were painted with chalk and charcoal. But everybody knew that he was going to die and Aneto got his belongings together in readiness to flee. "Life to

Kiaga
Kiaga.""Not before you have had your breakfast. I have learned to be stingy with my yams.The priestess screamed." she replied." suggested Okonkwo. Again and again Iguedo was called and men waited breathlessly in all the nine villages. They must have bypassed it long ago. Sometimes Okonkwo gave them a few yams each to prepare." said another man." And he took another pinch of snuff. But if you allow sorrow to weigh you down and kill you they will all die in exile. He remembered the story she often told of the quarrel between Earth and Sky long ago. But it would be impolite to rush him. The way he said it sent cold fear down Ikemefuna's back. But he was always uncomfortable sitting around for days waiting for a feast or getting over it. They do not decide bride-price as we do. One of those things was gentleness and another was idleness. He shrugged his shoulders and went away to tap his afternoon palm-wine."That wine is the work of a good tapper. the "medicine house" or shrine where Okonkwo kept the wooden symbols of his personal god and of his ancestral spirits.Then the tragedy of his first son had occurred."Is that me?" Ekwefi called back. His name was Maduka."Uzowulu's body. "Will you go?""Yes.The way into the shrine was a round hole at the side of a hill.

"Oye. and our own brothers who have taken up his religion also say that our customs are bad. My case is finished. 1 know how to deal with them. It was true they were rescuing twins from the bush. pulled out his staff and thrust it into the earth again."Okonkwo has spoken the truth. "You are our teacher. Ekwefi even gave her such delicacies as eggs. whose feeling of importance was manifest in her sprightly walk. like coco-yams. That was the way people answered calls from outside. and his bushy eyebrows and wide nose gave him a very severe look.Uchendu had been told by one of his grandchildren that three strangers had come to Okonkwo's house. who went to plait her hair at her friend's house and did not return early enough to cook the afternoon meal.There were seven men in Obierika's hut when Okonkwo returned. my friend. 'There is nothing to fear from someone who shouts. when his father walked in that night after killing Ikemefuna. of how his father. But as he walked through the market he realized that people were pointing at him as they do to a madman. he had begun even in his father's lifetime to lay the foundations of a prosperous future.- one could not have known where one's mouth was in the darkness of that night." said Okonkwo.Okonkwo returned when he felt the medicine had cooked long anough."Evil Forest then turned to the other group and addressed the eldest of the three brothers. he kept it secret.

It seemed to Ekwefi that the night had become a little lighter. I would have asked you to get life. But they soon returned and everyone was gazing at the rag from a reasonable distance. when Okonkwo's in-laws began to leave for their homes The second day of the new year was the day of the great wrestling match between Okonkwo's village and their neighbors.Ezinma led the way back to the road. "before I kill you!" He seized a heavy stick that lay on the dwarf wall and hit him two or three savage blows. drew some lines on the floor. "In Abame and Aninta the title is worth less than two cowries. The conversation at once centered on him. Palm trees swayed as the wind combed their leaves into flying crests like strange and fantastic coiffure. as everybody knew they would. Once in a while Chielo was possessed by the spirit of her god and she began to prophesy." said Obierika. He spoke through an interpreter who was an Ibo man. As the Ibo say: "When the moon is shining the cripple becomes hungry for a walk." he said and cleared his throat. his head pointing to the earth and his legs skywards. and he said so with much threatening."Is this yours?" he asked Ezinma. but somehow he still preferred the stories that his mother used to tell." Okonkwo and Obierika said together. "She should have been a boy. meanwhile. and in the end they were received by them They asked for a plot of land to build on. my hand has touched the ground. Now and again a full-chested lamentation rose above the wailing whenever a man came into the place of death. If the song ended on his right foot.

Nwoye's mother. The story was always told of a wealthy man who set before his guests a mound of foo-foo so high that those who sat on one side could not see what was happening on the other.As soon as his father walked in. At last Ogbuefi Ezeugo stood up in the midst of them and bellowed four times."I must go home to tap my palm trees for the afternoon. He was taking his family of three wives and their children to seek refuge in his motherland. brought in a pot of sweet wine tapped from the raffia palm. condemned for seven years to live in a strange land." He turned again to Okonkwo and said. with a start. They sang his praise and the young women clapped their hands:"Who will wrestle for our village?Okafo will wrestle for our village. indeed. Many of them spoke at great length and in fury. She remembered that night.- one could not have known where one's mouth was in the darkness of that night.With a father like Unoka." said one man. The new year must begin with tasty. She thought of all the terrors of the night. its sullenness over. Marriage should be a play and not a fight so we are falling down again. The elders said locusts came once in a generation." The crowd agreed. "Welcome. the owner of all land. and brought out his snuff-bottle from the goatskin bag by his side. Never make an early morning appointment with a man who has just married a new wife.

sat on a mat on the floor. emerged from her hut. and each wife built a small attachment to her hut for the hens."Yes.He did not sleep at night. calling him "Our father. One of them was a pathetic cry. as she had accepted others??with listless resignation. They were the harbingers sent to survey the land. and he gave to Vulture rain wrapped in leaves of coco-yam. And if anything happened to her could she stop it? She would not dare to enter the underground caves. carrying on their heads various sizes of pots suitable to their years. Ezinma placed her mother's dish before him and sat with Obiageli. and each hut seen from the others looked like a soft eye of yellow half-light set in the solid massiveness of night.The first cock had not crowed. How could such a man be a follower of Christ?"He needs Christ more than you and I. He said he was one of them. Nwoye. but he had never yet come across them. An animal rubs its itching flank against a tree. At such times. not knowing what else to say.They came in the cold harmattan season after the harvests had been gathered.Ezinma was an only child and the center of her mother's world. and Ekwefi recoiled. It was powerful in war and in magic. and all the rest rushed away to see the cow that had been let loose.

He was roused in the morning by someone banging on his door. "they killed him and tied up his iron horse.Suddenly Okagbue sprang to the surface with the agility of a leopard. Obierika's second wife followed with a pot of soup. Odukwe continued:"Last year when my sister was recovering from an illness. Then he remembered that he had not taken out his snuff-spoon. Kiaga stood firm." said the woman. "It is not to pay you back for all you did for me in these seven years. and Okeke says we should pretend not to see. It was on the seventh day that he died. Anyone who knew his grim struggle against poverty and misfortune could not say he had been lucky. and a powerful flute blew a high-pitched blast. wiping the foam of wine from his mustache with the back of his left hand."Our father. somewhat indulgently. When all was laid out. "One of the young children had opened the gate of the cow-shed. who was greatly perplexed. and so they made them that offer which nobody in his right senses would accept. But they were still alive. Obierika."Akueke moved to the other end of the hut and began to remove the waist-beads. because it had been inadvertent. He felt like a drunken giant walking with the limbs of a mosquito.The last match was between the leaders of the teams. carrying a pot of palm-wine on his head.

and then you will know. as husbands' wives were wont to. she thought. There were also pots of yam pottage. She must have heard a noise behind her and turned round sharply. his wives and children in their houses could hear him breathe. Unoka was. or God's house."No. They never answered yes for fear it might be an evil spirit calling." His tone now changed from anger to command. But although Okonkwo was a great man whose prowess was universally acknowledged. The children stood in the darkness outside their hut watching the strange event. and they each gave him a feather. deeply.At first. "1 shall think of another one with a song." said Evil Forest. In her hand was the cloth pad on which the pot should have rested on her head.There were seven drums and they were arranged according to their sizes in a long wooden basket. "What we are eating is finished. Okonkwo was still pleading that the girl had been ill of late and was asleep. Ikemefuna came into Okonkwo's household.Onwumbiko was not given proper burial when he died. "one would think he never sucked at his mother's breast. and within a short time all the birds agreed that he was a changed man. His mother might be dead.

" he said. But that did not alter the facts. and they had quickened their steps. How do you think we can fight when our own brothers have turned against us? The white man is very clever. Okonkwo looked up from his work and wondered if it was going to rain at such an unlikely time of the year.""They are not all that young. and only one or two men in any generation ever achieved the fourth and highest. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart. I will only have a son who is a man. She continually ran into the luxuriant weeds and creepers that walled in the path."Ekwefi went into her hut and came out again with Ezinma. "Use the fan. my sons. he had allowed what he regarded as a reasonable and manly interval to pass and then gone with his machete to the shrine. and his face beamed. If ever a man deserved his success." said the young man Who had been sent by Obierika to buy the giant goat "There are so many people on it that if you threw up a grain of sand it would not find a way to fall to earth again." said Okonkwo. She prepared it the way he liked??with slices of oil-bean and fish. and they each gave him a feather. Some of them had been heavily whipped. The barn was built against one end of the red walls. The daughters of Uehuiona were also there. or the children of Eru. the tumult increased tenfold. The palm fronds were helpless in keeping them back. One of those things was gentleness and another was idleness.

" he said. A deathly silence descended on Okonkwo's compound. Her voice was as clear as metal. It was a brief resting period between the exacting and arduous planting season and the equally exacting but light-hearted month of harvests. and at his death there were only three men in the whole clan who were older. They have a big market in Abame on every other Afo day and. Some of these prisoners had thrown away their twins and some had molested the Christians.The Christians had grown in number and were now a small community of men." She stood up and pulled out the fan which was fastened into one of the rafters. the god of the sky. and in its place a sort of smile hovered. 1 know more about the world than any of you.The nine villages of Umuofia had grown out of the nine sons of the first father of the clan."The white man's court has decided that it should belong to Nnama's family. as the Ibo people say. The men brought their goatskin mats."Go into that room." said Uchendu to his peers when they consulted among themselves. when they came. in their due proportions."That was all he had said. and his children the while praying to the white man's god.Many years ago when Okonkwo was still a boy his father. too. Whenever one of these ancient men appeared in the crowd to dance unsteadily the funeral steps of the tribe. his mind would have been centered on his work. Kiaga restrained them.

They also drank water from small pots and ate kola nuts."Yes. But it is not our custom to debar anyone from the stream or the quarry."Obiageli called her "Salt" because she said that she disliked water.Okonkwo brought out his snuff-bottle and offered it to Ogbuefi Ezenwa."Where is Mgbogo?" asked one of them. All the grass had long been scorched brown." and they argued like this for a few moments before Unoka accepted the honor of breaking the kola. But when there is sorrow and bitterness he finds refuge in his motherland. And this was the message. the feasting and fellowship of the first day or the wrestling Contest of the second. That showed that in time he would be able to control his women-folk."On what market-day was it born?" he asked. Of course they had all heard the bell-man. and the quiet spectators murmured to themselves. worthless. led out the giant goat from the inner compound."Unless you shave off the mark of your heathen belief I will not admit you into the church. Every woman immediately abandoned whatever she was doing and rushed out in the direction of the cry. Onwumbiko??"Death. It was like the market." said Ekwefi.Soon after Ofoedu left. or God's house. "She should have been a boy. and so the victim could not be buried in her bowels. She immediately dropped her pestle with which she was grinding pepper.

food was presented to the guests. The egwugwu had emerged once again from their underground home. demolished his red walls. As the rains became heavier the women planted maize. If you give me some yam seeds I shall not fail you. women and children.In spite of this incident the New Yam Festival was celebrated with great joy in Okonkwo's household.""Somebody told me yesterday. Okonkwo!" she warned. for Mr.Even in his first year in exile he had begun to plan for his return. he was told. she did not hear them. He sang. She miscarried after she had gone to sleep with her lover. "My daughter's suitor is coming today and I hope we will clinch the matter of the bride-price. Our elders say that the sun will shine on those who stand before it shines on those who kneel under them. Kiaga was praying in the church when he heard the women talking excitedly. When they saw it they drove it back to its owner. Then the rain became less violent.- and in this way the cover was strengthened on the wall. who had taken two titles.Okonkwo planted what was left of his seed-yams when the rains finally returned. and so the victim could not be buried in her bowels. He wanted first to know why they had been outlawed." He looked at Okonkwo. She did not marry him then because he was too poor to pay her bride-price.

" she replied. Everybody had been invited??men. Not only the low-born and the outcast but sometimes a worthy man had joined it."He has married Okadigbo's second daughter. they say."Is Anasi not in?" he asked them. the Creator of all the world and all the men and women. breakfast was hastily eaten and women and children began to gather at Obierika's compound to help the bride's mother in her difficult but happy task of cooking for a whole village. At the end.One of the men behind him cleared his throat. Ikezue strove to dig in his right heel behind Okafo so as to pitch him backwards in the clever ege style. He walked unsteadily to the place where the corpse was laid."I do not blame you. The ancient drums of death beat.Okonkwo's wives. And that was also the year Okonkwo broke the peace. And what made it worse in Okonkwo's case was that he had to support his mother and two sisters from his meagre harvest.As the men ate and drank palm-wine they talked about the customs of their neighbors. Every man of Umuofia was asked to gather at the market place tomorrow morning.""I was only speaking in jest. So he would make a fresh start." But before they went he whispered something to his first wife. And it began to shake and rattle. a large crowd of men from Ezeudu's quarter stormed Okonkwo's compound. but it was too far to see what they were.Okonkwo sprang from his bed.At last the young man who was pouring out the wine held up half a horn of the thick.

But before he could answer. but many of them believed that the strange faith and the white man's god would not last. Was it not on an Eke day that they fled into Umuofia?" he asked his two companions. watching." he said. and at the end he had been taken out and handed over to a stranger.As the man who had cleared his throat drew up and raised his machete. He was quite different.Thus the men of Umuofia pursued their way. And so it was time for the final ceremony of confession. but no one thought the stories were true." Okonkwo asked himself. The drums went mad and the crowds also. But that did not alter the facts.The men in the obi had already begun to drink the palm-wine which Akueke's suitor had brought. old way. who was laid on a mat." Okonkwo said to the lad.Ikemefuna came to Umuofia at the end of the carefree season between harvest and planting. "Okoli told me himself that it was false. Once upon a time there was a great famine in the land of animals. as if he was going to pounce on somebody. like a solitary walker at night who passes an evil spirit an the way. "In those other clans you speak of. When he died this morning. Surely the earth goddess would not visit the sins of the missionaries on the innocent villagers?But on one occasion the missionaries had tried to over step the bounds."When this was interpreted to the men of Mbanta they broke into derisive laughter.

She was saying again and again that Agbala wanted to see his daughter." But it was a different Chielo she now saw in the yellow half-light."Then I shall go back to the clan. All else was silent. Was it waiting to snap its teeth together? After passing and re-passing by the church. He had many friends here and came to see them quite often." she said. To show affection was a sign of weakness. 'When mother-cow is chewing grass its young ones watch its mouth." she said. A new cover of thick palm branches and palm leaves was set on the walls to protect them from the next rainy season.- they merely set the scene."How can I know you. I salute you. and there had been a mad rush for shelter earlier in the day when one appeared with a sharp machete and was only prevented from doing serious harm by two men who restrained him with the help of a strong rope tied round his waist." And so they all went to help Obierika's wife??Nwoye's mother with her four children and Ojiugo with her two. and so they stood waiting. For a long time nothing happened. Although he had prospered in his motherland Okonkwo knew that he would have prospered even more in Umuofia. only to return to their places almost immediately. I clear the bush and set fire to it when it is dry. carrying a wooden dish with three kola nuts and alligator pepper. and none of them died. For two or three moons the sun had been gathering strength till it seemed to breathe a breath of fire on the earth. and said through gleaming white teeth firmly clenched: "Those sons of wild animals have dared to murder a daughter of Umuofia. dug her teeth into the real thing. "We will go with you to meet those cowards.

He did not inherit a barn from his father. She walked numbly along. But it is not so." he said. The elders of the clan replied. He was a great man."Agbala do-o-o-o! Umuachi! Agbala ekene unuo-o-ol" It was just as Ekwefi had thought. The other four black men were also their brothers." said Ekwefi. this medicine stands on the market ground in the shape of an old woman with a fan. But what of our own people who are following their way and have been given power? They would go to Umuru and bring the soldiers. for in spite of their worthlessness they still belonged to the clan. It told of one sheep out on the hills. But he was struck. and Ekwefi recoiled. And then Nkechi came in. It tried Okonkwo's patience beyond words.Dusk was already approaching when their contest began.She did not know how long she waited. He was poor and his wife and children had barely enough to eat."Remove your jigida first. Does a man speak when a god speaks? Beware!"She walked through Okonkwo's hut into the circular compound and went straight toward Ekwefi's hut. He pressed the trigger and there was a loud report accompanied by the wail of his wives and children. She was used to Chielo calling her "my daughter. how he had often wandered around looking for a kite sailing leisurely against the blue sky. When they saw it they drove it back to its owner. At such times she seemed beyond danger.

because Oduche had not died immediately from his wounds. and it came floating on the wind. The white man had gone back to Umuofia."Point at the spot with your finger." said Okonkwo.Okonkwo was beginning to feel like his old self again."Ezinma went outside and brought some sticks from a huge bundle of firewood. But as he walked through the market he realized that people were pointing at him as they do to a madman. women and children." Nwoye's mother said."Before God. then. Ezinma went with her and helped in preparing the vegetables. and others prepared vegetable soup."Okonkwo was very lucky in his daughters." She went into the hut again and brought down the smoke-black basket in which she kept her dried fish and other ingredients for cooking soup."That woman standing there is my wife. pushed back the bolt on his door and ran into Ekwefi's hut. she has told me about it. I am not afraid of work. was a failure. "How dare you.Okonkwo was very happy to receive his friend. She had. "They had been warned that danger was ahead. She was rewarded by occasional spells of health during which Ezinma bubbled with energy like fresh palm-wine.The night was very quiet.

It was like the desire for woman. The happy voices of children playing in open fields would then be heard. She only began to weep when they got near the iroko tree outside their compound. It was not the same Chielo who sat with her in the market and sometimes bought beancakes for Ezinma. saw clearly that Okonkwo had yielded to despair and he was greatly troubled. They just pulled the stump. each carrying a pot of wine.""You were very much like that yourself. He was called the Cat because his back would never touch the earth. I will only have a son who is a man. and kill him there."Yes. but many of them believed that the strange faith and the white man's god would not last. the son of Obierika. "But if the Oracle said that my son should be killed I would neither dispute it nor be the one to do it. He heard Ikemefuna cry. tangled and dirty hair.Three young men helped Obierika to slaughter the two goats with which the soup was made. but six. and looked at her palms. But Ekwefi was not thinking about that. That was the only time Ekwefi ever saw Ogbu-agali-odu. And indeed he was possessed by the fear of his father's contemptible life and shameful death. beans and cassava. Then they washed them and cut them up for the women who prepared the soup." said Mgbogo's next-door neighbor. and with him were his father and uncle.

The man who dug it up was the same Okagbue who was famous in all the clan for his knowledge in these matters. I greet you. And when he did this he saw that his father was pleased. They were very happy and began to prepare themselves for the great day. but they all refused. "What about you? Can you answer my question?"They all shook their heads. that was how it looked to his father. They painted their bodies with red cam wood and drew beautiful patterns on them with uli. Then everything had been broken. my child. because the cold and dry harmattan wind was blowing down Irom the north. There was no barn to inherit. I did not send her away. As the smoke rose into the sky kites appeared from different directions and hovered over the burning field in silent valediction. He must have a wife." she said. With the help of his mother's kinsmen he built himself an obi and three huts for his wives.The young suitor.The whole village turned out on the ilo. who was also the youngest man in the group. Every child loved the harvest season. "In Abame and Aninta the title is worth less than two cowries.There were seven drums and they were arranged according to their sizes in a long wooden basket. and was punished. Nwoye. a machete for cutting down the soft cassava stem. Why do they always go for one's ears? When he was a child his mother had told him a story about it.

Although they come from a village that is known for being closefisted. There was no barn to inherit. Okonkwo came after her. yams of the old year were all disposed of by those who still had them. had said to him during that terrible harvest month: "Do not despair. It was very much like Obiageli. but Ezeani seemed to pay no attention. But there is one more question I shall ask you." said Ojiugo. and tears stood in his eyes. metallic and thirsty clap."After the kola nut had been eaten Okonkwo brought his palm- wine from the corner of the hut where it had been placed and stood it in the center of the group."Five women stayed behind to look after the cooking-pots. Evil Forest addressed the two groups of people facing them." said her mother. to harvest cassava tubers. Why is that? Your mother was brought home to me and buried with my people. but I shall be happy if you marry in Umuofia when we return home. The bush was alive with the tread of feet on dry leaves and sticks and the moving aside of tree branches. "How man men have lain with you since my brother first expressed his desire to marry you?""None. but offered to use his teeth. Do you hear that. The old man who received him was his mother's younger brother. When i say no to them they think i am hard hearted. and perhaps other women as well. and so have Uchendu and Unachukwu and Emefo. Unoka.

" said the priestess. but now sat with Okonkwo in his obi. He breathed heavily."Thank you. There was a light wind blowing.But the year had gone mad." she said. And he knew which trees made the strongest bows. and when they had seen it and thanked him. She began to run. The only work that men did at this time was covering the walls of their compound with new palm fronds. She felt cold. "all the birds were invited to a feast in the sky. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. As for the boy. They were all fully dressed as if they were going to a big clan meeting or to pay a visit to a neighboring village. She immediately dropped her pestle with which she was grinding pepper." Okonkwo was surprised. the fear of failure and of weakness."Then listen to me. I weed ?C I??; ??Hold your peace!" screamed the priestess."Do you think you are cutting up yams for cooking?" he asked Nwoye."It was in the second year of Okonkwo's exile that his friend."But this particular night was dark and silent. love returned once more to her mother."That is very good. Ozoemena??"May it not happen again.

Perhaps down in his heart Okonkwo was not a cruel man. She called her by her name. and four or five others in his own age group." ';. It was already dusk when the two parties came to this agreement. Once or twice he tried to run away. Okonkwo did not know at first that she was not at home. I greet you. all of a sudden. He looked at each yam carefully to see whether it was good for sowing. They would go to such hosts for as long as three or four markets. Chielo's voice now came after long intervals.The priestess had now reached Okonkwo's compound and was talking with him outside his hut.' said Mother Kite."Uzowulu's body.Everyone was now about."What happened?" her mother asked. My sister lived with him for nine years. And he had all but achieved it. "Perhaps you can already guess what it is.Many others spoke. when he saw Nwoye among the Christians. Okonkwo's youngest wife also came out and joined the others. it was in large. Every man can see it in his own compound. and flies went with him. The daughters of the clan did not return to their homes immediately but spent two more days with their kinsmen.

The contest began with boys of fifteen or sixteen. A sudden fury rose within him and he felt a strong desire to take up his machete. and Okonkwo filled his horn again.As for the boy himself. Every man can see it in his own compound. And not only his chi but his clan too." said Ekwefi with a heavy sigh. "But you ought to ask why the drum has not beaten to tell Umuofia of his death. After that nothing happened for a long time between the church and the clan. burning forehead. Here was a man whose chi said nay despite his own affirmation."Is it well?" Okonkwo asked." Obierika said to his son. "Beware of exchanging words with Agbala. If a gang of efulefu decided to live in the Evil Forest it was their own affair. But she picked her way easily on the sandy footpath hedged on either side by branches and damp leaves." replied Ekwefi." she answered.His father. The interpreter explained each verse to the audience. asked her""Remember that if you do not answer truthfully you will suffer or even die at childbirth.As soon as the priestess stepped into this ring of hills her voice was not only doubled in strength but was thrown back on all sides. It was full of meat and fish. But if a man caused it. There was no festival in all the seasons of the year which gave her as much pleasure as the wrestling match. He was called the Cat because his back would never touch the earth. and men.

looking at the position of the sun.' said the young kite.In spite of this incident the New Yam Festival was celebrated with great joy in Okonkwo's household. Then he remembered that he had not taken out his snuff-spoon. That woman." Okonkwo was surprised. Can you tell me. for you people. with which they sat on the floor."Is that enough?" she asked when she had poured in about half of the water in the bowl. What would she do when they got to the cave? She would not dare to enter. At last Sky was moved to pity. and. using some of the chicken. which had been stretched taut with excitement. Everybody was lean except Cat. 'When people are invited to a great feast like this. And so heavily did it rain onVulture that he did not return to deliver his message but flew to a distant land. who was the priest of the earth goddess. The old man bore no ill will towards Okonkwo. too busy to argue. She knew her daughter was safe. "the goddess of the earth.Ezinma led the way back to the road. and proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten. waiting for the women to finish their cooking. An oil lamp was lit and Okonkwo tasted from each bowl.

Uchendu's eldest daughter had come from Obodo. lest he strike you in his anger." he said." he had said.""Is he well?" asked Nwoye. but no one thought the stories were true. and Okonkwo's women and children heard from their huts all that she said."Go home and sleep." he announced when he sat down.Soon after Ofoedu left. who was greatly perplexed. roasting and eating maize. He asked the birds to take a message for his wife."Five women stayed behind to look after the cooking-pots. Uzowulu and his relative." he always said. But they soon returned and everyone was gazing at the rag from a reasonable distance. Okonkwo looked up from his work and wondered if it was going to rain at such an unlikely time of the year. The people surged forward. And then the locusts came. but no one spoke."That woman standing there is my wife. He died and rotted away above the earth. "She has iba. Sometimes Okonkwo gave them a few yams each to prepare. His wife had played him false.Ikemefuna came to Umuofia at the end of the carefree season between harvest and planting.

Every woman immediately abandoned whatever she was doing and rushed out in the direction of the cry. as husbands' wives were wont to. especially as he looked somewhat different from the others.Ikemefuna heard a whisper close behind him and turned round sharply. But you were rich. and they no longer spent the evenings in his mother's hut while she cooked."But the leaves will be wet. They cross seven rivers to make their farms. as husbands' wives were wont to. Her daughter was only ten years old but she was wiser than her years. Drums beat violently and men leaped up and down in frenzy. one of those evil essences loosed upon the world by the potent "medicines" which the tribe had made in the distant past against its enemies but had now forgotten how to control. We are all children of God and we must receive these our brothers. Once or twice he tried to run away. looking at the position of the sun. The yams put on luxuriant green leaves.At last the rain came." he said. They did not stay very long." said Obierika."Nwoye did not fully understand.Ezinma led the way back to the road."He took down the pot from the fire and placed it in front of the stool." said Okonkwo.- one could not have known where one's mouth was in the darkness of that night.The wrestlers were now almost still in each other's grip." He turned to Odukwe.

In the end he decided that Nnadi must live in that land of Ikemefuna's favorite story where the ant holds his court in splendor and the sands dance forever."It was my husband's.""Not before you have had your breakfast. And that could not be. as a sullen husband refuses his wife's food when they have quarrelled. He was roused in the morning by someone banging on his door. It was a brief resting period between the exacting and arduous planting season and the equally exacting but light-hearted month of harvests."He led Umuofia to war in those days. There were huge bowls of foo-foo and steaming pots of soup. Ogbuefi Ugonna had thought of the Feast in terms of eating and drinking. He said he was one of them. His body rattled like a piece of dry stick in his empty shell. She was peeling new yams. when his father had not been dead very long. He was roused in the morning by someone banging on his door. And so excitement mounted in the village as the seventh week approached since the impudent missionaries buill their church in the Evil Forest."When this was interpreted to the men of Mbanta they broke into derisive laughter. How old is she now?""She is about ten years old. Brown. Okonkwo had committed the female." said the young man Who had been sent by Obierika to buy the giant goat "There are so many people on it that if you threw up a grain of sand it would not find a way to fall to earth again."Every year.The priestess' voice came at longer intervals now.And so the neighboring clans who naturally knew of these things feared Umuofia. and long stacks of yam stood out prosperously in it."1 am one of them. She would wait at the mouth.

"Agbala do-o-o-o!?? Agbala ekeneo-o-o-o! ??" Ekwefi trudged behind. Unoka. Ezinma? Agbala wants to see her. "Let us hear Odukwe. As the elders said. "Whether you are spirit or man."Have you slept enough?" asked her mother. But that did not alter the facts. Some of it also went to the bride and her attendant maidens. But that was only to be expected.Okonkwo sprang from his bed. Obierika sent word that the two huts had been built and Okonkwo began to prepare for his return. They would go to such hosts for as long as three or four markets." Okonkwo said. He led it on a thick rope which he tied round his wrist. After that they began to eat and to drink the wine." he said quietly to Ezinma."It was only this morning. She went on fanning it until it burst into flames. His name was Maduka. She ran faster. Those who found themselves nearest to them merely moved to another seat. Ekwefi's mind went back to the days when they were young. They were both Uzowulu's neighbors. They all wore smoked raffia skirts and their bodies were painted with chalk and charcoal. But everybody knew that he was going to die and Aneto got his belongings together in readiness to flee. "Life to you.