The document provides background information on Things Fall Apart, a novel by Chinua Achebe set in late 19th century Nigeria. It discusses the Igbo culture that is presented in the novel, including their social structure, religious beliefs, and music/art traditions. The Igbo had an oral tradition and believed in a supreme god named Chukwu as well as other smaller deities. Their villages and homes played an important role in their culture. The document provides context about the Igbo culture to help understand the concepts in Things Fall Apart.

1. Things Fall Apart Introduction and Background to African Literature NCSCOS English II Goals and Objectives: 5.01, 5.02, 5.03

2. African Literature African literature was first recognized around 2300-2100 B.C., when ancient Egyptians begin using burial texts to accompany their dead. These include the first written accounts of creation - the Memphite Declaration of Deitie s.

3. African Literature African literature spawns from their extremely oral culture Oral culture takes many forms: proverbs and riddles, epic narratives, praise poetry and songs, chants and rituals, stories, legends and folk tales. This is present in the many proverbs told in Things Fall Apart

4. African Literature With the period of Colonization, African oral traditions and written works came under serious threat from outside sources. Europeans, justifying themselves with the Christian ethics, tried to destroy the "pagan" and "primitive" culture of the Africans, to make them more pliable slaves. However, African Literature survived this concerted attack.

5. African Literature Chinua Achebe presents native African culture in his stunning work, Things Fall Apart . This is probably the most read work of African Literature ever written, and it provides a deep level of cultural detail http://blog.syracuse.com/shelflife/2007/11/achebe.jpg

6. TFA Background Things Fall Apart , Africa's most important novel to date, is probably the most widely studied African creative work both in Africa and abroad. The novel's universal appeal has led to its being translated into more than 50 languages

7. Background Things Fall Apart takes place during British colonial rule of Nigeria in the latter part of the 1800s and deals with the Ibo(Igbo) Culture

8. www.nematoday.org/pictures/map_nigeria_wt_afr.gif

9. http://faizbash.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/nigeria-flag.jpg

10. Ibo Culture To understand the concepts in Things Fall Apart, it is important to know about the Ibo (also called Igbo) culture

11. People and Community http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/jpeg/nigeria008.jpg http://media.photobucket.com/image/igbo%20husband/Feels_Good_2B_Home/igbowedding.jpg http://www.nigeriansinamerica.com/content_images/igbo_title.jpg

12. People and Community Igbo home life is also very structured. Typically the husband is the head of the household. He also accepts his responsibilities to his community. It is of equal importance to tend to both the family and the village. Igbo people usually have very extended families; it is a part of them as a people. Ibo Huts http://img2.travelblog.org/Photos/11183/84066/t/520783-The-hut-0.jpg

13. Belief System The Igbo beliefs were once very tribal in nature. Before Christianity was introduced, their belief system revolved around one particular god, named Chukwu Chukwu was seen as an all powerful and omnipresent God and representations, symbols and sanctuaries for him can be found almost anywhere. Homes, compounds, buildings and even village parks and squares would display these depictions of Chukwu Also believed in many smaller deities that would compete among themselves CHI was a god seen as individually personalized by its followers. The people believed strongly in ones ability to improve status in the present world or afterlife through change.

14. http://www.literaryworlds.wmich.edu/umuofia/images/mask3.JPG http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Q_QOyPJQRZE/SMbWxYguxdI/AAAAAAAAABU/3eC7dGsGjvk/s320/eldermeeting.jpg Egwugwu These figures are tutelary deities known as alusi or agbara http://www.artheos.org/images/5476.jpg

15. Music Igbo music is generally lively, upbeat, and spontaneous which creates a variety of sounds that enables the Igbo people to incorporate music into almost all the facets of their daily lives

16. Ekwe- type of drum http://www.motherlandmusic.com/images/nigeria/drums/ekwe.jpg http://www.uta.fi/~meemen/ogenet.jpg Oge- type of bell

17. Yams are a staple crop. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2236/2369013508_4c786d9af4.jpg?v=0

18. Ibo Culture Past and Present http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keZXlDZlluI

19. Works Cited http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/oldworld/africa/igbo.html