By believing in their own dogma, they thought the white men would be killed by the gods for building their church on land in the Evil Forest. When this does not occur, instead of disbelieving parts of their own religion, they incorporate this incident into their lore, ascribing a power to the white man that they do not actually possess.
This leads the church to gain followers, and also creates a foothold for the church with which to spread.
The gift of the land to the missionaries backfired on the villagers of Mbanta because it resulted in the missionaries gaining a foothold in the community, leading to the conversion of some villagers to Christianity. This caused division within the community, as those who converted were seen as betraying their traditional beliefs and culture. Additionally, the missionaries used the land to establish a church and a school, further entrenching their influence in the village.
The elders of Mbanta gave a portion of the Evil Forest to the missionaries to build their church in "Things Fall Apart". This land was deemed uninhabitable and cursed by the villagers, making it a suitable location for the missionaries.
In Chapter 24 of "Things Fall Apart," Okonkwo returns to Umuofia after his exile in Mbanta. He finds that the arrival of the Christian missionaries has significantly changed the village, with many converts and the destruction of the traditional way of life. Okonkwo struggles to rally the villagers to resist the influence of the missionaries and protect their culture but ultimately realizes that his efforts are in vain.
The death of Ekoli who had claimed to kill the Giant Python stops the ostracizing of the Christians. After this death, the villagers believed that their gods were still fighting the battles for them.
The two occasions that threaten the religious traditions in Mbanta in "Things Fall Apart" are the arrival of Christian missionaries and the increasing influence of colonial administration. These new forces introduce unfamiliar beliefs, practices, and laws that challenge the existing religious customs and structures of the community.
Mr. Kiaga was a Christian missionary who came to the village in "Things Fall Apart." He made the villagers laugh when he referred to their gods as "wooden dolls and false gods." This was seen as disrespectful and amusing to the villagers who held their gods in high regard.
The leader of the Mbanta in "Things Fall Apart" is Uchendu, who is Okonkwo's uncle and a wise and respected elder in the community. He provides guidance and wisdom to Okonkwo and his family during their time of exile in Mbanta.
In Umufia, the three things that contribute most to things falling apart are: internal conflict among the villagers, the influence of colonialism and the arrival of the British missionaries, and the violation of traditional customs and values.
The missionaries built their church in the outskirts of the village of Umuofia in Chinua Achebe's novel "Things Fall Apart." They chose this location to distance themselves from the traditions and beliefs of the Igbo people, aiming to spread Christianity among the villagers who were not as deeply rooted in the traditional way of life.
Mbanta is less war like. Umuofia is a proud tribe with many strong fighters. Mbanta is much more moderate, and especially respectful of the earth mother.Umuofia and Mbanta represent the fatherland and the motherland respectively to Okonkwo. Umuofia is a place where he places his ambitions and dreams, and Mbanta is where he runs to when things go disasterously wrong.
Okonkwo goes to live in Mbanta, his motherland.
The villagers use cowries as currency.
The author uses language barriers and miscommunications as a source of humor to highlight the challenges and misunderstandings that can occur when trying to communicate with someone who speaks a different language. For example, in the novel "Things Fall Apart," Okonkwo's struggles to understand the nuances of the English language and colonial culture provide moments of humor through his misinterpretations and confusion.