Irony of Men
The author has promulgated the ironical behavior and their thoughts regarding women through her novel. There is an irony in the way women are mistreated by men. The men humiliate and sexually assault them just because they think that women are created to cater the needs of men. They consider that the sole purpose of women is to fulfil the desires of men. It has been depicted in the novel through the story of Tia, “You know how the story ends. He escaped and went on to become the greatest chief Suntown ever had. He never built a shrine, or a temple or even a shack in the name of Tia. In the Great Book, her name is never mentioned again. He never mused about her, or even asked where she was buried. Tia was a virgin. She was beautiful. She was poor. And she was a girl. It was her duty to sacrifice her life for his.” It is considered a woman’s obligation to sacrifice her life for a man. Instead of viewing women as normal human beings with their own needs and desires, the men believe that they are born to assist them in fulfilling their desires.
Irony of Rape
There is an irony in the allegations that are put on women. The women are held responsible for their rapes and instead of consoling them, the society treats them as outcasts. Najeeba was thrown out of her tribe owing to her rape and she was mentally tortured because of her rape. The author asserts that the women are blamed for being sexually assaulted by men because the men provides their beauty as a justification for their actions. “The girl was so lovely even her father couldn't resist her.” The rapes and incest are justified on the basis of mesmerizing beauty of the girls.
Irony of Ewu
Onyesonwu and Mwita were called Ewu child by the society owing to their birth as a result of the sexual assault of their mothers. They were called the child of mixed race I.e. Ewu. Although it was not their fault to be born Ewu, they are punished by the society for their hybrid race. They were lingering somewhere between their black and white identities. It is ironical that the society halts them from participating in societal matters but Onyesonwu holds her opinion regarding political matters. She doesn't follow the societal opinions and help children like her to become aware of their rights.
Irony of Colonization
The Nuru tribe attacks its neighboring tribes and Okeke tribe was one of those who suffered devastation at the hands of Nuru tribe. They were the colonizers who not only wanted to colonize the land but also raped the colonized women. They captivated their minds and disrupted the identities of future generations. Onyesonwu was one such example of the result of this colonization. Najeeba suffered owing to her rape and was discarded by her society along with her child due to being physically colonized by Onyesonwu's father.
