1. The Sacrificial Egg
Chinua Achebe

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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.”

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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