Things fall apart is set in the late 19th Century right before and during the arrival of British missionaries and colonialists. The first half of the novel follows the life of an Igbo man, Okonkwo, and his life before the presence of the British Empire. When he later returns to his village after a few years in exile, he returns to a former shadow of his old home. Most of the cultural and religious traditions in his village had stopped and many people had converted to Christianity. This was done to truly show the contrast between pre and post-colonial Nigeria, and the deep impact colonialism has had on Igbo society and other Nigerian peoples.
By first showing the readers Igbo life before the British arrival, Achebe was able to show a new “story” of African life. Previously most western literature had failed to show an honest and true depiction of Africa. Achebe showed his readers the true culture of Africa, a culture that was diverse, rich in history and not barbaric. Achebe is showing the reader that Africa was home to a rich culture, religion, politics long before the arrival of Europeans and their version of civilization. Achebe showed that Nigeria and Africa never needed to be “saved” by Europeans and were fine without them.
By showing the arrival of Europeans in Africa, Achebe painted a picture of colonialism that isn’t just black and white. He showed that in some ways both Igbo and British interference with Igbo culture was flawed. In Igbo culture, twins were left in a “cursed” forest to die and Ikemefuna was sacrificed for someone else’s crimes. Meanwhile the British massacred the leaders of Umuofia and destroyed the local way of life.
Achebe was a strong supporter of Nigerian independence. By showing that Nigeria has functioned effectively and better than before British interference he is supporting his own ideas and vision of an independent Nigeria. Achebe displayed that Nigeria was rich with history, religion, and culture long before the arrival of Europeans
In many ways, Achebe’s own upbringing was also a mix between English and Igbo. His immediate family had converted to Christianity and Achebe was educated in English. However, he often snuck away to attend Igbo religious and cultural festivals. By displaying both British culture and Igbo Achebe was able to display both the complexity of his own upbringing as well as the complex impact colonialism has had on Nigeria.
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