Okonkwo becomes a father to Ikemefuna, and Ikemefuna calls Okonkwo father. Ikemefuna is like the second man in the house, the closest to Okonkwo's personality, and helps to develop Nwoye's manhood. Okonkwo likes Ikemefuna, but does not show his feelings towards Ikemefuna because to do so would be unmanly.
Nwoye and Ikemefuna treat each other like brothers. Nwoye looks up to Ikemefuna, who serves as a positive influence in his life. They form a close bond during Ikemefuna's time in Okonkwo's household.
Although Ikemefuna is from a different family, Nwoye treats Ikemefuna as an older brother to look up to and mimic. Ikemefuna is the older brother that Nwoye never had.
Okonkwo treats Ikemefuna almost as if he were his eldest son. He wishes that Nwoye would become like Ikemefuna, even though Nwoye is his true eldest son.
Okonkwo treats Ikemefuna almost as if he were his eldest son. He wishes that Nwoye would become like Ikemefuna, even though Nwoye is his true eldest son.
It is ironic that Ikemefuna, who was taken in by Okonkwo's family and formed a close bond with him, ends up fearing Okonkwo the most. This shows the complex dynamics and contradictions within their relationship, as well as the unpredictable nature of human emotions.
The simile used to describe ikemefuna's growth spurt was "like a yam tendril in the rainy season."
There was a large build up and foreshadowing to it. For Ikemefuna himself, it was not entirely unexpected, but the moment at which it would happen was unknown.
Because Okonkwo treated him like a son and Ikemefuna thought of him as a father.
Ikemefuna acted as an older brother to Nwoye, and behaves like a perfect clansman. He teaches Nwoye many things including names of animals and insects, as well as smaller things like the name for a corn of cob with few grains. Ikemefuna has many stories that Nwoye delights in. He serves as a bridge between Nwoye and the traditions of the tribe.When Ikemefuna leaves him, Nwoye's connection to the old traditions are also broken.
Ikemefuna is led by the tribe on a long march outside of its lands. One tribeman cuts him with a machete. As Ikemefuna runs to Okonkwo for safety, Okonkwo chops Ikemefuna down with his machete.
Ikemefuna came from Mbaino.
In "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe, Ikemefuna, a boy from another village, was taken in by Okonkwo's family. Eventually, Ikemefuna was killed by the villagers as a sacrifice to avoid retribution for a murder that took place in their village. Okonkwo's participation in Ikemefuna's death deeply affects him and contributes to his own downfall.