Tooba Sheikh

"Things Fall Apart" first of three novels from trilogy of Africa is alpha of English African literature. It shows the explicit difference between African values and advent of Christianity in Nigeria. Story starts in pre_colonial Africa portraying culture, norms, traditions and beliefs. Ibo culture is predominantly woven into the story which takes reader through Umuofian society. This is the story of Okonkwo, an African warrior and a stereotype masculine figure. Events are weaved beautifully and plots develops wonderfully leading ultimately to the tragedy. The overnight impact of colonial power is told aptly from a villager's perspective. This story shows the callousness, indifference and insensitivity of British colonial administrator when he chooses a title for his book on grounds of Okonkwo's suicide. Okonkwo's character has been portrayed vividly by showing him strong, headstrong, willful and proud. His violation of law expels him from his native land and he flees to his maternal village for seven years. After coming from exile to his Homeland he finds everything has changed on the arrival of British missionaries. The worst moment comes when Okonkwo's own son converts to Christianity which he staunchly opposes. If the villagers have rejected colonizers from the beginning, things might have come out differently. By the time they realize it was too late. His tragic death makes the end sad and brings the feelings of repulsion towards colonial powers. The collision of African and European cultures in the lives of people makes this text a masterpiece of African literature. Achebe's classic tragedy makes a mark in postcolonial narrative. It is a beautiful counter cannon to Joseph Conrad's dreary and offensive Heart of Darkness. I do recommend it for it is a real voice of all colonized peoples who go through the same situation and undergo almost same experience.