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Impacts of colonization on indigenous
Impacts of colonization on indigenous
The impact of colonization on indigenous people
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Arrow of God, a novel by Chinua Achebe is a novel that focuses on British colonialism and the struggle the people of the Igbo had adjusting to it. Colonialism is the policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically. Throughout the story the Igbo people are forced to try to adapt to the ways of the British people. Some problems the Igbo people face throughout the story are things such as road construction, land disagreement, and the killing of the royal python. These happening cause arguments and disagreements between the people of Igbo. One of the happenings was when the British Colonials wanted to construct new roads throughout the village. …show more content…
The British colonials were bringing people in from the village of Okperi, and paying them for their work; but not paying the people of Umuaro, who were working just as hard. The colonials also treated the people of Umuaro wrongly because they were severely punished if they were late or did not show up to work. In chapter eight of Arrow of God, Edogo is late for work because he is hung-over on Palm Wine he had drank the night before. Instead of giving him a warning or a small fine, like he was used to, they severely whip him. This did not respect their customs in anyway because they normally were just given a tiny fine, and sent back to work. They did not believe in beatings or whippings for something as small as being a little late for work. Another thing that happens in Arrow of God is the disagreement over land.
The whole reason for going to war in this novel is because of the land issue. In the beginning of chapter two Umuaro decides to go to war against Okperi. British general T.K. Winterbottom steps in to try to solve the dispute between the two villages, but when Umuaro and its people refused to convert to the British ways, T.K. Winterbottom chooses to give the land to the people of Okperi. This also connects to the road building problem because Winterbottom takes the people of Umuaro who he did not like and who hurt him in the media, to work on the road and then did not pay them. Back to the land though, this is another view of the colonials getting themselves involved in things that only the natives should be involved in. There was no reason for Winterbottom to put himself between two native’s tribes when they had already had a plan to dissolve the matter; even if the plan was war. Lastly, there was an incident where there was a royal python killed in Arrow of God. In chapter four of Arrow of God, Ezeulu, the Chief Priest of the Ulu found out that his son, Oduche had trapped a royal python in a box in hopes that it would suffocate. Ezeulu was appalled when he found out that his own son would attempt to kill such a sacred animal. In reality the colonials persuaded Oduche to kill the snake because according to Ezeulu, he outlawed them. The Igbo people then blamed the Chief Priest for allowing his
son to go around the British people. In conclusion the Igbo people had a hard time adjusting to the ways of the British. It seems to me like the the British caused more problems for the people then they helped. They caused many problems in the process of building the new roads, attempting to agree over land, and the killing of the royal python. In addition, I believe this really hit the Chief Priest, Ezeulu, hard because he was supposed to be the man who was looked upon in the tribe but instead he was kind of a laughing stalk because of what the British made his own son do something that was so frowned upon.
Susan Harris’s book God’s Arbiters explores the religious rhetoric when discussing expansion of the United States. She focuses solely on the time period of 1898 through 1902. In this book, Harris calls on the works of numerous poets, authors, and political figures to show the perception of the United States imperialist motives from outside the borders. Harris uses Mark Twain as an epigraph at the beginning of the book with the quotation “I am an anti-imperialist.” Drawing upon authors such as Rudyard Kipling and his pro-annexation story The White Man’s Burden, Harris shows both sides of the debate through authors and poets alike. This use of writers offers an interesting perspective to the argument for and against imperialism, furthermore offering a look into the minds of intellectuals of the period. The main issue addressed by Harris is
Imperialism has been a constant oppressive force upon societies dating back hundreds of years. Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad, illustrates this oppression by providing an instance of its occurrence in the Congo of Africa, while simultaneously setting the stage for The Poisonwood Bible, which is essentially the continuation of the story. The Poisonwood Bible, by Barbara Kingsolver, demonstrates how the Congo is still affected by modern circumstances and ideology. Conrad’s novella acts as a sort of precursor to the events later depicted in Kingsolver’s novel, and this very connection between the stories illustrates the perpetual oppression of imperialism. This oppression is shown through the characterization of the pivotal characters of each respective text.
The Ibo people had a sacred python who they believed was the emanation of the god of water. “The royal python was the most revered animal in Mbanta and all the surrounding clans. It was addressed as ‘Our Father,’ and was allowed to go wherever it chose, even into people's beds.” In the story, an osu, or outcast, that caused a conflict between the white church and the Ibo tribe by purposely killing the snake. The python is a symbol of protection to the members of the Ibo tribe because it helps them to eat mice and eggs.
By utilizing an unbiased stance in his novel, Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe promotes cultural relativity without forcibly steering his audience to a particular mindset. He presents the flaws of the Ibo tribe the same way he presents the assets—without either condescension or pride; he presents the cruelties of the colonizers the same way he presents their open mindedness—without either resentment or sympathy. Because of this balance, readers are able to view the characters as multifaceted human beings instead of simply heroes and victims. Achebe writes with such subtle impartiality that American audiences do not feel guilty for the cruel actions of the colonizers or disgusted by the shocking traditions of the tribesmen. The readers stop differentiating the characters as either “tribesmen” or “colonizers”. They see them simply as people, much like themselves. With this mindset, the audience starts to reflect upon their own cultural weaknesses. Conversely, the colonizers forcefully declare their religion onto the tribesmen instead of neutrally presenting their beliefs. Achebe prevails over his anger to present his opinion without forcefulness and with open-minded consideration. Yes, the colonizers succeed in converting many tribesmen into Christians; however, their success is subjective because they destroy African culture in the process. Ultimately, Achebe is successful in delivering his political views, but he does so by encouraging open-mindedness and cultural relativity instead of forcing his individual ideals upon his readers.
This is a gripping novel about the problem of European colonialism in Africa. The story relates the cultural collision that occurs when Christian English missionaries arrive among the Ibos of Nigeria, bringing along their European ways of life and religion.
Chinua Achebe was an influential Nigerian author during the 1900’s who was credited with his three essays which have been fused together into the book “Home and Exile”. In his stories he discusses things such as his own Igbo people, the problems with colonialization, the strength that stories can have and many more topics. A big part of his essays are on his thoughts of colonialism, the impact it has had on his home of Nigeria, and how stories written by others either helped justify colonialism or rejected it. Chinua argues that stories have their own power to fight, and while stories themselves do not have the ability to directly fight colonialism; they do, however with their power of words, stories can motivate and encourage people to stand up against colonialism. In proving this thesis to be a true statement, I will be providing evidence of the how, why and the extent to which stories can fight colonialism.
The war of independence is thought to have been a war of revolution. It is not, it is the breaking of colonial rule. It was based on politics and a separation of powers. In my paper I will go from the start of a rising discontentment amongst the indigenous population and how those above them exploit the failures for their own gain in a system where they have always been favored more over.
Chinua Achebe?s Things Fall Apart is a narrative story that follows the life of an African man called Okonkwo. The setting of the book is in eastern Nigeria, on the eve of British colonialism in Africa. The novel illustrates Okonkwo?s struggles, triumphs, and his eventual downfall, all of which basically coincide with the Igbo?s society?s struggle with the Christian religion and British government. In this essay I will give a biographical account of Okonwo, which will serve to help understand that social, political, and economic institutions of the Igbos.
The beginning of 1763 marked one of the major events that would contribute to the end of British colonial relations. On February 3, 1763 the French and Indian War finally ended in British victory, but while the British celebrated the French’s defeat, colonists feared the oncoming reverberations the war would have on them. The main motive behind the war was for possession over the French fur trade territory in North America. To the colonists, the war was being fought by and for Britain not the colonies. The benefits of the victory only pertained to Britain. The after effect of the war for the colonies was the trampling on their need for expansion. During the war, Native Americans had fought with the French because of how well they treated them. Britain was notorious for abusing the Native Americans, therefore once the French were defeated; they began attacking western settlements of colonists. To avoid confrontation, the Proclamation of 1763 was passed by Parliament. The Proclamation established a limit to the greatly needed colonial expansion. Specifically, the Proclamation forbid settlement beyond the Appalachian Mountains. The passing of the Proclamation of 1763 infuriated colonists ...
Nnolim, Charles E. "Achebe's Things Fall Apart: An Igbo National Epic" Modern Black Literature. ed. Okechukwu Mezu New York: Black Academy Press, 1971, 55-60.
In Chinua Achebe 's classic novel "Things Fall Apart," the development of European colonization 's lead to extreme cultural changes, leaving a lasting impact on the Igbo village of Umofia in West Africa. In the novel, Achebe displays the impacts of European colonization in both critical and sympathetic terms to provide the reader with both positive and negative factors of Imperialism to develop an unbiased understanding of what the Igbo culture and society went through. While addressing the hardship 's of life by showing the deterioration of Okonkwo 's character, the cultural and traditional changes of society, and the positive and negative impacts of imperialism, Achebe keeps touch on the overall theme of the novel, once a dramatic event
Before the arrival of the Europeans, Achebe did a excellent job portraying how the life of Igbo was before they were forced to oppose their own culture. To support this theme, Achebe included detailed descriptions of social rituals within each family, the justice system, religious practices and consequences, preparation and indulgence of food, the marriage process and the distributing of power within the men. Achebe shows how every man has an opportunity to prove himself worthy to achieve a title on the highest level, based merely on his own efforts. One may argue that the novel was written with the main focus on the study of Okonkwo’s character and how he deteriorates, but without the theme that define the Igbo culture itself, we would never know the universe qualities of the society that shaped Okonkwo’s life. The lives of the Igbo people was no different to the actual lives of the Ibos people back in the early days of Africa. Just like in Things Fall Apart, in actual African tribes there was never a ruler. “Very interesting thing about these villages is that there is no single ruler or king that controls the population. Decisions are made by including almost everyone in the village” (AfricaGuide). Using the theme, Achebe educated readers on by mirroring real African life in her
Religious accusations, which serve as catalysts for conflict, help to develop an accurate portrayal of imperialism and Ibo culture. In Things Fall Apart, the missionaries assertively state “Your gods are not alive and cannot do you any harm” (Achebe 146). This quotation shows the imperialists accusing the gods the Ibo people believe in and worship of being false gods that are idols. These gods cannot harm them and do not pose any threat. Also, in Achebe’s interview, “An African Voice,” he says “You have leaders who see nothing wrong in inciting religious conflict.
Prior to the British Colonies declaring their independence from the British rule, the English colonization was more or less an extension of the “European’ nation to expand markets and trade. The British Empire in America was at first a small and weak society however, the civilization of the colonist had transformed into a “large complex society.” A very distinct society had developed in the colonies, they had begun to grow apart from the British Empire. The colonist had engaged in colonial self-rule: governed themselves. However, one contributing factor t...
Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" is, as Edward Said says, a story about European "acts of imperial mastery" (1503)-its methods, and the effects it has on human nature-and it is presumable that Conrad incorporates much of his own experience in the Congo and his opinions about imperialism into the story, as another recent critic also suggests: "he seems to approve of Marlow," the narrator (Achebe 1492). These revelations of the author are conveyed to the reader through Marlow's observations, descriptions, reactions, and statements. While "Heart of Darkness" is at times very critical of European imperialism, that criticism for the most part is directed at the false idealistic claims made about the enterprise and the inefficient and savage methods employed by the Belgians; the book does not question imperialism when undertaken competently, particularly by the British.