The African Trilogy: Arrow of God (1964) By Chinua Achebe

 

The Arrow of God by Chinua Achebe is considered the second book of what has become known as The African Trilogy, independently written books which collectively create a timeline of colonialism in Nigeria.

I read and blogged the first book Things Fall Apart about a year ago.  In it, the arrival of Christian missionaries in Nigeria, is revealed as “the advance team” of colonialism.  Arrow of God represents the second act; English colonizers have arrived and established their military superiority over the country.  The conquerors then begin the groundwork of establishing “indirect rule” by anointing local villagers with government titles, largely bypassing the traditional Igbo village leadership structure. Of course, their selections are based on a loyalty test, not to the villages but to British magistrates.

In the book, Ezeulu, the Chief Priest of the six villages of the (fictional) Umuaro people, is the key protagonist.  He recognizes what is happening and resists the destruction of their way-of-life.  Yet, he also realizes his resistance is futile, the country having been militarily conquered will be completely colonized whether he likes it or not.  This is the source of the book’s title: Arrow of God, roughly and fatalistically translated from “God’s way.” So being, he sends one of his sons to missionary school to learn the way of the white man.   

This gets complicated. Ezeulu at first declines an invitation to come meet with the British Administrator, saying that he should come visit him in the village. He changes his mind the next day.  By then however, the Administrator has become seriously ill and hospitalized. In a comedy of errors, and as further proof of British arrogance, the Administrator’s subordinates, not knowing why he wanted to see Ezeulu, hold him as a prisoner for over two months. By the time the Administrator becomes well and offers to make Ezeulu a government appointed leader, the damage has been done.  Ezeulu declines.

The story ends with the Christian missionaries sabotaging Ezeulu’s power as Chief Priest with power over the planting/harvesting cycle of the village, by creating a Christian Harvest Festival to compete with/replace the traditional New Yam Festival.

The third book in The African Trilogy, No Longer at Ease, is on my reading list for later this year.

Recommendation:  Yes, an interesting primer on colonization.