Tegeera Study Track

Literature is a strong way to show problems in society and call for change. Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart is a good example because it tells the story of Okonkwo and the Igbo people in Nigeria. Through this story, Achebe fights against the wrong ideas many colonial books had about African culture and shows the real life and traditions of the Igbo community.

Achebe shows that the Igbo people had their own rich culture, history, and way of doing things (Ghani et al.). In Chapter 10, he talks about how they handled justice in the community. Elders, who are represented by masked figures called egwugwu, come together to settle disagreements. In one case, they help solve a problem between a man and his in-laws. They first listen to both sides, then give a fair decision. This shows that the Igbo had a justice system where the whole community was involved, not just one person in charge. It is very different from the strict and top-down British system that came later with colonial rule.

Achebe also criticizes how colonialism and Christianity affected Igbo traditions. In Chapter 22, a man named Enoch, who has become a very fanatical Christian, tears off an egwugwu mask during a ceremony. This is seen as a disrespectful act, and in anger, the community decides to burn down the church in response (Achebe 136-137). This act of defiance is a powerful symbol of resistance. It shows how Achebe is calling for the preservation of African culture in the face of foreign influence.

Another form of protest is shown through Nwoye’s decision to join Christianity in Chapter 17 (Achebe 112). This goes against the expectations in Igbo culture, where young men are supposed to follow their fathers’ traditions. Nwoye refuses to accept certain customs, like the abandoning of twins and the killing of Ikemefuna, who had become like a brother to him (Achebe 44–45, Ch. 7). His decision to follow the new religion shows the cultural conflict brought by European influence and how it divided families and communities (Azad).

The novel also shows how colonial rule weakened the Igbo’s traditional way of leadership, which was based on shared power and respect for elders. In Chapter 20, Achebe explains how the District Commissioner and the foreign courts begin to take control, ignoring the authority of the local leaders (Achebe 127). Later, in Chapter 23, the colonial officers arrest and embarrass the village elders, showing that the new system depends more on force than on fairness or dialogue. Finally, when Okonkwo dies, the District Commissioner does not see the pain or meaning behind the act. Instead, he simply thinks about writing it into his book (Achebe 151, Ch. 25). This shows how the colonial government failed to understand or respect Igbo culture and unity.

Achebe also shows that colonial education was used as a way to control and change the minds of the people. In Chapter 20, the missionary Mr. Brown starts a school that teaches Western values. While this may seem helpful, it slowly pushes aside Igbo ways of learning. As more people focus on reading and writing in English, they begin to forget traditional knowledge like storytelling and learning from elders. The oral tradition—which was very important in Igbo life—starts to lose its place. This is seen clearly in Chapter 1, where Achebe says that the Igbo value conversation and use proverbs to pass on wisdom: “Proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten” (Achebe 6).

The novel also questions traditional gender roles by showing strong female characters like Ekwefi. She is not like the typical woman in Igbo society, where women were expected to stay quiet and follow their husbands. For example, she makes a bold choice to leave a child marriage (Achebe 80, Ch. 11). Her deep love for her only surviving daughter, Ezinma—after losing nine other children—also shows her strength (Achebe 55–56, Ch. 9). When Ezinma falls sick, Ekwefi is brave enough to knock on Okonkwo’s door in the middle of the night to wake him up. This act shows that she is willing to stand up for what matters to her. Through Ekwefi, Achebe shows that women, too, had voices and could push back against a society that expected them to be silent and submissive.

Okonkwo also represents both the strengths and weaknesses of Igbo society. He is known as a great wrestler and a hardworking farmer, which reflects the community’s respect for masculinity, personal success, and effort. These are the values that gave him honour. But at the same time, his fear of being seen as weak—like his father—leads him to make poor decisions. In the end, this fear plays a big role in his downfall. His death in Chapter 25 is not just about him as a person; it also shows how colonialism destroyed the traditional Igbo way of life. Okonkwo’s refusal to accept the new colonial system and his final actions highlight the pain of losing cultural identity, leadership, and freedom under foreign rule.

The novel also talks about social classes and inequality within Igbo society. The richer men and the elders are the ones who make important decisions (Achebe 6, Ch. 1), while poorer people and those who are looked down on don’t get a say in these matters (Achebe 114–115, Ch. 18).

In conclusion, Achebe shows the rich and complicated culture of the Igbo people to fight against wrong ideas that Western writers had about Africa. Through the struggles of his characters and their fight against changes brought by colonialism, Achebe uses Things Fall Apart as a way to protest social injustice. He calls for protecting African culture and standing strong against colonial rule.

References

Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. Penguin Classics, 2001.

Arya, Sunita. “Literature as Weapon of Protest: A Comparative Approach.” The Global Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, 2015.

Azad, Md Jahidul. "The Colonized Fall Apart: A Postcolonial Analysis of Achebe’s Things Fall Apart."

Ghani, Mamuna et al. “Things Fall Apart: Chinua Achebe Writes Back to the Centre." Journal of Educational Research, 2013.