Things Fall Apart
Ikemefuna's Death
How Achebe hints at the tragedy to follow
How Achebe hints at the tragedy to follow
Ikemefuna is a young boy given to Umuofia by a neighboring village as tribute. Ikemefuna is sacrificed to prevent a war. He lives in Umuofia for three years, under Okonkwo's roof; Okonkwo looks at him as a son, and to Nwoye he becomes best friend and brother. He is killed by the tribe; out of fear that otherwise people will think him weak, Okonkwo participates in the boy's death.