Rituals of the Umuofian Culture essays

Rituals of the Umuofian Culture essays In the novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, many cultural values are demonstrated through special ceremonies. The Ibo inhabitants of the land Umuofia perform ceremonies of many different sorts. Today, in modern America, we brush our teeth, take showers and go to school, but in this text, the Umuofian villagers break kola nuts, have bride-prices, and sacrifice living organisms. These rituals are not just done for any reason, but they have special importance towards each clan. We may think the rituals to be odd, but in a peculiar way, it relates to many customs we do today. He who brings kola nut brings life. But I think you ought to break it, replied Okoye, passing back the disc. No, its for you... (pg. 6) One must be wondering what a kola nut is and why it is so important. The breaking of the kola nut (somewhat like a coconut) shows status, respect and honor. As we have the custom of unscrewing the cork in a wine bottle, they break a kola nut. Normally, the oldest in the family would unscrew the cork, like how the eldest or higher status one in the feast would break the nut. He then broke the kola nut and threw one of the lobes on the ground for the ancestors. (pg. 165) The villagers of Umuofia always seem to sacrifice to their ancestors. Ancestors are well respected, but in some cases they go a little overboard with what they are willing to give up. Not so far away, lay the Evil Forest, which entrusted in it are all of the bodies of the ill-fated men and women who died from evil causes. Twins were also thrown into the Evil Forest because of the clans superstition. The story did not mention a particular reason, but one would think it to be another interesting custom they used. It is more difficult and more bitter when a man falls alone. (pg. 25) Unoka, Okonkwos father was also laid in the Evil Forest to rest because he had...