Things Fall Apart

Mbanta converts are convinced of the church's power through witnessing tangible benefits such as improved social status, access to education and healthcare, and a sense of belonging and community support that they receive from being part of the church. Additionally, they may attribute certain miraculous events or outcomes to the power of the church and its teachings.

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.

Obierika found his kinsman, Amadi, among the missionaries in Chinua Achebe's "Things Fall Apart." Amadi was a convert to Christianity who had become a teacher for the missionaries and was instrumental in spreading their message in the village.

In "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe, the phrase "the nuts of the water of heaven" refers to the kola nut, a symbol of hospitality and friendship in Igbo culture. It is offered as a gesture of goodwill and respect when welcoming guests or during important ceremonies. The kola nut plays a significant role in social interactions and rituals in the novel.

The medicine man is referring to a type of spirit child that repeatedly dies and returns to the mother to cause distress. This belief is common in Igbo culture and can lead to rituals performed to prevent the child from returning to the spirit world.

The villagers in Mbanta direct the missionaries to build their church in the evil forest because they believe it is a place where evil spirits reside and they want to drive the missionaries away by making them feel unwelcome. It is a symbolic way for the villagers to resist the missionaries' influence and protect their traditional beliefs.

During the week of Easter in "Things Fall Apart", the Christians are killed in a clash with the community because of their introduction of a new religion that threatens the traditional beliefs and practices of the Igbo people. The Christians face violence and persecution as a result of their presence and attempt to spread their faith in the village.

The missionary goes to another village in Iguedo.

Okonkwo is terrified that his sons converting to Christianity will abandon the traditions and values of their ancestors, leading to a loss of cultural identity. He fears that they will become weak and submissive, and ultimately betray their heritage. Additionally, Okonkwo sees conversion as a threat to his authority and a reflection of his failure to raise strong, traditional sons.

Assuming that asker means Enoch from the story Things Fall Apart and not the Bible, Enoch fell ill with fever and eventually died, leading the tribe to believe that the Gods had killed him as retribution for killing the royal python.

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.

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.

The presence of British religion and government in Umuofia disrupts the traditional customs and social structure of the village. It leads to cultural clash, loss of identity, and the erosion of the community's values and way of life. This ultimately results in conflict, division, and a loss of power for the village leaders.

In "Things Fall Apart," ancestors played a significant role in religion as they were believed to serve as intermediaries between the living and the gods. Ancestors were highly revered, with rituals and sacrifices performed to honor them and seek their guidance and blessings. Their spirits were considered powerful forces that could influence the welfare of the community.

Outcasts in Ibo land played a significant role in the spread of Christianity. These individuals, who were marginalized by traditional society, were often more receptive to the Christian message of acceptance and equality. By converting to Christianity, outcasts found a sense of belonging and became key players in introducing the faith to their communities.

The District Commissioner in "Things Fall Apart" is a representative of the British colonial government who acts as a local administrator in the Igbo village where the story is set. He symbolizes the oppressive and dehumanizing impact of British colonial rule on the indigenous peoples of Nigeria.

The church first takes Enoch in, converting him to a Christian. Enoch becomes a bold and angry Christian, objecting to the old faith.

After Enoch kills an egwugwu, the people of the church hide Enoch in the parsonage.

The missionaries appear to be single-minded in their attempt to put their God into the hearts and minds of the Igbo people. Although different pastors have different methods to do this, they are pretty consistently focused on converting people to Christianity. Their own interests do not entirely coincide with the health of the Igbo tribes as a whole.

In this context, Kaiga is expressing the idea that devotion to a new belief or faith should take precedence over family ties and social expectations. By forsaking his father and mother, Nwoye is showing a commitment to the new beliefs or values that he has embraced, which Kaiga sees as a positive and courageous act in pursuit of spiritual growth and fulfillment.

Nwoye is drawn to the Christian songs which reminds him of the same soul as his mother's stories.

Further, he has been repulsed by his father's culture which ordered Ikemefuna's death and allowed Okonkwo to kill Ikemefuna.

The villagers in "Things Fall Apart" began to act against the Christians because they saw the new religion as a threat to their traditional way of life and beliefs. They felt that the Christians were undermining their cultural practices and values, leading to division and conflict within the community.

The sacred animal allegedly killed by one of the newly converted Christians in "Things Fall Apart" is the python. It was seen as a grave offense to kill the python in Igbo culture, as it was believed to be a messenger of the gods. This act symbolized the clash of cultures and the erosion of traditional beliefs in the novel.

The most zealous Christians are the ones labeled osu or outcasts by the rest of the tribe. These ones have the most to prove because all their life they have been taunted and seen as less than average men by the rest of the tribe. When they get a chance to be on the other end, to be seen as superior by mocking the rest of the tribe, they take it, due to their insecurity with their own self worth.

Mbaino gives to Umuofia through Okonkwo:

A young virgin and a young boy (Ikemefuna) to bring back to Umuofia.

The young virgin is given to the man whose wife was killed in the marketplace of Mbaino. Ikemefuna is sent to live with Okonkwo until Umuofia decides what to do with him.

It is unlikely Ikemefuna's mother ever learns of her son's death. It is not described in the book.