Igbo culture

Cultural Beliefss Different cultures throughout the world have different perspectives on socially acceptable standards. The Igbo culture includes gender roles that are quite uncommon in contrast to other cultures. For example, in Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, the belief that men are superior to women impacts the society by portraying the idea that men must have a title and a woman is inferior to a man. The belief that men are superior to women and children causes men to have complete…

sacrifice in Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, the boldest ones are the aspects of sacrifice in Igbo culture, and Okonkwo’s reasons for being extremely masculine. Sacrifice is largely shown in the book, as it the center point for most events. As the Igbo culture has numerous specific traditions, many include rituals of sacrifice. The sacrifices can span from fruit to animals to people. The Igbo people saw these as spiritual symbols- they believed that the body itself was part of the living…

What happens if traditions are not held within a culture? In every culture, there are certain societal expectations that the people live up to but when they are challenged, cultures collapse. Things Fall Apart illustrates how cultures evolve when new ideas are presented, as seen in the arrival of the British or the “whites” in the novel. Achebe uses Okonkwo's two sons, Nwoye and Ikemefuna, to contrast different viewpoints on popular Igbo traditions such as gender and religious beliefs. In the…

Quite often it is the traditional culture within a community that establishes the ideals that individuals are prompted to follow. Within the novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, the Igbo culture is a primary influence setting boundaries that define masculine and feminine roles in the clan of Umuofia. The actions carried out by men and women in the Igbo culture are crucial for defying the level of gender orientation one has, ultimately determining their position and importance in society.…

traditional Igbo beliefs to the start of Christianity in the village of Umuofia and how old culture cannot survive while new culture emerges. The clash of values is brought to life through Okonkwo who has primarily traditional roots. He cannot understand how his people can convert to Christianity and stray from the core beliefs that had been so deeply instilled in their tribe. Chinua Achebe’s own religious background influenced him to write such a spiritually invested novel. The contrast of…

Every culture has its unique set of gender rules and normalities. Women may be encouraged to stay home with the children while the men work to make an income. In some cases, these roles are even interchangeable and it is acceptable for genders to switch responsibilities. In the Igbo culture in the book Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, however, this is not the case due to the sexism practiced. Through the novel, Achebe presents a sexist culture. Immediately noticeable, the family structure in…

If you are a woman, you would not want to live in Igbo society. In the book Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, he describes a society where men have more power than women. The main character, Okonkwo, has many conflicts regarding his masculinity. He tries to be an excessively masculine figure in a society that has more of a balance between masculinity and femininity. Achebe promotes many stereotypes about masculine and feminine traits in his novel. Okonkwo is a hyper-masculine character who…

When two cultures collide and they ignore eachothers values it results in destruction of these cultures and consequences as seen through Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, slave trade in Nigerian history, and the Indian Ocean Trade. In Achebe’s text, two cultures colliding resulting in the destruction of those cultures is . The Igbo clan clashes with the christians and they will not agree on anything causing major conflicts. The first seen example of the refusal to accommodate the Christians…

of Okonkwo, a member of the Nigerian Igbo culture, as European colonists arrive to Africa. Throughout the novel, Okonkwo and his family struggle through their day to day life, only made worse by the integration of European society in the village. Instead of offering the readers the more familiar, if not overtold, perspective of Europeans colonizing Africa, Achebe introduces a completely foreign culture. As the reader becomes more accustomed to the Igbo culture, the arrival of the Europeans…

especially the youngest, lived in perpetual fear of his fiery temper, and so did his little children” (Achebe 13). In the Igbo culture, men are seen as the dominant sex, and they rule over their families. As a result women often times are subject to meet the demands of their husbands, If they fail to do so they can be beaten. “...Society often promotes violent…