What is the meaning of efulefu?
desecrated to have taken away the sacredness of; treat as not sacred; profane. efulefu worthless men in the eyes of the community. egusi melon seeds prepared for a soup. egwugwu leaders of the clan who wear masks during certain rituals and speak on behalf of the spirits; the term can be either singular or plural.
Who are the efulefu in Umuofia?
White Christian missionaries have arrived in Umuofia, have built a Christian church, and have recruited some converts. The leaders of the clan are disappointed in the villagers, but the leaders believe that the converts are only efulefu, the worthless and weak men of the village.
What happens in Chapter 14 of Things Fall Apart?
Things Fall Apart Summary: Chapter 14 Okonkwo ’s uncle, Uchendu, and the rest of his kinsmen receive him warmly. They help him build a new compound of huts and lend him yam seeds to start a farm.
Are the converts to Christianity in Umuofia only efulefu?
White Christian missionaries have arrived in Umuofia, have built a Christian church, and have recruited some converts. The leaders of the clan are disappointed in the villagers, but the leaders believe that the converts are only efulefu, the worthless and weak men of the village. None of the converts holds a title in the clan.
What were the Efulefu?
The followers of the Christians are seen as efulefu, or worthless men without titles or social standing. Missionaries like Charles Lavigerie came to Africa in the Colonial Era to try and win converters to Christianity; missionaries show up in Mbaino in chapter sixteen of the novel for this reason.
What kind of people are called Efulefu by the Ibo?
Efulefu (The Lost One). An Efulefu is an Igbo person that takes pride in his/her inability to speak or understand Asusu Igbo. An Efulefu is an Igbo political leader who can't defend the interests of his/her own people due to greed & cowardice.
Who are the outcasts in Things Fall Apart?
The outcasts of Mbanta, the osu, live in a special section of the village and are forbidden to marry a free person or cut their hair. They are to be buried in the Evil Forest when they die. When the osu see that the church welcomes twins into their congregation, they think that they may be welcome also.
Is Agbala a person?
Agbala, the Oracle the prophet of the Igbo. Achebe bases the Agbala Oracle (the Oracle of the Hills and the Caves) on the Awka Oracle that was destroyed by the British. Chielo was the priestess who spoke to Unoka on behalf of the god Agbala.
Who were the Efulefu Why were they among the first to convert to the new religion?
They were mostly the kind of people that were called 'efulefu', worthless, empty men.” This quote shows that the first Ibo people to convert to Christianity were those who did not have a place in traditional Ibo society. These were people who were seen by their own clan as being worthless.
What role did outcasts play in bringing Christianity to igboland?
What role did outcasts play in bringing Christianity to Iboland? Why is this important? Outcasts in the tribe are stunned and ostracized. The Christian missionaries offer them acceptance and a sense of place.
Why do Igbo outcasts join the church?
Why do Igbo outcasts join the Church? The village elders force them to join. The Church provides a refuge from the strict Igbo social system that rejects them.
Who killed the snake in Things Fall Apart?
No one has ever killed a python on purpose, but one day, a python is allegedly killed by a member of the Christian church named Okoli. This python, of the subspecies sebae, lives in Southern Nigeria and is worshiped as a representation of a god by the villagers of Mbanta.
What is Okonkwo's popular nickname?
Okonkwo was popularly called the “Roaring Flame.” As he looked into the log fire he recalled the name. He was a flaming fire.
Is Agbala male or female?
In Igbo culture, women are considered weaker than the men and thus it's an insult to men to be called an agbala.
Is Agbala a god?
Agbala means "old woman," ... or "powerful/scary old woman," and there are shrines to aspects of this deity all over northern Igbo.
Who is Agbala in the novel Things Fall Apart?
Agbala (Ahg-bah-lah) The Oracle of the Hills and the Caves, who influences all aspects of Umuofian life. She is based on the real Oracle at Awka, who controlled Igbo life for centuries. Mr. Brown The first white Christian missionary in Umuofia and Mbanta.
What did Okonkwo decide?
Okonkwo decided that the man spoke nonsense and walked away. But Nwoye was impressed with the compassion of the new religion. It seemed to answer his questions about customs that included the killing of twins and Ikemefuna.
Why did Obierika visit Umuofia?
None of the converts holds a title in the clan. Obierika's real reason for the visit is to inform Okonkwo that he saw Nwoye with some missionaries in Umuofia.
What happened to Okonkwo in the second year?
During the second year of Okonkwo’s exile, Obierika brings several bags of cowries to Okonkwo. He also brings bad news: a village named Abame has been destroyed. It seems that a white man arrived in Abame on an “iron horse” (which we find out later is a bicycle) during the planting season. The village elders consulted their oracle, which prophesied that the white man would be followed by others, who would bring destruction to Abame. The villagers killed the white man and tied his bicycle to their sacred tree to prevent it from getting away and telling the white man’s friends. A while later, a group of white men discovered the bicycle and guessed their comrade’s fate. Weeks later, a group of men surrounded Abame’s market and destroyed almost everybody in the village. Uchendu asks Obierika what the first white man said to the villagers. Obierika replies that he said nothing, or rather, he said things that the villagers did not understand. Uchendu declares that Abame was foolish to kill a man who said nothing. Okonkwo agrees that the villagers were fools, but he believes that they should have heeded the oracle’s warning and armed themselves.
Why does Unoka's exile upset Okonkwo?
His exile also upsets him because it forces him to spend time in a “womanly” place. He remains unwilling to admit to, or come to terms with, the feminine side of his personality. Unoka’s words regarding the bitterness of failing alone are important considering Okonkwo’s present situation.
Why did Okonkwo work hard?
He has toiled all his life because he wanted “to become one of the lords of the clan,” but now that possibility is gone. Uchendu perceives Okonkwo’s disappointment but waits to speak with him until after his son’s wedding.
What does Uchendu value in his wife?
Youth, beauty, and sexual attractiveness are not the only things one should value in a wife, he argues. Uchendu also values wisdom, intelligence, and experience in a wife. Each and every death has caused him pain. Although we would not know it from Okonkwo, a father grieves for lost children just as a mother does.
What chapter does Okonkwo start farming?
Summary: Chapter 14. Okonkwo ’s uncle, Uchendu, and the rest of his kinsmen receive him warmly. They help him build a new compound of huts and lend him yam seeds to start a farm. Soon, the rain that signals the beginning of the farming season arrives, in the unusual form of huge drops of hail. Okonkwo works hard on his new farm ...
Why does Okonkwo's exile upset him?
His initial lack of gratitude toward his mother’s kinsmen is a transgression of Igbo cultural values. His exile also upsets him because it forces him to spend time in a “womanly” place. He remains unwilling to admit to, or come to terms with, the feminine side of his personality.
What is Okonkwo's belief in the killing of the first white man?
Considering the emphasis that the Igbo place on careful thought before violent action, Okonkwo’s belief that the people of Abame should have armed themselves and killed the white men reflects a rash, violent nature that seems to clash with fundamental Igbo values. Throughout Things Fall Apart, Igbo customs and social institutions emphasize the wisdom of seeking a peaceful solution to conflict before a violent solution. Uchendu voices this social value when he states that the killing of the first white man was foolish, for the villagers of Abame did not even know what the man’s intentions were.
