tradition and rituals Flashcards
What was The feast of the New Yam festival
It was an occasion for giving thanks to Ani, the earth goddess and the source of all fertility. Ani played a greater part in the life of the people than any other day. She was the ultimate judge of morality and conduct. And what was more, she was in close communion with the departed fathers of the clan whose bodies had been committed to earth.
What was the feast of the new yam feast
The Feast of the New Yam was held every year before the harvest began, to honour the earth goddess and the ancestral spirits of the clan. New yams could not be eaten until some had first been offered to these powers. Men and women, young and old, looked forward to the New Yam Festival because it began the season of plenty–the new year.
what do the igbo people to to honour their gods and ancestors
They performed a ritual for guests by passing a kola nut to each other until the host breaks it.
what is the traditional method of food consumption for Okonkwo and is wives
the food prepared by Okonkwo’s wives is eaten by him in order of their seniority; at Nwakibie’s obi, ‘the others could not drink’ before the arrival of his first wife
why when a case of mistreatment and beating of a woman goes before the elders, they wonder ‘why such a trifle should come before the egwugwu’ (not important)
polygamy and patriarchy are accepted in this culture. The subservience of women is the norm.
How were people who died from swelling treated
The villagers see dying from swelling as a bad sign, and we know this is true because villagers would drag people who are dying from swelling into the forest where they have to die alone, and after they die, they are left there to rot, they are not given a proper burial. Dying from swelling was seen as an abomination to the earth goddess. Okonkwo’s father dying of swelling (or an assumption is that this is cirrhosis of the liver) was considered an abomination because in theory the reason why he died was due to alcoholism.
what happens when Daughters are being sold to suitable suitors
The price is negotiated through discussion and the ritual of passing sticks, representing numbers, between the bride’s family and the groom’s relatives.
Obierika is important because he illustrates Igbo customs and traditions, such as…
He slaughters two goats and gives one to his daughter’s future in-laws.
discusses the use of magic and medicine with the other men
He had to abandon his twins in the forest owing to tribal tradition.
In Igbo society, reputation is gained through being traditional and by showing respect and obedience to the gods. Umuofia’s ‘Priests and medicine men were feared’ by other tribes, what are some traditional parts of the tribe
The rites of passage are based on tradition, respect and veneration of the gods. After killing Ezeudu’s son, Okonkwo’s compound is burnt down and his animals are killed to please the gods.
The death of important clansmen, such as Ezeudu, was announced with the sound of a drum and the firing of cannon
Ibierika tries to warn Okonkwo against being the one who kills Ikemefuna and suggests that the gods will be angry with him, but Okonkwo does not listen to his friend’s advice
The traditional and cultural background is inherent in everyday life. what is a tradition between the children and the mother
Such as the way in which the ‘Senior wife’ or ‘Nwoye’s mother’, is never named. A mother is always known by her eldest child’s name
Nigerian society respect their elders and fathers, which is lacking in Okonkwo’s case. what are some ways in which he loses this respect.
Okonkwo feared his father’s death since it was shameful.
Okonkwo views his father so poorly, because his father wasn’t masculine and could not support his own family.
‘Perhaps down in his heart Okonkwo was not a cruel man. But his whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and of weakness.’
‘Okonkwo’s fear was greater than these. It was not external but lay deep within himself. It was the fear of himself, lest he should be found to resemble his father.’
This is because he was ruthless regardless of the consequences. This includes him beating his wife on the new yam festival even though he knew that this was a celebration because “Okonkwo was not one to stop beating someone halfway through”
Okonkwo also shot a British messenger towards the end of the book to make a point that he was not going to submit to colonialism.
what does achebe say about the other villagers stubbornness to change their traditions
Achebe implies that clinging to old traditions and an unwillingness to change may contribute to their downfall. Achebe does not pass judgement on the point of view of indigenous tribes, but he illustrates the kinds of circumstances that could make things fall apart
why did okonkwo beat his second wife during the week of peace
Okonkwo’s second wife had cut some leaves off a banana tree, and Okonkwo thought the banana tree was dead, so Okonkwo decided to give her a second beating.
customs and traditions in relation to the role of women are evident throughout the novel. what are some examples seen throughout the book
For example in; ceremonies, marriage negotiations and Umuofian ritual, such as a bride’s costume and jewellery, the use of sticks to determine a price the groom should pay, and the drinking of palm wine.
A woman’s position would be determined by how many children she bears and how many of them are male
high status is demonstrated by the number of wives an igbo man has and how many children he fathers
