Chapter Seven Summary

As time went by, Ikemefuna became an integral part of Okonkwo’s family. He grew to become a supple and strong young man and was regarded as the oldest sibling. He used to be tremendously pleased when he was asked to do a masculine task but he feigned annoyance at the weakness of women.

Ikemefuna was now like an older brother to Nwoye, who seemed more lively in his company. The boys no longer spent time in their mother’s hut but were seen most often with Okonkwo. Okonkwo was pleased with the effect that Ikemefuna had on Nwoye—it made him a stronger man. He also liked his sons complaining about women because it implied that they would grow to be strong men who could control their womenfolk and children.

Okonkwo told the boys stories of the land—of wars and bloodshed, in an effort to instill masculinity in them but Nwoye secretly preferred the softer folktales that his mother used to tell him when he was a child. However, since it displeased his father, Nwoye pretended to be annoyed by stories meant for women and children and showed an interest in tales of war and violence. This year, the locusts came to Umuofia and ate all the wild grass. Okonkwo was working on repairing his compound’s outer walls with his sons, when the day went dark and all of Umuofia erupted in joyous chants of the arrival of the locusts. The excitement was because everyone knew, by instinct, that locusts were tasty to eat.

As Okonkwo and his boys enjoyed roasted locusts, he was visited by Ogbuefi Ezeudu—the oldest man in the village and known to have once been a fearless warrior. Ogbuefi informed Okonkwo that the village had decided to kill Ikemefuna but he must play no hand in it as the boy called him his father.

Okonkwo remained silent and lied to Ikemefuna that he would be sent home. Nwoye started crying at the news and was beaten up by his father for being weak. Ikemefuna had only vague memories of his real home and started feeling lost. He was aware that he was being lied to but couldn’t figure out the truth.

The next day, the village elders took Ikemefuna away. As they walked, Ikemefuna was at ease because Okonkwo was right behind him but he was overcome with thoughts of his actual mother and little sister.

Ikemefuna was suddenly struck down with a machete and as he ran toward Okonkwo for safety, Okonkwo himself cut him down, out of fear of being thought weak. As soon as Okonkwo returned home, Nwoye knew Ikemefuna had died and it snapped something inside him. He had felt a similar snapping when once, whilst returning home, he had heard the wails of an infant from the forest. He knew that twins were put in earthen pots and left in the forest to perish and hearing a baby crying had broken his tender heart. He felt the same way now, knowing his brother Ikemefuna was dead.

Chapter Seven Analysis

This chapter marks the onset of sadness in the novel, with the death of Ikemefuna. His death also results in the death of vitality in Nwoye, who had once lost heart when he learnt that his village leaves twin children to die in the forest. Nwoye is gentle and humane, and unfair deaths caused by human will alone hurt him more than they hurt others around him.