Things Fall Apart, Chapters Nine and Ten

Chapters Nine and Ten will introduce you to more characteristics of the Ibo tribe. First, you will learn about the ogbanje. An ogbanje is a wicked child that will continually re-enter a mother’s womb to die over and be reborn over and over. Then, in Chapter Ten you will learn about the justice system of the Ibo tribe. A trial takes place as the egwugwu emerge from a secret house. Although the concept of the egwugwu in a justice system may seem foreign to you, the Ibo and American court systems are actually quite similar. Both these chapters will you show the superstitious nature of the Ibo tribe. As you will see, these superstitions go much further than having a black cat cross your path, a horseshoe for good luck, or the number thirteen.

Analysis

Much of the Ibo cultural practices center around superstition. Often a culture’s superstitions stem from a lack of medical or scientific knowledge. The idea of ogbanje children is a prime example. This stems from a lack of medical knowledge of why some mothers are unable to either carry a baby full term or why some babies simply do not live. So why does Achebe choose to share with readers this very odd aspect of his native culture? Why tell the story of families who believe they are being repeatedly haunted by naughty children who die and keep coming back just to torment a mother? Why tell about medicine men who mutilate dead babies as a form of punishment to prevent these naughty children from returning? He obviously wants his readers to have the full picture of this tribal culture, but this superstition plays a key role when the British missionaries first arrive. It is due to such questionable practices such as the ogbanje and the treatment of twins that the British so wholeheartedly believe that the Ibo are savage.

In addition to the ogbanje aspect of the Ibo culture, you are given a peek into the court system of the Ibo in Umuofia. While it may seem quite the polar opposite of our own, there are a number of similarities such as the formation of a jury. The main difference is of course the egwugwu: the spirits of the original nine founding fathers. This introduction to the egwugwu also affords Achebe the opportunity to show yet another success in Okonkwo’s life. He is been honored with a position as one of the nine egwugwu for his village.

Ibo and American Court System Comparison

The Ibo and American court systems share more characteristics than you might realize. In this non-graded interactivity, drag the description of the American court system on the right and drop them next to the matching description of the Ibo court system on the left. Once you have matched all of the descriptions with the American and Ibo court systems, select SUBMIT to check your answers. Click the player button to get started.