Arrival of missionaries Chapter 16 Page 126 When the white man spoke, he spoke through an interpreter who was

s an Ibo man, though his dialect was different and harsh to the ears of Mbanta. This shows that since the dialect is different, these men were from a far-away tribe . this indicates that the white mans influence was already felt in many, many other villages that are far, far away from Mbanta and Umuofia. This shows that the black men had prior relationship with the white man and interpreter. the interpreter said that he was one of them, as they could see from his colour and his language. The other four men were also their brothers although one of them did not speak Ibo. The white man was also their brother because they were all sons of God. This introduces the concept of equality and acceptance. Since one of their own could communicate with the white man and the white man was also their brother, we realize that the white men has been in Ibo society for quite some time and he has been in close connection with Ibo society for a while. When the interpreter mentions that the other four black men were also their brother, although one of them did not speak Ibo, we realize that the white men are very established in Ibo society and are very connected to them. Although he is black and a part of Ibo society, he did not speak the same language and could only speak the white mens language. He talks also about this new God, the creator of all the men and women. This indicates that men and women were equal, which tells us that this might be one of the reasons why women joined the converts, as they were enticed by the idea of being on equal standing with the men in the village instead of having to be subservient to them. The interpreter also mentioned that they worshipped false gods, gods of wood and stonethat true God lived on high and that all men when they died went before Him for judgment. Evil men and all the heathen who in their blindness bowed to wood and stone were thrown into a fire that burned like palm-oil. But good men who worshipped the true God lived for ever in His happy kingdom. This introduces the concept of heaven and hell in Mbanta, telling the native Ibo men that if you worshipped God, you will go to heaven but if you worshipped other gods, you would go to hell. He is also trying to tell them that if you reform from your evil ways, leave their false gods and turn to him, you would be saved. Your buttocks understand our language. The name-calling of the Ibo people tells us that they didnt take him seriously. They treated him as a joke. This tells us that the church and the white mans mission was initially rejected by the Ibo people. Your gods are not alive. This is one of the things that, upon reflection, the Ibo people realize that its true. When someone questioned Where is the white mans horse?, the white man smiled benevolently and said that I shall bring many iron horses when we

have settled down among them. This tells us that this wasnt just a passing trip through Mbanta, but that the white man was going to build a mission there. Evangelism This has the power of breaking the silence in dusty chords in hearts of Ibo people as a lot of them harbor secret thoughts about Ibo practices, eg. Throwing away of twins. But they have not the heart [scared] to question their family members and friends. The song also attracted a Brothers who lived in darkness and in fear. The new religion felt that those who were in darkness would want to be rescued. The song attracted many people to the white mans religion because the song was about brothers who lived together in darkness, in fear and told of one sheep out of the hills, of bringing the sheep back to Jesus. Nwoye was captivated by the song but it wasnt the mad logic of the Trinity that captivated him as he did not understand it. Instead, it was the poetry of the new religion, something felt in the marrow. This shows how Nwoye was like Unoka, with the ability to respond from the lyrical poetry of the new religion. The thing that responded to the poetry of the new religion was felt very deep down. Nwoye was a person that responds to feelings. The hymn answered a vague and persistent question that haunted his young soul-the question of the twins crying in the bush and the question of Ikemefuna who was killed. this tells us of his deep love for Ikemefuna and the betrayal he felt when he was killed, so much that he cant even forget about it now. Everything that happened in Umuofia and Mbanta was the question. The hymn answered a vague and persistent question that haunted him.