"It is not our custom to fight for our gods," said of them. "Let us not presume to do so now. If a man kills the sacred python in the secrecy of his hut, the matter lies between him and the god. We did not see it. If we put ourselves between the god and his victim, we may receive blows intended for the offender. When a man blasphemes, what do we do? Do we go and stop his mouth? No. We put our fingers into our ears to stop us hearing. That is a wise action."
"Let us not reason like cowards," said Okonkwo. "If a man comes into my hut and defecates on the floor, what do I do? Do I shut my eyes? No! I take a stick and break his head. That is what a man does. These people are daily pouring filth over us, and Okeke says we should pretend not to see." Okonkwo made a sound full of disgust. This was a womanly clan, he thought. Such a thing could never happen in his fatherland, Umuofia. // ~~ Excerpts from 'Things Fall Apart' Chapter 18
On this day, June 17, 1958, Chinualumogu Albert Achebe from Ogidi town in Anambra state, published one of the greatest books in history, 'Things Fall Apart' a book many have referred to as the Igbo Bible owing to its exactitude in capturing the ways of life of the Igbo people.
In a nutshell, 'Things Fall Apart' is 65 years today. His career began in Radio Nigeria.
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