Unmasking of an Egwugwu

Unmasking of an Egwugwu 

Will There be more Aftermath?

Author: John Nguyen, Features Article 

              Two days ago, it was reported that an Umofian native who converted to christianity by the name Enoch was seen unmasking one of the egwugwu. This is seen as the greatest crime a man could commit in Umofia. This all began when in the annual ceremony which was held to honor the earth diety. During this ceremony the egwugwu, masked spirits were present. While the ceremony was ongoing, christian women were trying to arrive home from church. However, since the masks spirit were around the women, they could not return home. Men were asking the egwugwu to leave for a short amount of time so that they could return home. The egwugwu agreed. However, Enoch, the son of the snake-priest was seen provoking the egwugwu saying,"[You wouldn't] dare touch a Christian" (Achebe 186). After hearing this the egwugwu reacted by hitting Enoch with their cane. Enoch fell, tearing off the egwugwus mask while he fell. Other egwugwu were seen surrounding the unmasked member, while umofian natives were thrown in complete shock and confusion. That night, the Mother of the Spirits were walking about weeping for he son who was supposedly "killed. The leaders of the Christians were said to have met together and have decided to hide Enoch. Yesterday, egwugwu were seen,"[They were seen moving] like a furious whirlwind to Enoch's compound and with machete and fire reduced it to a desolated heap"(Achebe 188). Then they were seen going to the church which is now burned down. 

            Who knows what will happen next.

Sources

Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. New York: Anchor, 1994. Print. 

"Figure 2—source Data 1. Compartment Models in SBML Format." Print.

https://theuglytruth.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/destroyed-church-bw.jpg

Death, Murder, and Harm of Family and Family

Death, Murder, and Harm of Family and Friends

Don't Count On Others to Help

Author: Iriana, Photography and Layout Editor

       Okonkwo, without hesitation, murdered an inocent person, and then was banished for seven years for accidentally shooting a man. No one likes to lose a family member. Umuofia share the same ideals, but they have some different idea about how much family matters and what is worthy of punishment.

      Family is a big thing in Umuofia since without wives and children, the tribes would not continue. Although families are have big meaning, when it comes down to it, would you murder someone who you think of as family. Okonkwo "Dazed with fear,[Okonkwo] drew his machete and cut Ikemefuna down. [Okonkwo] was afraid of being thought weak" (Achebe 61). Okonkwo was so afraid of being like his father, weak and lazy, that he killed someone that looked up to him like a father. He knew what was going to happen to Ikemufuna when Ezeudu came to his house saying, "That boy calls you father. Do not bear a hand in [Ikemefuna's] death" ( Achebe 57). I guess family doesn't matter when your reputation is on the line, but then again Ikemefuna was not his actual son so there was no reason for him to feel bad about it. Some time later, at a great celebration of a life, Okonkwo commits a vial act and shoots a young boy. Although it was a terrible thing, it was accidental, but as punishment he was banished for seven years. As said in the book, "The only course open to Okonkwo was to flee from the clan" (Achebe 124). 

Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. New York: Anchor, 1994. Print.

The White Men's Arrival

The White Men's Arrival

War is Coming

Author: Marcus Abendanio, News Editor

In the Elk market, a group of people came to the town. Most of them were relatives of the lands. But there were others who came because of friends of the in the town and other's who could not think of anywhere else to escape. They fled into Umuofia. (Achebe 138) During the last planting season a white man appeared. The white man was riding on a iron horse. The first people from the town saw the white man and ran away. Ones who went near the white man came to him and touched him. The elders of the town came to their Oracle and told the Oracle of the white man. The Oracle says that, "the strange man would break their clan and spread destruction among them," (Achebe 138). The people killed the white man and tied the iron horse on their sacred tree. The Oracle said, "It said that other white men were on their way," (Achebe 138). The white man said nothing when he was going to die. The white man said something to them, but they couldn't understand them. For a time nothing happened, they did not see anyone else. But on one morning three white men and there followers came. Few people saw these white men and their followers. For weeks nothing happened. But then at the market Abame, three white men and there followers surrounded the market. The people thought they used a powerful medicine that made them invisible. They started shooting at the market and everybody was killed, excepted the old and sick people. (Achebe 138)

"Things Fall Apart: The White Missionaries." N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2016.

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Okonkwo's Death

Okonkwo's Death

Author: Leonardo Alonso, Editor-In-Chief

The white missionaries have rapidly been taking over the land of Umuofia both before and after Okonkwo's return. Because of this and his clan unwilling to take back what was once theirs, Okonkwo hangs himself which leaves one question left unanswered; was it the right choice? Many would aruge that it was not the right choice because he was one of the leaders of Umuofia as well as a warrior. The truth, however, is that it really was the correct choice especially when thinking in the long-term.

One major point is that Okonkwo's death was inevitable because of the actions and choices both he and his clan made.

Okonkwo was banished from Umuofia for killing someone in the clan in which he never actually did. His gun exploded and one of the people from the clan died. Okonkwo was the only person to blame because it was his weapon. After seven years, it is finally time for him to return. After his return, he notices that there has been a lot of change in Umuofia. The people of the clan weren't like they used to be and there were white missionaries slowly taking the over land. When having a conversation with Obierika about how Abame was conquered, and what would happen if they fight back, Okonkwo is told, "'[Umuofia] would be like Abame'" (Achebe 175). Okonkwo clearly understands here that fighting isn't an option since he and his clan would be murdered and shown no clemency. He also knows if they don't do anything about the white men, Umuofia would slowly be conquered by the missionaries. With this in mind, Okonkwo committing suicide was the better choice since there was nothing he could actually do to prevent any of these terrible outcomes he wishes not to live in.

Umuofia was the strongest clan out of the nine different tribes which was a big thing for Okonkwo. When the missionaries arrive however, this clan plummets downward because of how weak and diffident all of the men have become. Okonkwo is mainly known for his strength, but he soon realizes something after the fact that all the men have become like women. He realizes that, "Umuofia would not go to war" (Achebe 205). Okonkwo knows that Umuofia is not the warlike place as it used to be and everyone was slowly taking small steps to their inevitable doom. Okonkwo eventually makes the choice to commit suicide which, in the long-term, is a lot better than waiting to be conquered by the white men only to discover what would actually be done with him.

When the time is near and Okonkwo realizes that his clan won't do anything about these white missionaries, his temper goes out of control causing him to make very poor choices and actions. One of these actions was when a couple messengers sent by the missionaries arrive to tell them that their leader wishes for them to terminate a meeting they are currently having. In this moment, "Okonkwo [draws] his machete... and the man's head lay beside his uniform body" (Achebe 204). Okonkwo is aware that the missionaries would be after him since the other messengers were allowed to escape. He would be taken and killed by these white men just as he did to Ikemefuna. This shows that Okonkwo committing suicide was the better choice because he knew the missionaries would want to kill him after finding out from the other messengers what he has done. Instead of allowing himself to be killed in a possibly painful way, he decides to take this matter into his own hands where he could just easily end it.

It is definitely hard to think that someone so important really should have committed suicide. One thing to remember though is that it was a much better choice for Okonkwo in order to prevent any kind of pain he would suffer from these missionaries.

Sources

Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. New York: Anchor, 1994. Print.

    

Bayless, Jared. "Noose-660." Bayless Band. N.p., 2013. Web. 16 Nov. 2016.
http://baylessband.com/2014/08/the-noose-is-tightening/noose-660/

White Men Take the People of Umuofia as Prisoners

White Men Take the Leaders of Umuofia as Prisoners

What Will They Do With Them?

Author: Leonardo Alonso, Editor-In-Chief

It was reported yesterday that a group of white men took the six leaders of Umuofia prisoners during a meeting in the courthouse because they wanted money after they had burnt down their church.

The District Commissioner sent out his messenger to tell the six leaders of Umuofia that a meeting was going to be held in the courthouse and they would be pleased if they came. This plan, However, was just a big scheme to trap these leaders in order to get money for the church that they burnt down. They succeeded and this is what went down.

The Direct Commissioner was talking to these leaders telling them he wasn't going to hurt them. He did however tell them that "[He] [has] decided that [they] will pay a fine of two hundred bags of cowries. [They] will be released as soon as [they] agree to this and undertake to collect that fine from [their] people" (Achebe 194).

After refusing to this offer, the Direct Commissioner made them his prisoners. In doing so, he made sure that "The six men ate nothing throughout [the] day [or the next day]. They were not even given any water to drink, and they could not go out to urinate or go into the bush when they were pressed" (Achebe 195). 

At this time it is unclear when these men will agree to this offer and get the necessary money to pay the fine.

Who knows how long these men will be able to survive in this torment.

Sources

Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. New York: Anchor, 1994. Print.

Savage, Scott. "Isolation Prison Cell - Scott Savage." Scott Savage RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2016.

       http://www.scottsavagelive.com/isolation/solitary-confinement/