Okonkwo returns home to Umuofia after years in exile, but finds his clan greatly changed by colonization and Christian influence. Tensions rise as the new missionary Reverend Smith cracks down on traditional practices. This leads villagers to burn down the church, prompting their arrest. Okonkwo attends an important clan meeting but kills a messenger, then later hangs himself in despair, seeing no way for his people to resist colonization. The District Commissioner arrives to find Okonkwo dead and begins planning how to use the story in his book about conquering local tribes.

1. STUDY GUIDE :
OKONKWO RETURNS
TO UMUOFIA
AND
COLONIZATION IS
INEVITABLE
CHAPTERS 20-25
TEACHER NAME

2. “HOW DO YOU THINK WE
CAN FIGHT WHEN OUR
OWN BROTHERS HAVE
TURNED AGAINST US?”

3. From the beginning of his exile, Okonkwo has planned how to
rebuild his compound.
He wants it to be larger, to take two more wives and get titles for
his sons. He thinks less of Nwoye’s disgraceful departure, but
still regrets that Ezinma is a girl.
Okonkwo gets his daughters to postpone marrying so that he
may attract interest when he returns to Umuofia.
However, Umuofia is very different. The church has grown. The
white men subject the villagers to their judicial system and rules
of government.
Okonkwo cannot believe that his clan has not driven out the
harsh, arrogant, white men and their church.
Obierika explains that it is too late; the
CHAPTER
church has weakened the ties of kinship.
Okonkwo observes that the white man is
shrewd; he came in peace, appeared to 20
have benevolent interests so the Africans
would permit him to stay.

4. Umuofia is divided over the white men’s influence in the community.
The benefit: trading posts. Money is flowing into the village.
Mr. Brown, the white missionary, restrains Christians from harassing
the clan. Akunna, one of the clan’s leaders, explains that the clan also
has just one god, Chukwu, who created the world and the other gods.
Cultural Exchange: Mr. Brown - there are no other gods; a carving is
not a god, but a piece of wood. Akunna – agrees it is a piece of wood,
but wood created by Chukwu. Neither will convert, but gain a greater
understanding of the other’s faith.
Mr. Brown builds a hospital, a school. Threat: if children don’t go to
school, strangers who can read and write will rule over them.
Mr. Brown tells Okonkwo that Nwoye is in a training college for
teachers. Soon after, his health declines. He leaves Umuofia.
Daughters attract many suitors, but clan
has little interest in his return. Ozo
initiation ceremony occurs only once
CHAPTER
every 3 years. 21
Okonkwo is baffled and upset by changes
in his once warlike people.

5. Reverend James Smith replaces Mr. Brown. Strict, intolerant,
demands obedience to the letter of the Bible. Disapproves of
Mr. Brown’s former policies.
Zealous converts are relieved to be free of restraints. Enoch
unmasks an egwugwu during the annual ceremony to honor the
earth deity (equivalent to killing an ancestral spirit). The next
day, the egwugwu burn Enoch’s compound to the ground.
They gather in front of the church to confront Reverend Smith.
They tell the Christians that they wish to destroy the church to
cleanse their village of Enoch’s horrible sin.
Smith stands his ground, forbidding them to touch the church.
His interpreter alters statements for fear they are too harsh, will
provoke great anger. (Says that Smith demands that they leave).
They ignore Smith’s orders and burn the church.
CHAPTER
22

6. Okonkwo is almost happy because of taking action, even though
the clan did not agree to kill the Christians or drive them away.
Villagers are on guard, arm themselves for next two days.
District Commissioner returns from his tour, requests a meeting
with the leaders of Umuofia. They go, taking only machetes
(guns would be “unseemly”).
Commissioner is condescending, says they should discuss the
church’s burning “as friends.” As soon as machetes are on the
floor, soldiers handcuff them and throw them in jail.
They suffer insults and physical abuse. Bail is set at 200 bags of
cowries. Court messengers ask for 250 to prevent leaders from
hanging – to make a profit.
CHAPTER
An emergency village meeting. Ezinma
returns home from 28-day visit to future
in-lawsThey decide to collect the cowries
necessary to pay the fine. 23

7. Umuofia leaders return to the village upset. Entire village overcome
with tense and unnatural silence.
Ezinma takes Okonkwo some food. She and Obierika notice whip
marks on his back.
Village crier announces another meeting. Following morning, clan is
filled with sense of foreboding. Okonkwo has slept very little out of
excitement and anticipation. Meeting is packed with people from 9
villages.
Okonkwo believes that the nature of man has changed. He has
decided on a course of action, no matter what others think. Takes out
war dress. Assesses raffia skirt, feather headgear, shield. Remembers
former glories.
First speaker: laments the damage that white man and his church
have done to the clan, the desecration of the gods / ancestral spirits.
They may have to spill clansmen’s blood if they battle the white man.
CHAPTER
5 court messengers approach, ordering the
meeting to end. Okonkwo kills the leader with
his machete. Villagers allow messengers to
escape, end the meeting. 24

8. District Commissioner arrives at Okonkwo’s compound. A small
group of men sit outside, who tell him that Okonkwo is not at home.
Commissioner asks again, and Obierika repeats his initial answer.
Commissioner gets angry, threatens to imprison them. Obierika
agrees to lead him to Okonkwo in return for assistance. Not
understanding this agreement, Commissioner follows Obierika and a
group of clansmen to a small bush behind Okonkwo’s compound.
There, Okonkwo’s body dangles from a tree.
Understanding that Umuofia would not go to war and disappointed
with his clan, he has hanged himself.
Obierika explains that suicide is a grave sin. Commissioner asks why
they cannot take down the body, and they explain that it is now evil.
Only strangers may touch it; only strangers may bury it.
Angrily, Obierika blames him for Okonkwo’s death, praises his
friend’s greatness. Commissioner leaves, but orders his messengers
to do the work.
As he departs, he congratulates himself CHAPTER
25
for increasing his knowledge of African
customs.

9. “HE HAD ALREADY
CHOSEN THE TITLE OF
THE BOOK . . . THE
PACIFICATION OF THE
PRIMITIVE TRIBES OF
THE LOWER NIGER.”
The commissioner imagines that Okonkwo and his
suicide will make an interesting paragraph in the
book that he is writing.