From Debts To A Bloody Machete: Chapters 1 to 7, “Things Fall Apart” By Chinua Achebe

“He’d washed his hands and eaten with the kings”, Chinua Achebe wrote about one of Umuofia’s most respected and fiercest man, Okonkwo. Out of all nine villages, Umuofia was the feared one. Filled with legends, folktales, proverbs, gods, feasts and traditions, Umuofia’s people maximum pride was the amount of crops (specifically yams) and wives (the more wives, the more power a man had). Ruled by the oracle Agbala, their most important god is, ironically, a woman (they mocked women), Ani, goddess of mother Earth, source of fertility and judge of morality. Wrestling and dancing also formed part of their culture, especially during New Yam’s Feast.

Since young, Okonkwo had no choice other than to support his entire family economically, due to his irresponsible father, Unoka. Him, being lazy, improvident, coward and a debtor, was the cause for Okonkwo to borrow yam seeds from Nwakibie (a neighbour). Although he messed up twice, he eventually became an expert, learning from his mistakes. Ten years went by and Unoka died, leaving his body in the forest: a miserable death, for a miserable man. As all men, indeed, Unoka had a “good side”, he played the flute with village musicians and loved the good fellowship.

But now, Okonkwo had grown to be everything, avoiding his father’s resemblance in all ways. Without inheriting anything, he’d obtained three wives, two barns and currently had eight children. His hate for his father was so immense that he’d learned to hate gentleness, women, laziness, weakness, feasts, patience, and passivity. He’d learned to be a man of action, war, violence, anger, of achievements and masculinity. There are some moments in which Okonkwo shows tenderness such as his affliction for his family and wives, or his favouritism towards Ezinma, but still, anger is his only effusive feeling, such as when he beats his wife during Week of Peace.

This monstrous and resentful attitude is disturbed with the arrival of Ikemefuna, a young man who was offered (along a virgin woman) by the village of Mbaino. Having only 15 years, Ikemefuna was taken care of by Nwoye’s mother (one of Okonkwo’s wives), while the elders decided what they’d do with him. Days turned into months and months turned into a three-year decision, being the source of a special bond built between Ikemefuna, Nowye and Okonkwo. Unlike Nwoye (Okonkwo’s oldest son) who’d grown to be lazy, (earning himself beating and rejection from his father) Ikemefuna was a hard-worker and an agile apprentice, becoming Okonkwo’s dream boy. Unfortunately, when the elders finally decide what Ikemefuna’s destiny shall be, Okonkwo does not echo, due to his fear of being thought less manly. And that is how Ikemefuna comes to a tragic end in the forest, a machete concluding with his life.