and thank Okonkwo for having looked after him so well and for bringing him back.

the troublesome nanny goat
the troublesome nanny goat." And so they all went to help Obierika's wife??Nwoye's mother with her four children and Ojiugo with her two. He had lost the chance to lead his warlike clan against the new religion. Then she suddenly turned round and began to walk back to the road. But they soon returned and everyone was gazing at the rag from a reasonable distance.It was a great funeral. so that he was full of food and drink and his body filled out in his shell." Ezinma began. As soon as he found one he would sing with his whole being. He walked back to his obi to await Ojiugo's return. carrying on their heads various sizes of pots suitable to their years. They said that some young men had chased them away from the stream with whips. "and don't allow it to boil over. As our fathers said. and went round the circle shaking hands with all." continued Odukwe. like a mother and her daughter."Once upon a time. "You have offended neither the gods nor your fathers."Perhaps I have been away too long. "If a man comes into my hut and defecates on the floor. my friend. If they became more troublesome than they already were they would simply be driven out of the clan.

" They were hard and painful on the body as they fell. He sang the song again. After that nothing happened for a long time between the church and the clan." said his daughter Ezinma when she brought the food to him. watching. Okonkwo's house was on the way to the stream. There were only three such boys in each team. But when there is sorrow and bitterness he finds refuge in his motherland. When they finished. And for many days this rare food was eaten with solid palm-oil. but he did not answer. Almost immediately the women came in with a big bowl of foo-foo. and tears stood in his eyes. Chielo. After her father's rebuke she developed an even keener appetite for eggs." replied Ekwefi. Some of them had been heavily whipped."Bring me my bag. "When I think that it is only eighteen months since the Seed was first sown among you. Some of them came over to see for themselves. Throughout that day Nwoye sat in his mother's hut and tears stood in his eyes.But there was a young lad who had been captivated. "But you can explain to her.

'"None of the birds had heard of this custom but they knew that Tortoise. or the teeth of an old woman."Ekwefi went into her hut and came out again with Ezinma." replied Ekwefi. and as it dwelt on it. The moon must be preparing to rise. He had therefore put his drinking-horn into his goatskin bag for the occasion. the third highest in the land. you would still have committed a great evil to beat her."But you said it was where they bury children?" asked the medicine man. He tried in vain to force the thought out of his mind. We must cook quickly or we shall be late for the wrestling. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion." said Ekwefi.Okonkwo had eaten from his wives' dishes and was nowreclining with his back against the wall. But the Hills and the Caves were as silent as death.Ezinma and her mother sat on a mat on the floor after their supper of yam foo-foo and bitter-leaf soup. Maduka. Drums beat violently and men leaped up and down in frenzy. and he was grateful. that I am not afraid of blood and if anyone tells you that I am. and during this time Okonkwo's fame had grown like a bush-fire in the harmattan.The priestess screamed.

a long and thin strip of cloth wound round the waist like a belt and then passed between the legs to be fastened to the belt behind. Some women ran away in fear when it was thrown.Ezinma took the dish in one hand and the empty water bowl in the other and went back to her mother's hut. he beat her until she miscarried."Have you?" asked Obierika. If he had killed Ikemefuna during the busy planting season or harvesting it would not have been so bad. It was for this man that Okonkwo worked to earn his first seed yams. palm-oil and pepper for the soup. 1 know more about the world than any of you.In the distance the drums continued to beat." said the leader of the ecjwucjwu. looked left and right and turned right."That wine is the work of a good tapper. was quite harmless. They said she was coming. That was his fifth head and he was not an old man yet. and he was soon chosen as the man to speak for the party because he was a great orator. the feasting and fellowship of the first day or the wrestling Contest of the second." replied Uzowulu." Ezinma said. Sometimes when he went to big village meetings or communal ancestral feasts he allowed Ikemefuna to accompany him. She must have heard a noise behind her and turned round sharply. "Where did you bury your iyi-uwa?""Where they bury children.

to sit with him in his obi. Unoka was able to give an answer between fresh outbursts of mirth."On what market-day was it born?" he asked.She wore a coiffure which was done up into a crest in the middle of the head. and hung their goatskin bags and sheathed machetes over their left shoulders. But tonight she was addressing her prophecy and greetings to Okonkwo. The locusts settled in the bushes for the night and their wings became wet with dew. At first it appeared as if it might prove too great for his spirit. His wives wept bitterly and their children wept with them without knowing why. where titled men climb trees and pound foo-foo for their wives. he thought over the matter. She was rewarded by occasional spells of health during which Ezinma bubbled with energy like fresh palm-wine. His own hut."Remove your jigida first. Abame??I know them all. His mother had wept bitterly."The crowd answered-."This is Obierika. not even for fear of a goddess. whom she called "my daughter.The sun rose slowly to the center of the sky. her left palm closed on her fish and her eyes gleaming with tears. and turned to his sons and daughters.

Amalinze was the great wrestler who for seven years was unbeaten. He had called the first child born to him in exile Nneka??"Mother is Supreme"??out of politeness to his mother's kinsmen. suddenly changed his mind and agreed to take the message. sad and pleading. unlike most children.' he thought as he looked at his ten-year-old daughter. Why was that?"Okonkwo shook his head. Ezinma was crying loudly now. The personal dynamism required to counter the forces of these extremes of weather would be far too great for the human frame. scooped out two mouthfuls and fled from the hut to chew the cud in the goats' shed. with which he made two wings. Okonkwo was clearly cut out for great things.When the heat of the sun began to soften. She wore the anklet of her husband's titles. He held a short staff in his hand which he brought down on the floor to emphasize his points. They were very happy and began to prepare themselves for the great day. their hoes and machetes. "1 shall think of another one with a song. The moon was definitely rising."That is not the end of the story. Then he poured out for the others. Obierika pointed at the two heavy bags. When a man blasphemes.

"I don't know why such a trifle should come before the said one elder to another. But his whole life was dominated by fear. Mgbafo. A young man from one team danced across the center to the other side and pointed at whomever he wanted to fight. and for protection against their enemies.Okonkwo's head was bowed in sadness as Obierika told him these things. So he would make a fresh start. She wore the anklet of her husband's titles.""I don't know how we got that law. My mother's people have been good to me and 1 must show my gratitude. No one had actually seen the man do it. her moments of depression when she would snap at everybody like an angry dog. But there is one more question I shall ask you. She cut the yams into small pieces and began to prepare a pottage.That was many years ago. and he said so with much threatening. There was something in it like the companionship of equals. As the evening drew near. "If you split another yam of this size."We still have a long way to go. The sun breaking through their leaves and branches threw a pattern of light and shade on the sandy footway. And so he is bowed with grief. The other four black men were also their brothers.

""What did the white man say before they killed him?" asked Uchendu. We are all children of God and we must receive these our brothers. Kiaga stopped them and began to explain. As far as the villagers were concerned. On her arms were red and yellow bangles. the sun is shining. She slowed down her pace so as to increase the distance between them."Go into that room. The folk stories stopped. if it lost its tail it soon grew another. It was always quiet except on moonlight nights. He had had the same kind of feeling not long ago. taking each string separately. Unfortunately for her Okonkwo heard it and ran madly into his room for the loaded gun. At the end of it Okonkwo was fully convinced that the man was mad. "The evil you have done can ruin the whole clan. and Ekwefi recoiled. Evil Forest rose to his feet and order was immediately restored. A child cannot pay for its mother's milk. They throw away large numbers of men and women without burial. rubbing her eyes and stretching her spare frame. drew some lines on the floor. He laughed loud and long and his voice rang out clear as the ogene.

" said Ezinma. It said that other white men were on their way. Some women ran away in fear when it was thrown. But somehow he knew he was not going to see them." Okonkwo said to himself again. who suddenly gave up his trade. or what?"The interpreter spoke to the white man and he immediately gave his answer. He hit the bottle against his knee to shake up the tobacco. He was taking his family of three wives and their children to seek refuge in his motherland. Her suitor and his relatives surveyed her young body with expert eyes as if to assure themselves that she was beautiful and ripe. But Ekwefi was not thinking about that. something felt in the marrow. shook hands with Okonkwo and went into the compound. because there was no humanity there." Okonkwo agreed. 'but tell me. The man who had whispered now called out aloud. killed his animals and destroyed his barn. Mighty tree branches broke away under them.' said Tortoise. by Okonkwo's brusqueness in dealing with less successful men. and it came floating on the wind. In the end the fearless ones went near and even touched him.

She had borne ten children and nine of them had died in infancy."Everybody in the assembly spoke. An animal rubs its itching flank against a tree. away from the gates of God and from the tender shepherd's care. The total effect was gay and brisk. Ezinma. which were passed round for all to see and then returned to him.""They have indeed soiled the name of ozo." he said as he broke it. the whole clan gathers there. It was a different woman??the priestess of Agbala. She wore the anklet of her husband's titles. who will hold his head up among my people. a good harvest and happiness. and Maduka brought in a pot of palm-wine. led out the giant goat from the inner compound. As soon as Uchendu saw him with his sad and weary company he guessed what had happened. The men were seized and beaten until they streamed with blood. The earth burned like hot coals and roasted all the yams that had been sown. go in peace. some of them with their water-pots to the stream. Okonkwo had not bought snuff from him for a long time." They were hard and painful on the body as they fell.

He also took with him a pot of palm-wine. The man who dug it up was the same Okagbue who was famous in all the clan for his knowledge in these matters. Abame??I know them all. We put our fingers into our ears to stop us hearing. called round his neighbors and made merry." said Obierika. They were mostly the kind of people that were called efulefu. now said"You told us with your own mouth that there was only one god. Obiageli took the first dish and returned to her mother's hut." said Obierika to his son. Okonkwo knew how to kill a man's spirit.""They have indeed soiled the name of ozo." said one of the cousins. and a great land case began."Odukwe was short and thickset. And what was more. When one came to think of it. And. Her mother always took her into their bedroom and shut the door. and nodded their heads in approval of all he said. 'Then we can eat the chick. "And you know how leaves become smaller after cooking. Ezeudu was the oldest man in this quarter of Umuofia.

Nma." A cold shiver ran down Okonkwo's back as he remembered the last time the old man had visited him." Obierika replied sharply. An oil lamp was lit and Okonkwo tasted from each bowl. roasting and eating maize. How could such a man be a follower of Christ?"He needs Christ more than you and I. When Ekwefi had followed the priestess. Okonkwo's son. that they have strayed from their way to a land where everybody is like them?"Okonkwo's first wife soon finished her cooking and set before their guests a big meal of pounded yams and bitter-leaf soup.Ezinma grew up in her father's exile and became one of the most beautiful girls in Mbanta. "As our people say. Most communal ceremonies took place at that time of the day. We pray for life.- he was full of cunning. just a little bigger than the round opening into a henhouse. And the other boy was flat on his back. A snake was never called by its name at night. and then he continued: "Each group there represents a debt to someone. We pray for life. go to the church and wipe out the entire vile and miscreant gang." They were hard and painful on the body as they fell.One day a neighbor called Okoye came in to see him. "and yet he is full of sorrow because he has come to live in his motherland for a few years.

It is a bad custom because it always leads to a quarrel. Many people laughed at his dialect and the way he used words strangely. Di-go-go-di-go-di-di-go-go floated in the message-laden night air. They were possessed by the spirit of the drums. burning torches were set on wooden tripods and the young men raised a song. "Our own men and our sons have joined the ranks of the stranger." But he was a man of commanding presence and the clansmen listened to him. looking up from the yams she was peeling. who was the priest of the earth goddess. But it was as silly as all women's stories." he swore."They would have gone on arguing had Ofoedu not come in just then. He looked terrible with the smoked raffia "body."Yes. It was also part of the night." he mocked. With the help of his mother's kinsmen he built himself an obi and three huts for his wives."Did she ask you to feed them before she went?""Yes. People laughed at him because he was a loafer. They all have food in their own homes. and went back to her hut. And so he killed her."Unoka was an ill-fated man.

" and on each occasion he faced a different direction and seemed to push the air with a clenched fist."It is iba. which should be a woman's crowning glory. Kiaga. unhappily. Because he had taken titles. "One of the young children had opened the gate of the cow-shed." he always said.Nwoye's younger brothers were about to tell their mother the true story of the accident when Ikemefuna looked at them sternly and they held their peace. their legs and feet. He looked terrible with the smoked raffia "body. And when. it was true. "His shell broke into pieces. and she agreed also. Obierika.It came slowly. but Okonkwo was as slippery as a fish in water. Obiageli. and Obiageli told her mournful story. I married her with my money and my yams. Where are the young suckers that will grow when the old banana tree dies? If Ezinma had been a boy I would have been happier. it could also mean a man who had taken no title.

It was an ill omen. and after that the dry season. He walked back to his obi to await Ojiugo's return. Obierika had sent one of his relatives all the way to Umuike to buy that goat It was the one he would present alive to his in-laws. Some of them had been heavily whipped. Everybody was lean except Cat. only they did not understand him. too."It is here. and about the locusts?? Then quite suddenly a thought came upon him." he answered." they said. May all you took out return again tenfold. the king of crops. metallic and thirsty clap. they say. which was shaved in beautiful patterns. But the third created a big sensation even among the elders who did not usually show their excitement so openly. It was only on his fourth trip that he had found Ekwefi.Go-di-di-go-go-di-go. But it was a resilient spirit. As they emerged into the open village from the narrow forest track the darkness was softened and it became possible to see the vague shape of trees. three times.

The young tendrils were protected from earth-heat with rings of sisal leaves. Every child loved the harvest season. They stood round in a huge circle leaving the center of the playground free. The missionaries had come to Umuofia. An evil forest was where the clan buried all those who died of the really evil diseases. "You fear that you will die.As Okonkwo sat in his hut that night."Answer truthfully. Many years ago when she was the village beauty Okonkwo had won her heart by throwing the Cat in the greatest contest within living memory. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. Every woman in the neighborhood knew the sound of Nwayieke's mortar and pestle. and each stroke is one hundred cowries. Many years ago another egwugwu had dared to stand his ground before him and had been transfixed to the spot for two days.' 'You must return the duckling. And so nobody gave serious thought to the stories about the white man's government or the consequences of killing the Christians. Ezinma's fire was now sending up thick clouds of smoke.The next morning the crazy men actually began to clear a part of the forest and to build their house. As Idigo had said." replied the white man." said his father. The young tendrils were protected from earth-heat with rings of sisal leaves. It was this man that Okonkwo threw in a fight which the old men agreed was one of the fiercest since the founder of their town engaged a spirit of the wild for seven days and seven nights. Age was respected among his people.

The glowing logs only served to light up vaguely the dark figure of the priestess."That is the strange part of it." and was allowed to go wherever it chose. And as he told them of the past they sat in darkness or the dim glow of logs. Drums beat violently and men leaped up and down in frenzy. It was a full gathering of umuada." said another woman.He sent for the five sons and they came and sat in his obi. and then flew away. Anyone seeing Chielo in ordinary life would hardly believe she was the same person who prophesied when the spirit of Agbala was upon her. chewing the fish. For although locusts had not visited Umuofia for many years. She started to cry. But Chielo ignored what he was trying to say and went on shouting that Agbala wanted to see his daughter." Okonkwo thundered. "I do not blame you for not hearing the cock crow. Ekwefi quickly took her to their bedroom and placed her on their high bamboo bed. like the snapping of a tightened bow." he said. Gome.On the third day he asked his second wife. They have a big market in Abame on every other Afo day and."Okonkwo bit his lips as anger welled up within him.

It was only on his fourth trip that he had found Ekwefi." Okonkwo agreed. to her right and to her left. Okonkwo's gun had exploded and a piece of iron had pierced the boy's heart. Then the foo-foo was served." Okonkwo said to himself again. the third highest in the land. blew into it to remove any dust that might be there. Okonkwo knew how to kill a man's spirit. Somewhere a man was taking one of the titles of his clan. Okonkwo's youngest wife. Their fathers had never dared to stand before our ancestors.""But he had no wings. the wife who had just been beaten murmured something about guns that never shot. Okonkwo. Unoka stood before her and began his story. "Your wrestling the other day gave me much happiness."As they stood there together."Once upon a time. When everyone had drunk two or three horns. but he had not expected he would be so generous. who was Okonkwo's father. But if you allow sorrow to weigh you down and kill you they will all die in exile.

and then passed two shares to Nwoye and Ikemefuna.""Not before you have had your breakfast. he has learned to fly without perching. and does not lose it even if he steals. with Ezinma sleeping on her back."Oho." He filled the first horn and gave to his father." said one of the priests. usually before the age of three. He was a man of action. emerged from her hut. and drinking palm-wine copiously. Old men and children would then sit round log fires."Odukwe's body. was a widely-traveled man who knew the customs of different peoples. Onwumbiko??"Death. "and a thick mat. yellow and dark green. She pulled again and it came off. and the children reveled in the thought of being spoiled by these visitors from the motherland. "And let there be friendship between your family and ours. But he was not the man to go about telling his neighbors that he was in error. Her basket was balanced on her head.

Everybody was killed."We have heard both sides of the case. yellow and dark green. Some of these prisoners were men of title who should be above such mean occupation.But some of the egwugwu were quite harmless. malevolent. Kiaga's joy was very great. Let us give them a real battlefield in which to show their victory. A young man from one team danced across the center to the other side and pointed at whomever he wanted to fight. was quite harmless. but there is too much of his mother in him.It was a great funeral. who was greatly perplexed."At last the party arrived in the sky and their hosts were very happy to see them."Ekwefi." said Obiageli. egusi soup and bitter-leaf soup and pots and pots of palm-wine. and went round the circle shaking hands with all. There were also pots of yam pottage. Why did they not fight back? Had they no guns and machetes? We would be cowards lo compare ourselves with the men of Abame. Where are the young suckers that will grow when the old banana tree dies? If Ezinma had been a boy I would have been happier."I have come to you for help. Kiaga.

"it is this eyelid. tall and strongly built. And although she believed that the iyi-uwa which had been dug up was genuine." said Ezelagbo. At his age I was already fending for myself."Tell them. and soon they were the strongest adherents of the new faith. He could not understand it until he looked back and saw that what he led at the end of the tether was not a goat but a heavy log of wood. and when there was no work to do he sat in a silent half-sleep. Unoka. and everyone filled his bags and pots with locusts."But you said it was where they bury children?" asked the medicine man." said Ezelagbo. Ekwefi mopped her with a piece of cloth and she lay down on a dry mat and was soon asleep. the interpreter. But no one was sure where it was coming from.The Christians had grown in number and were now a small community of men. If you had been a coward. and went into the village in the morning to preach the gospel. The only work that men did at this time was covering the walls of their compound with new palm fronds. They were returning home with baskets of yams from a distant farm across the stream when they heard the voice of an infant crying in the thick forest. his head pointing to the earth and his legs skywards." Ukegbu said.

which together formed a half moon behind the obi. "That boy calls you father." He looked in the direction of Okonkwo. His younger wives did that. Rain fell as it had never fallen before. thought that it was possible that they would also be received. and she was notorious for her late cooking. Everybody was killed. their legs and feet." Okonkwo said. Where are the young suckers that will grow when the old banana tree dies? If Ezinma had been a boy I would have been happier. men. Nwoye returned home. stroking her head."I beg you to accept this little kola. Ekwefi's mind went back to the days when they were young. And then one morning three white men led by a band of ordinary men like us came to the clan. "The bell-man announced it last night. The only work that men did at this time was covering the walls of their compound with new palm fronds. thirty-five. like the snapping of a tightened bow. It is not bravery when a man fights with a woman. He died and rotted away above the earth.

but he went to the birds and asked to be allowed to go with them."Three moons ago." came the voice like a sharp knife cutting through the night. That was not luck. He rounded off his prayer and went to see what it was all about. This year they talked of nothing else but the nso-ani which Okonkwo had committed. They have said so.""Have you heard. If. He had tried to protect them from the smoldering earth by making rings of thick sisal leaves around them. lest he should be found to resemble his father. That was his fifth head and he was not an old man yet. The rainy season was approaching when they would go away until the dry season returned. Okonkwo brought out l??s big horn from the goatskin bag.When the mat was at last removed she was drenched in perspiration. We all know him. She was peeling new yams. Five matches ended in this way. he beat her again so that if the neighbors had not gone in to save her she would have been killed."It is near that orange tree." He turned again to Okonkwo and said." lied Nwoye's mother. and thank Okonkwo for having looked after him so well and for bringing him back.