Arrow of God. Gods play games with us. They infact through
arrows (in modern times they throw bullets and tsunami) the way we hunt lions
and elephants. They harass our virgins and make lives bitter when infact life
is bitter. So Chinua Achebe brings us to this point- we are instruments of
gods. They use us against others and against self.
The novel, first honoured by the writer as the ‘best’ if you
read the introduction is a masterpiece build up on Things Fall Apart. The ‘Pacification
of the Primitive Tribes of Lower Niger’, was published and read by Wintabota.
Funny. In the novel we experience a picture of true African homes on matters of
family and friendship when it comes to moments of conflict. Ezeulu’s family
will have to suffer big to destruction now that there are no enough resources
to counter the stressors. Hill’s ABCX model explains that best.
What took me to the novel after reading it five years ago in
High school is the love for the moon. Of late I love the celestial body. How
the old man sat to see the weak confused-sitting sign in the heavens. We can
read our way to destruction. Peter James writes that people know when they are
going to die. To enjoy health and suffering you should have knowledge of both.
Have that knowledge in health first.
What strikes me most is the religious confinement that
thrusts the community to success. Unlike our modern monotheistic religions,
good and evil resided in gods. One god could be with you and the other kill
you, they believed. There are still liars, adulters and thieves. Some Igbo’s
think they are Israelites. My boss will tell you that African took Christianity
to Europe but in another way. The game of gods is that painful apart from
making your arms grow like a woman’s limb.
It does not take you a regret to denounce simple beliefs
like Christianity. Reading opens up the world to emancipation. The greatest
emancipation is to believe in nothing. The python is not a Jehova thing. The snake is not an Eden's inhabitant. Stories of snakes and spirituality are traditions. When you read religion you read traditions. And the best tradition is that which you design in your times- dancing to the age's music. However you won't run from initial discomforts.
I am undecided to what I should study after my degree and literature seems the leeway. African Literature- home to mankind. If I told you that I ever dreamt that I will teach literature in future will I sound stupid? Then I knew only of social work. But that is not spirituality...is it? If you want to drink from the African calabash, read the
book: read such books.
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| Read and you will connect dots. |
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