Things Fall Apart Background: Characters, Key Places and Terms (Pre-reading)

Ibo / Igbo

a member of a people of southeastern Nigeria; this term refers to the name of the group of people, their culture, and their language.

--Today, members of this group mostly practice Catholicism

Agbala

A goddess or spirit; OR

-The Oracle of the Hills and the Caves, who influences all aspects of the clan, including all large decisions.

-Also, when began with a lower case letter, this word refers to a woman, or a man who has not received a title of honor.

Umuofia

a fictional Igbo territory in present day Nigeria; it is a clan made up of nine villages that unite together to make larger decisions

Okonkwo

The central character of Things Fall Apart. He is a young leader of the Igbo community of Umuofia. He is also known as a fierce warrior as well as a successful farmer.

Unoka

Okonkwo's father, known for his weakness.

Nwoye

Okonkwo's oldest son, age twelve at the book's beginning.

Ikemefuna

A boy of fifteen who is given to Umuofia by a neighboring village to avoid war.

Nwoye's Mother

also referred to as "Okonkwo's first wife;" Achebe does not tell us her name. She has several children, and Okonkwo tasks her with caring for Ikemefuna as well.

Ekwefi

Okonkwo's second wife; the mother of Ezinma, her only living child.

Ezinma

Daughter of Ekwefi and Okonkwo; Ekwefi's only surviving child.

Ojiugo

Okonkwo's third wife; the mother of several of Okonkwo's children.

Obierika

Okonkwo's best friend, who often represents the voice of reason.

Chielo

A village widow who is also the priestess of Agbala.

Iguedo

Okonkwo's specific village, one of the nine Umuofian villages

Mbaino

neighboring community and Ikemefuna's original home

Mbanta

Okonkwo's motherland (meaning where he was born and grew up)

Ogbuefi Ezeudu

Well-respected elder; oldest man in Umuofia, earned three of the four titles

Maduka

Obierika's son

Nwakibie

A wealthy man who gives Okonkwo 800 yam seeds

egwugwu

leaders of the clan who wear masks during certain rituals and speak on behalf of the spirits; the term can be either singular or plural.

ogbanje

a child possessed by an evil spirit that leaves the child's body upon death only to enter into the mother's womb to be reborn again within the next child's body

ndichie

elders

Oracle

a priest or priestess who the Igbo culture believes can communicate with their gods or spirits in order to get advice or prophecies

Ogbuefi

a term that goes before the name of respected and honored men with high titles; like "Elder" or "Mr."

Hausa-Fulani

ethnic group(s) in contemporary Northern Nigeria; generally Muslim

Yoruba

ethnic group in contemporary Southwest Nigeria; more concentrated in cities and often a Protestant or follower of traditional spiritualist religions

efulefu

an Igbo term that refers to a fool or a "worthless" man

reality tunnel

a person's unique worldview or perception of reality, as based on culture, personal experience, age, religion, etc.

It's naturally limited & often closed off to new ideas

naive realism

the idea that everyone thinks their perception is a true reflection of reality; however, everyone's version of reality is different

cultural relativism

what's normal to one culture is weird to another and vice versa.

Thus, one can only judge what is weird and normal to a culture from the perspective of that culture