User talk:Atcovi/ENG225/The Yams - Week Nine

Chinua Achebe
—Atcovi (Talk - Contribs) 19:21, 31 October 2023 (UTC)
 * Best known African writer, wrote Things Fall Apart (counteract the distortions of English literature about Africa by describing the richness and complexity of traditional African society befor eht ecolonial and missionary invasion). Intro is full of praises and highlights his importance in elevating African life.
 * Starts with his early life; 2 different cultures, found Mister Johnson, 1939 and was abhorred by the degrading detailing of his people by the 'white man'.
 * Worked as a radio journalist and noticed the 3 ethnicities fighting amongst each other, which became the Nigerian Civil War.
 * Escaped anti Igbo persecution >1966. Became a senior researcher at the University of Nigeria. Advocated for Biafra. Studied at UvM. Returned in 1976, was still involved in politics. 1990 car accident slowed him down, but went back to being a writer throughout Northern England.
 * Talks about his writings in detail.
 * Mbari - Owerri Igbo custom.
 * Talks about "Chike's School Days" - "a seemingly simple tale about a boy going to school turns out to be a story of historical change as it affects 3 generations"

Chike's School Days
—Atcovi (Talk - Contribs) 15:09, 2 November 2023 (UTC)
 * Sarah, the mom of John/Chike/Obiajulu. Like John's sisters, Chike was taught by the white man. Sarah taught them of the tiny bell ceremony and children plays together/ate together.
 * Osu - weakest caste system.
 * Amos, Chike's father, married a woman in the name of Christianity. Mr. Brown approved. Amos' mom was oddly angry at Amos for this and consulted a diviner, who said she needed to sacrifice a goat. Her son eventually married an Osu girl and the mom reverted to her traditional religion.
 * Chike's village school mayhem. Learned songs that were incorrect/brainwashing, in a way.
 * Infant School: Found love in language and writing, not math.

(Ch.20, 156pg)

 * Okonkwo knew of his 7 year long absence from his clan and his position may have already been filled.
 * The British have been forcing their new religion on the Nigerians, and he hopes to make a great come back. On his return, he wants to build his compound. Goes into detail on how he wants to take the highest title in the land.
 * "Ozo society" - prestigious league. "Chi" = yams.
 * His first son seems to have been rebellious (he became a "woman"), but his 5 other sons may do the trick (youngest being 4).
 * His daughter has been a mediator for his feelings (Ezinma).
 * Umuofia - distant village.
 * Mbanta - father's exile place.
 * Half sister, Obiageli.
 * They will marry back at home in Umuofia.

BREAK
 * Ogbeufi Ugonna converted to Christianity. The church had its influence.
 * White man brought a "government". "Kotma" --> court messengers from Umuru on the bank of the Great River. They would beat the men of the prison who committed crimes against the 'white man's laws'. They also didn't like to be referred to as Ashy-Buttocks.
 * Abame got wiped out by the British. Aneto was hanged. 'Piece of land in dispute' was given to Nnama's family, who benefited from the whites.
 * Tells the story of Aneto [page 161].

Ch. 21, 162pg

 * Umuofia were okay with the whites coming in because of their economic value & were growing to become acceptable to Christianity.
 * Mr Brown was respected amongst the clan because he "trod softly in his faith" and condemned Enoch and his snake priest family. He was presented with a carved elephant as respect. Akunna gave one of his sons to be taught by Mr. Brown.
 * Goes into dialogue between Mr. Brown and Akunna about religion, God vs. Chukwu and his helpers.
 * Mr. Brown persuades the clan members to send their children to his school so the leaders in the future would be people who can read/write and defend their culture/clan. He eventually became successful in this.
 * Mr. Brown left for a bit for medical reasons, but returned to meet Isaac (Nwoye)'s father, Okonkwo. He wasn't happy to meet Mr. Brown.
 * His return was underwhelming and the city was almost unrecognizable. Oknkwo compared the men here to women, who were soft and allowed just infiltrations to pass by.

Ch. 22, 167pg

 * Mr. Brown's successor was James Smith, who was angry at this pagan clan. He was frustrated at one woman's mutilation practice. Enoch and James Smith go at it.
 * Enoch, in the name of Christianity. was wilding at the egwugwu ceremony and caused a stir in Umuofia. As Smith heard the wailing mother of the 'spirit', he prayed for strength. The egwugus storm the church in pursuit of Enoch after destroying his house. Ajofia says that they must destroy the Church but won't harm James because of his "kind brother". Despite James' protests, the church was destroyed.

Ch. 23, 174pg

 * Okoknwo was pleased with this and wanted to massacre the Christians as a next step. He has a meeting with the white men. Him and 5 others are arrested for causing 'ill-will to other worshippers'. Have to pay a fine of 200 bags of cowries. This fine was increased for no real reason. The village was cold and quiet, but reacted swiftly to raise the cowries needed.

Ch. 24, 179pg

 * The villages people found Oknoknwo's scar from the beating by the officials.
 * Okonkwo condemns Egonwanne and his 'war of blame' rhetoric who sides with the white men. Okonkwo wants revenge against the whites for their oppression.
 * They went to the marketplace to confront Egonwanne.
 * Okika spoke with Okenya getting the attention of Umfofia.
 * Just then, as Okika was speaking to inspire warfare against the whites and the ones that have betrayed them (184pg), Okonkwo kills a man that came to tell them to stop their activities (ordered from the 'white man').

Ch. 25, 186pg

 * Obiereka leads the white men to Oknokwo, who they wanted to punish for his murder.
 * Oknokwo committed suicide and had a humiliating ending and burial.

Translations for Igbo words are available on page 190.