How does ikemefuna come to stay in umuofia

Ikemefuna is a fifteen-year-old boy from a neighboring clan, Mbaino, who is given up to Umuofia as a sacrifice for killing one of the women of Umuofia. In those three years, he grows very close to Okonkwo's family, especially Nwoye. Okonkwo even prefers him to his true son Nwoye, considering Ikemefuna to be a promising, hard-working young man. His murder, in which Okonkwo takes a part, haunts Okonkwo throughout the book. From the very beginning, Ikemefuna is the ultimate victim; his fate is completely out of his control since he is taken away by his family so early in life for a crime which he had no part in, nor any knowledge of.

In his new life, Ikemefuna is subject to the whims of his new father and the Umuofia elders, in whose hands his fate ultimately lies. Related Characters: Okonkwo , Ikemefuna , Ezinma. Related Themes:. Page Number and Citation : 64 Cite this Quote. Explanation and Analysis:. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance. Chapter 1. As a result, he comes to look after Ikemefuna , the doomed boy who is later sacrificed to the village of Umuofia by their neighbors Chapter 2.

The boy's name is Ikemefuna , and the narrator reveals that Ikemefuna 's sad story will continue to be told in Umuofia For the next three years, Ikemefuna lives in Okonkwo's household. When Ikemefuna joins Okonkwo's household, Okonkwo hands him over to his most senior wife, who asks if Chapter 4. The virgin is given to Udo as a wife, and Ikemefuna is placed in Okonkwo's care until the clan can decide what to do with him, Ikemefuna becomes popular in the household, and he grows very close with Nwoye in particular.

Ikemefuna came to the household only a few days before the Week of Peace, during which After the Week of Peace, Okonkwo begins preparing his seed-yams for planting. Nwoye and Ikemefuna help by counting, and occasionally Okonkwo allows them to prepare a few yams each.

Ikemefuna feels like a member of the family, telling his own folktales from the Mbaino. Chapter 5. His wives and children, however, are excited with the preparations, cleaning and decorating, and Ikemefuna in particular is excited to experience the feast.

Ikemefuna and the first wife's children file in with dinner pots, but Nwoye's sister comes empty-handed Chapter 7. Ikemefuna has spent three years in Okonkwo's household, becoming a part of his new family. Ezeudu arrives to speak with Okonkwo, informing him that the clan has decided to kill Ikemefuna. One day while Okonkwo and his sons are working on the walls of the compound, a great black cloud descends upon the town.

The villagers are joyful because they recognize the coming of the locusts, a great delicacy in Umuofia. Everyone sets out to catch them for roasting, drying, and eating. As Okonkwo, Nwoye, and Ikemefuna are happily eating the rare food, Ogbuefi Ezeudu, the oldest man of the village, calls on Okonkwo to speak to him privately.

He tells Okonkwo that the Oracle has decreed that Ikemefuna must be killed as part of the retribution for the woman killed three years before in Mbaino. He tells Okonkwo to take no part in the killing since the boy calls him "father. Later, Okonkwo tells Ikemefuna that he is going home to Mbaino, but the boy does not believe him. When Nwoye hears that his friend is leaving, he bursts into tears and is beaten by his father.

Many men of Umuofia accompany Ikemefuna to the outskirts of the village and into the forest. With Okonkwo walking near him, Ikemefuna loses his fear and thinks about his family in Mbaino.

Suddenly, Okonkwo drops to the rear of the group and Ikemefuna is afraid again. As the boy's back is turned, one of the men strikes the first blow with his machete.

Ikemefuna cries out to Okonkwo, "My father, they have killed me! Afraid to appear weak, Okonkwo kills Ikemefuna with his machete.