I finished reading Chinua Achebe’s “Things
Fall Apart” yesterday. Reading it on the Kindle I had no idea I had reach the end. It happened so abruptly, I wasn’t prepared for the sudden end. I wanted the
book to go on. But that’s not a disappointment, right? It’s a sign of the
author’s genius, taking us by the hand and guiding us through the novel, it’s
plot, it’s denouement, it’s ending. Truly a masterly tale.
Why the abrupt ending disappointed me is this:
the missionaries had arrived, conversions were going on, executive power was
being exercised. I, for one, was interested in finding how Christianity got
established and other forms of animism, ancestor worship, were wiped out. This
is a subject of vast potential as most societies retain their cultural identity
while converting to a new faith. The Christians of Nagaland still celebrate
their past customs and belief in spite of having converted to Christianity.
Likewise, in ancient church denominations in Kerala worship begins with the
lighting of the ceremonial lamp, a Hindu tradition.
Okwonko of Umofia will be one of literary
history’s unforgettable characters because of his sensitivity to his culture
and its practices. The fact that he goes into exile willingly in accordance
with the wishes of his tribe is significant. Its importance arises from the
fact that he is a hot-blooded warrior and is willing to fight for the upkeep of
his culture and traditions.
However, one thought lingers: is it so
hunky dory in traditional societies? Achebe’s Umofia makes us think that there
isn’t any rebellion in the Igbo tribe of people and all are obedient and nice. Such an Utopian society screams for explication. That community would seem like an author’s fantasy rather than harsh reality.
Anyway, Things Fall Apart is one of the
defining work by an African writer and will remain so for a long time.
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