Prior to the arrival of Europeans in southeastern Nigeria, the Ibo people had a vibrant and intricate culture. They were self sufficient, optimistic about the future, and carried a deep sense of their own history. Their culture and worldview seems to have centered around a deep rooted connection between the visible world and the invisible world. The natural and supernatural were inexorably intertwined and all things were unified (Anele, 43). There existed a sort of hierarchical cosmological view in which the universe is imbued with spirits, and forces, that interacted with matter. Therefore everyday life was bound to the spiritual world. At the top of the hierarchy was a supreme being that created the universe, then came spirits, local deities,
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He introduces us to Okonkwo, a man renowned across the nine villages for his wrestling ability. At the age of eighteen he fought one of the greatest matches the town had ever seen. In fact, the only match to ever have been better was one between a human and a spirit of the wild (Achebe, chpt 1). The Ibo were convinced that in the dark of night, whistling would attract evil spirits. Therefore children were counseled not to whistle at night (Achebe, chpt 2). However, not all spirits that interacted at night were fearsome or evil. The Ibo men would, at times, inquire of dead relatives through an oracle. This they did when there were disputes or mishaps of different kinds. “It was said that when such a spirit appeared, the man saw it vaguely in the darkness, but never heard its voice” (Achebe, chpt 3). A few even claimed to have heard the these spirits brushing their wings against the cave roof as they …show more content…
Since we are invited to the village, we would start by holding classes that people could attend. In these classes we would teach and discuss the women’s movement and the civil rights movement. I believe that through learning about the similar ways in which women and blacks were marginalized in America, and seeing their success at gaining a measure of equality, we can produce in the Ibo women a strong desire for the same. I believe we can also produce hope for success in them through this same process. Talking about the challenges faced by the participants of these movements, and showing how pushing forward payed off, we can create an atmosphere of hope and willingness to endure the difficult times of resistance by Okonkwo and
He introduces us to Okonkwo, a man renowned across the nine villages for his wrestling ability. At the age of eighteen he fought one of the greatest matches the town had ever seen. In fact, the only match to ever have been better was one between a human and a spirit of the wild (Achebe, chpt 1). The Ibo were convinced that in the dark of night, whistling would attract evil spirits. Therefore children were counseled not to whistle at night (Achebe, chpt 2). However, not all spirits that interacted at night were fearsome or evil. The Ibo men would, at times, inquire of dead relatives through an oracle. This they did when there were disputes or mishaps of different kinds. “It was said that when such a spirit appeared, the man saw it vaguely in the darkness, but never heard its voice” (Achebe, chpt 3). A few even claimed to have heard the these spirits brushing their wings against the cave roof as they …show more content…
Since we are invited to the village, we would start by holding classes that people could attend. In these classes we would teach and discuss the women’s movement and the civil rights movement. I believe that through learning about the similar ways in which women and blacks were marginalized in America, and seeing their success at gaining a measure of equality, we can produce in the Ibo women a strong desire for the same. I believe we can also produce hope for success in them through this same process. Talking about the challenges faced by the participants of these movements, and showing how pushing forward payed off, we can create an atmosphere of hope and willingness to endure the difficult times of resistance by Okonkwo and