Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

Things Fall Apart was the first book written in what has become known as The African Trilogy was released in 1958. Earning respect as one of the first African novels, by an African author, written in English the book has become one of the most widely read books of the African experience.

The book begins in the period of time of the 1890's. The main character is Okonkwo, one of the titled men and leaders of his tribe, the Umuofia. The tribe, while fictional, is modeled after the author's own tribe. Some of the experiences of the characters are also reflective of things that Achebe saw in his life in his village.

The book is divided into two parts. In the first part we learn much about the Tribal life if Okonkwo and his people. We learn about his compound, a part of the village carved out specifically for his family. In this compound he lives in his obi, which is the man's hut surrounded by his three wives, each of who have their own tent. We learn about his daily life and the life of his tribe.

While we read about some abhorrent practices of his tribe, such as when twins are born the still breathing infants are left in the woods as they are thought to be evil, we also see that much of the tribe's life is caring and gentle. The yam is the main foodstuff of the people and all work in their family plots in the garden area to grow them.

The author mixes many local lessons of tribal life into the the story with legends and sayings which correlate with their life but are not a stretch for ours either.

At the end of Part 1 an accident occurs and Okonkwo must pay the penalty. Still as he is exiled from the clan for seven years it is interesting to note that the same people who at daybreak will, by custom, burn his buildings and tear down the walls of his compound, will come the night before and help him to pack up his things and transfer his yams to a friends barn. In short custom must be followed but it is not personal. Perhaps we could learn from this.

In Part two Okonkwo travels to his mothers home village. Here he is welcomed by a cousin, his mother being long dead. It is interesting that when he hears of his cousin's exile he is welcomed with open arms. It was a female offense, that is one that does not result in a permanent exile. It again shows that in only modern civilization is prison considered an answer to a crime.

Part two predominantly shows us the influence of the white man on the tribes. A missionary appears and in a great shock to his system Okonkwo's oldest son becomes a Christian and is thus disowned by his father. Eventually seven years pass and when he returns to his home village, looking forward to earning his titles again, planting his crops, and in general rejoining his life where he left it Okonkwo is shocked at how much life has changed. A great deal of the tribe has either joined the Christian faith or become accustomed to living side by side with the Christians and their new adherents.

Eventually a crisis occurs and Okonkwo's part in it will again change his life forever. The book is well written and offers an unfiltered look at both the culture of the African tribes as well as how these same tribes were affected and changed forever by the influence of the white men and Westerners.