbala was upon her. It was difficult to say which the people enjoyed more. If a clansman killed a royal python accidentally. And immediately Okonkwo's eyes were opened and he saw the whole matter clearly.No work was done during the Week of Peace.Okonkwo spent the next few days preparing his seed-yams. Ekwefi had a feeling of spacious openness. 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 some of the egwugwu were quite harmless. We did not see it. they take new names for the occasion. They will take him outside Umuofia as is the custom. The folk stories stopped. You think you are still a child. you wicked daughter of Akalogoli?" Okonkwo swore furiously.

These sudden bouts of sickness and health were typical of her kind. They called him the little bird nza who so far forgot himself after a heavy meal that he challenged his chi. then. And so Tortoise ate the best part of the food and then drank two pots of palm-wine. the god who cut a man down when his life was sweetest to him." But it was a different Chielo she now saw in the yellow half-light. Ekwefi's mind went back to the days when they were young. neither early nor late. Ezeudu was the oldest man in this quarter of Umuofia. Ofoedu ate slowly and talked about the locusts. Ekwefi muttered. "But the law of the land must be obeyed. you can tell a ripe corn by its look."I have heard. They formed a circular ring with a break at one point through which the foot-track led to the center of the circle." said Nwoye's mother. the priestess of Agbala. "Use the fan. with a full beard and a bald head. too. Ekwefi quickly moved away from her line of retreat.Ezinma was still sleeping when everyone else was astir. have no toes. The conversation at once centered on him.

The naming ceremony after seven market weeks became an empty ritual.Ikemefuna had begun to feel like a member of Okonkwo's family. "People traveled more in those days." Okonkwo was surprised. who had been walking about aimlessly in his compound in suppressed anger." answered his first wife. And so they fled into Umuofia with a woeful story. the suitor. but nothing like this had ever happened. so that he was full of food and drink and his body filled out in his shell. It was also part of the night. and also a drinking gourd. and walked to its beat. You are a great family. building a new red-earth and thatch house for their teacher. It was a great feast. all strong and healthy. and he was soon chosen as the man to speak for the party because he was a great orator. Nwakibie brought down his own horn. and kill him there. and Maduka brought in a pot of palm-wine. despite his madness. But 1 thought you would need the money now and so I brought it.But Ezinma's iyi-uwa had looked real enough.

as was the custom. some of them having come a long way from their homes in distant villages. said that until the abominable gang was chased out of the village with whips there would be no peace.The crowd set out with Ezinma leading the way and Okagbue following closely behind her. but ill. But tonight she was addressing her prophecy and greetings to Okonkwo. because there was no humanity there. but he had not expected he would be so generous. He. she was dead. 'You have done very well. She was about sixteen and just ripe for marriage.Everybody at the kindred meeting took sides with Osugo when Okonkwo called him a woman. folded her arms across her breast and sighed. he kept it secret. Nwayieke lived four compounds away. But let us drink the wine first." said the interpreter. When your neighbors go out with their ax to cut down virgin forests. Nwoye's mother and Okonkwo's youngest wife were ready to set out for Obierika's compound with all their children. 'She should have been a boy. He told them that the true God lived on high and that all men when they died went before Him for judgment. We have tried to settle their quarrels time without number and on each occasion Uzowulu was guilty??""It is a lie!" Uzowulu shouted. the priest of the earth goddess.

If you think you are the greatest sufferer in the world ask my daughter. "Ozoemena was. Suppose when he died all his male children decided to follow Nwoye's steps and abandon their ancestors? Okonkwo felt a cold shudder run through him at the terrible prospect. were whispering together. It was unheard of to beat somebody during the sacred week. trying to minimize Ojiugo's thoughtlessness. The crowd wondered who would throw the other this year. butwhenever she thought she saw their shape it immediately dissolved like a melting lump of darkness. one of them did something which no one could describe because it had been as quick as a flash." Ezinma said.That was many years ago. She is buried there. "Let us hear Odukwe. Ikemefuna looked back." said Mr."Go home and sleep. a machete for cutting down the soft cassava stem. on the day that Nwoye's mother celebrated the birth of her three sons with feasting and music.Okonkwo returned from the bush carrying on his left shoulder a large bundle of grasses and leaves." said Idigo."Thank you. "So you must finish this. The children made endless trips to the stream." He put it down to his inflexible will.

The world was silent except for the shrill cry of insects. The suitor just goes on bringing bags of cowries until his in-laws tell him to stop. It was an occasion for giving thanks to Ani. So I have brought the matter to the fathers of the clan. She shut her eyes for a while and opened them again in an effort to see." replied Okonkwo. Every man wears the thread of title on his ankle. He had many friends here and came to see them quite often. as her father and other grownup people did.Ekwefi had suffered a good deal in her life. so she cupped her right hand to shelter the flame. and most of them never did because they died too young - before they could be asked questions. in a cleared spot. burning forehead. tangled and dirty hair. buoyant maiden. Darkness held a vague terror for these people. And so they arrived home again. where titled men climb trees and pound foo-foo for their wives. They were silent for a long time. the feasting and fellowship of the first day or the wrestling Contest of the second.""Nna ayi. There was nothing new in that. a loud cheer rose from the crowd.

And so the stranger had brought him."Do you think you are cutting up yams for cooking?" he asked Nwoye. hungry to do harm to the living. She hurried through Okonkwo's hut and went outside. 'It just walked away. Ezigbo. others said he was not the equal of Ikezue. He was always alone and was shaped like a coffin." they said. and our clan can no longer act like one.There were twelve men on each side and the challenge went from one side to the other. But if a man caused it. in silence. The pots of wine stood in their midst. He could hardly imagine that Okonkwo was not his real father. I salute you. He accepted the half-full horn from his brother and drank it. "that was why the snake-lizard killed his mother. And when. "people should not talk when they are eating or pepper may go down the wrong way. The thick dregs of palm-wine were supposed to be good for men who were going in to their wives. his wives and children in their houses could hear him breathe.""That means you will see something. It all began over the question of admitting outcasts.

What crime had they committed? The Earth had decreed that they were an offense on the land and must be destroyed. The daughters of the clan did not return to their homes immediately but spent two more days with their kinsmen. Unoka went into an inner room and soon returned with a small wooden disc containing a kola nut. suddenly overcome with fury. The faint and distant wailing of women settled like a sediment of sorrow on the earth. Everybody knew she was an ogbanje. Ezigbo. and from the very first seemed to have kindled a new fire in the younger boy. The relationship between them was not only that of mother and child. and he was grateful. None of his converts was a man whose word was heeded in ihe assembly of the people. Okonkwo!" she warned. they could gather firewood together for roasting the ones that would be eaten there on the farm.The whole village turned out on the ilo. The thick dregs of palm-wine were supposed to be good for men who were going in to their wives. And as if they had been waiting for that. but even if you came into your obi and found her lover on top of her. I did not hang myself."They want a piece of land to build their shrine. He would return with a flourish. But when there is sorrow and bitterness he finds refuge in his motherland. had gone to consult the Oracle of the Hills and the Caves to find out why he always had a miserable harvest. There was authority in her bearing and she looked every inch the ruler of the womenfolk in a large and prosperous family. The imagery of an efulefu in the language of the clan was a man who sold his machete and wore the sheath to battle.

It was the ekwe talking to the clan. taking their bride home to spend seven market weeks with her suitor's family. who was also a diviner of the Afa Oracle. The New Yam Festival seemed to him to be a much bigger event here than in his own village. "is it true that when people are grown up.""Not before you have had your breakfast. It was only then that they exchanged greetings and shook hands over what was left of the food. At the opposite end of the compound was a shed for the goats. As she knelt by her. It was also the dumping ground for highly potent fetishes of great medicine men when they died."Oho. This one had only one hand and it carried a basket full of water. Ikemefuna called him father. Although he had felt uneasy at first. Is it right that you. But it was like beginning life anew without the vigor and enthusiasm of youth. broken now and again by singing. and of the bird eneke-nti-oba who challenged the whole world to a wrestling contest and was finally thrown by the cat."Answer the question at once. Work no longer had for him the pleasure it used to have." He drank his palm-wine. The rains had come and yams had been sown. or the teeth of an old woman. whom she called "my daughter.