Women In Umuofia Culture

In the Umuofia’s culture, women are often mistreated by their husbands and are expected not to question the men within their tribe. Although the women are viewed as inferior, they play a very important role in the Umuofia’s culture by keeping the family together and passing down important traditions to their children, which will continue their heritage. One of the women’s most important jobs in the Umuofia culture is to protect their children from dangers and keep the family together. This is illustrated in Okonkwo’s family, when Ezinma, is taken by Chielo and Ekwefi follows them because she wants to make sure Ezinma remains safe. Achebe describes Ekwefi following Chielo when he writes, ““I am following Chielo, “ she replied and disappeared in the darkness” (Achebe 103). Ekwefi following Chielo indicates her strong role in keeping the

Okonkwo eventually joins Ekwefi after searching for her around the tribe. This is illustrated when Achebe writes, “She must have heard a noise behind her and turned round sharply. A man stood there with a machete in his hand” (Achebe 108). Okonkwo going after his wife and daughter, indicates that Ekwefi helps keep the family together and if she did not leave Okonkwo might have just waited for his daughter to return. Although the women bring the family closer together, they also help preserve important traditions in the tribe. The women play an important role in the Umuofia’s culture because they help continue important traditions, which might disappear if the women did not find value in these customs. The women of the tribe save their heritage by telling folk stories to their children. This is depicted in Okonkwo’s family, when Achebe writes, “Low voices, broken now and again by singing, reached Okonkwo from his wives’ hut as each woman and her children told folk stories” (Achebe 96). The women telling these stories to their children helps pass down the skills of storytelling