The story of the Igbo (also known as Ibo) ethnic group of southeastern Nigeria in the novel Things Fall Apart gives a rather interesting insight into how a society in want of a ‘unifying self-image and centralized and acceptable leadership’ carrying out a movement to safeguard traditional and cultural values. The book written by Chinua Achebe set in pre-colonial Nigeria in the 1890s depicts the struggle by the natives against the European colonialists.
Okonkwo, the protagonist of the novel is an Igbo leader who is a well known young man for his wrestling skill ‘throughout the nine villages including his own Umuofia and even beyond.’ He is respected by his people because ‘he had brought honour to his village by defeating Amalinze the Cat, the champion of seven years, from Umuofia to Mbaino. Okonkwo is also well known for his rigidity against the European intruders. He campaigns so hard against the colonial power. But he also notices that in spite of his people with all their broad and solid foundation in native practices and beliefs, display receptive and adaptable nature.
Misfortune happens to Igbo hero Okonkwo. During a customary gun salute at a funeral his gun explodes and kills a boy. He and his whole family are sent into exile for seven years.
When he returns to his village he is shocked to see the white people ruling the roost in Umuofia and surrounding villages. He organizes a meeting for the uprising against the white people. The foreigners try to disrupt the meeting. In doing so Okonkwo’s machete descends twice and one of the white men’s messenger’s head is found lying ‘beside his uniformed body’. Okonkwo wipes his machete and leaves the meeting venue and later commits suicide by hanging.
Okonkwo is forced to take this extreme step for he “realizes with despair that the people of Umuofia are not going to fight to protect themselves — his society’s response to such a conflict, which for so long had been predictable and dictated by tradition, is changing.”
The tragedy of Okonkwo’s community is that ‘the lack of strong initial resistance comes from the fact that the Igbo society does not foster strong central leadership acceptable to the people and the unifying self-image.’
Now, what about our case (Naga society)? Hopefully, our Okonkwos do not meet the fate of the Igbo’s Okonkwo. Or, do we have one atleast?
