Title:   AJIJA AS IGBO COSMO-ONTOLOGICAL AGENT OF DESTRUCTION IN ACHEBE’S ARROW OF GOD

Abstract
Arrow of God, a complex-structure text has enjoyed a lot of critical attention, but several
events in it as constructed by Achebe are still seen in new lights. As many critics have studied
the work from the view points of African history, cultural conflict, conflict between tradition
and modernity, arrogation of excessive power and individual extremism among others.
questions have not specifically been asked about what really ‘beats the drum to which Ezeulu
dances’ (132), especially seeking to know what makes the chief character behave/act the way
he shouldn’t have acted. Attempts may have been made to answer this question in some ways,
however, this paper sets out to address this vital question through the instrumentality of
Ajijawhich Opata says, ‘is a force which makes an individual do all the wrong things in a
situation where ordinarily the individual would have done all the right things’ (10). It works by
‘carrying away’ a person’s mind and by beclouding one’s reasoning. The stupefaction that Ajija
causes is said to range from making one to commit one dishonourable act or another, leading
to minor misfortunes and to death. The aim, therefore, is to argue that Ezeulu’s actions and
decisions were not ordinarily or self-inspired. A force was behind it, not that of the ultimate
power as the leader and Chief Priest of Ulu but something beyond his control. The end of
events in the novel truly reveal that Ezeulu and other characters like Akukalia, Obika and even
Umuaro as a community are afflicted with the destructive influence of Ajija. This, validates
Opata’s suspicion that the Igbo nation might be under the same spell owing to the way we
have hastily abandoned our cultural values and traditional practices.
Keywords: Ajija force, Igbo Cosmology, Irreversibility, Destructiveness/ Death, Achebe,
Opata

Citations:

Publication Date: 2021-07-09