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The Sacrificial Egg Chinua Achebe
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Postcolonialism Achebe is Nigerian Nigeria was a British colony
“Literature in English” – NOT English literature. Rich cultural content Cannot be fully understood if the Nigerian culture is omitted. Nkwo Day, akara, mai-mai, Kitikpa, ekwe, mammy-wota
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Setting Nigeria Bank of the Niger Umuru Market After 1920
Julius went to Umura after his education. Smallpox was still in Nigeria in 1970’s
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Julius Obi Julius Obi Passed Standard Six
Julius – English name of Polish or German origin Obi – African, Igbo for "heart." A form of religious belief of African origin involving sorcery. Passed Standard Six Education system under British rule, the examination after completing primary education Considered himself “educated.”
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Binaries Umura Market Niger Company Nigerian British
(clean) (busy, dirty, crowded) Educated (Julius) Uneducated (Ma) Less superstitious Surperstitious (resistance) Exchange of goods trade by money
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Symbols - Signs Native vocabularies (Nkwo, akara …) Non-European
Green Uniform Nigerian Dark crescent, dark bodies Death Magic, deities, night spirits Superstitious The sacrificial egg Bad omen, warning sign Typewriter educated/knows how to write
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British/Foreigners (fearsome figures)
Night Spirit Superstitious British/Foreigners (fearsome figures) “Its voice rose high and clear in the still, black air.” – helicopters “the rattling staff of the spirit and a thundering stream of esoteric speech.” – English/foreign language
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White man’s influence Disease: smallpox Death
Religion: Folklore/Cult Christianity Education: uneducated educated Market: Once every four days daily market (river port). Clean, exchange of goods dirty, crowded, usage of money empty
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