Chapter Five Summary

The Festival of the New Yam was approaching and all of Umuofia was in a mood for festivities. They revered and prayed to Ani, the earth goddess who is the most important deity in Igbo society. All wealthy men were expected to invite large hordes of guests for meals and since Okonkwo had three wives, he had a lot of visiting relatives. However, Okonkwo did not enjoy the laziness of festive entertainment.

In idleness and with not much else to do, Okonkwo became angry at his second wife for cutting a few leaves from a banana tree in the compound; none of his other wives could stop him apart from pleading from a distance. Having vented his anger, Okonkwo set out to hunt with his gun; he was a poor hunter and the beaten wife made a comment about this. It enraged Okonkwo enough to shoot his gun at her, but she was unhurt. Even though he did it in anger, he rushed to ensure that his wife was okay.

On the first day of the new year, Okonkwo’s relatives arrived from afar. They feasted and made merry until the late hours of the night. On the second day, a wrestling match was held. Okonkwo’s second wife Ekwefi, who he had beaten up, loved wrestling matches. Okonkwo had won her heart, many years ago, by winning a big fight and even though he had been too poor to marry her then, she had eloped with him years later.

Ekwefi and her daughter prepared a meal and were visited by Okonkwo’s first wife, who needed hot coals to build a fire. Ekwefi’s daughter went to help her. Soon, the wrestling match started; the beating of the drums excited Okonkwo as much as it had done in his youth, when he used to compete too.

Ekwefi’s daughter Ezinma brought a meal to her father Okonkwo’s hut and even though Okonkwo was strict with her about feminine mannerisms, he was deeply fond of her. He spent time with his other daughters as he ate and the palpable excitement of the evening wrestling match began to build.

Chapter Five Analysis

In scenes of domesticity, Okonkwo is shown with his wives and children. He beats up one of his wives for no reason, which goes to show that men are the principal heads in a family and how domestic violence is part of everyday life. He is stern with his wives and daughters but he is caring and loving too. He makes small talk with his daughters and is excited, like a young man, by the impending wrestling match.

Even though Okonkwo is a serious man, he is not immune to the raucous excitement of sport.