The Symbolism of Okonkwo’s Suicide In ‘Things Fall Apart’ – The Death Of The Collective Igbo Consciousness

You see, when my peers were reading things fall apart as young boys in Secondary school, I did not have a passion for reading, so I did not read it. I was interested in other things. I believe not reading the book at that time of my life was fated, as I might not have deduced the lessons this work of art held for the African man, through the Igbo man’s eyes – through my own eyes.

Though he expressed it subtly, Chinua Achebe pointed out the invasion of our privacy by European Christianity, backed by the brutality of the private armies and armed forces of Britain. This historic account remains a fact denied by the many Igbo Christians of today. They claim Christianity came through the necessary and calm intervention of the supposed ‘holy spirit’ – a venture that saved us from our supposed barbaric nature. They claim a lot of things ignorantly.

When people praise the Book, Things Fall Apart for its ability to capture a clear and undiluted picture of the Igbo culture, traditions, and worldview, those of us who are conscious enough are hit with a harsh reminder of how our civilization was upturned by force. The Holy Book of Achebe, as I would love to call it, slaps any conscious Igbo (African) man into a shocking reality of how far we have been chased into a wilderness of confusion by colonial agendas, ideas, traditions, and religion.

Okonkwo was (and is) the blueprint, the perfect representation of the brave, noble, egalitarian, and fearless Igbo man. In him rested a role model for African men to follow; although not to the extreme. And to see him die the way he did in the Holy Book of Achebe, was most shocking. His death represents the death of the collective Igbo bravery and consciousness – a penchant for detecting danger and a constant need to defend the motherland.

He did not see a reason why the white man should come into our land and dictate to us how to live and how to settle disputes. What was more agonizing was the news of nearby villages falling to the weapons of the white man. Feeling powerless against the white man’s guns and bullets was the highest defeat a man like Okonkwo could feel. But feeling powerless was not enough.

His love for Umuofia and a desire to defend it were more powerful than the guns the enemy had. That love will lead him to cut off the head of one of the messengers of the white men. He later took his life, knowing what would be his fate. 

Obierika, Okonkwo’s friend, made a statement that was hard to leave my mind. A statement that summarizes the defeat of the defenders of our interest as Ndi Igbo. A defeat of the brave ones among us. He said: “That man was one of the greatest men in Umuofia. You drove him to kill himself, and now he would be buried like a dog…”

Obierika’s submission in that novel says it is all about the colonization of ani Igbo. The supposed ‘colonization’ was not to better the lives of Ndi Gboo, just as many of our people will argue. It was/is the death of the finest cultures, traditions, civilizations, and nobility of ancient Africa.

Although Okonkwo was high-handed and temperamental, an attitude which was akin to men in his time, and even now, it caused me great anger that many men of his caliber (who defended our civilization for thousands of years) were subdued (and forced to die in battle or take their own lives) by an enemy who came in the guise of a messiah.

Things Fall Apart, as far as I can foresee, still holds a great lesson for Ndi Igbo in our dealings with the outside world. The book remains a testament to the Golden (and egalitarian) society that we Ndi Igbo had, and developed; A society that we have watered down to please the worldview of the colonizer.

There is no better way to point out that colonialism, till today remains Africa’s undoing. While we were busy going about our lives and trying to salvage what was left from the theft of our people into slavery, Europeans decided to invade our lands and force us to serve their greed and gods on our soil.

Colonialism put a sword to the neck of our culture, beliefs, religions, tradition, and above all brotherhood. Colonialism drove a cord between brothers – converted the majority of Ndi Igbo to European ways, and made them turn against their heritage and ancestry.

Today, ana Igbo stands in disarray, as her leaders and elite are programmed to please their colonial masters. Those who are meant to fight for Ndi Igbo, have been converted to the white man’s messengers, just like in Things Fall Apart, and they have been handed guns to kill their own.

They kill the brave and the defenders of Igbo land. They capture and imprison those prophets who speak up. They sabotage their efforts in reclaiming the glory of our ancestors.

Okonkwo’s death symbolizes the attack on the brave ones among us, a threat to our collective cultural and spiritual consciousness. Okonkwo’s death in Things Fall Apart is a coded message left to us by our holy ancestor Chinualumogu Achebe – a message which demands that we are more alert than ever, for the wolf is always seeking ways to destroy us.

This Article Was Written By Chuka Nduneseokwu, Editor-In-Chief, Voice Of The Sun

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