Characters
Efuru Ogene: protagonist; her mother died; strong, caring, independent woman; twice married and divorced; wealthy; mother of one daughter who died; worships Uhamiri Adizua: Efuru’s first husband; poor farmer; his father left his family; father to Ogonim; does not attend Ogonim’s funeral; cheats on Efuru Eneberi/Gilbert: Efuru’s second husband; hardworking; cheats on Efuru; blames her of infidelity; does not attend Efuru’s father’s funeral |
Nwashike Ogene: Efuru’s father; portrayed as courageous and wealthy man; inherited all of his father’s and grandfather’s wealth and wives; loved Efuru’s mother the most; collaborated in the slave trade; dies during the course of the novel
Ajanupu: Adizua’s aunt, mother figure to Efuru; came from poverty; mother of 8; outgoing woman Ossai: Adizua’s mother, mother figure to Efuru; reserved woman, unlike her sister Ajanupu; left by her husband and son; almost dies during the course of the novel Nwosu: Ogea’s father; poor farmer; indebted to Efuru Nwabata: Ogea’s mother; came from some money but lives in poverty; indebted to Efuru Ogea: Daughter of Nwosu and Nwabata; Efuru’s maid/ daughter figure; married off to Gilbert Ogonim: Efuru and Adizua’s child; died from convulsions at the age of 2 Amede: Gilbert’s mother Nnona: Gate keeper; had a bad leg; Efuru pays for her surgery Uhamiri: Goddess of the lake; in Nwapa’s novel, she grants wealth but not children to her followers; Click here to learn more about Uhamiri. Dr. Uzaru: A medical doctor from Onitsha; grew up with Efuru Omirima: Town gossip; possible relative of Amede Sunday Eneke: Gilbert’s friend and Nkoyeni’s brother Nkoyeni: Gilbert’s second wife; had his child; sister of Sunday; had to leave school at the age of 19 in order to satisfy Gilbert’s needs Enesha Agorua: Dibia who is close to Efuru’s father |
Definitions
Igbos: Ethnic group native to the present-day south-central and southeastern Nigeria; developed as an ethnic identity relatively recently; these communities before decolonialization and the Nigerian Civil War were historically fragmented and decentralized; according to Chinua Achebe, this identity should be placed somewhere between a tribe and a nation; since the defeat of the Republic of Biafra in 1970 they are sometimes classified as a “stateless nation”; they led the secession of the Republic of Biafra; Flora Nwapa identifies as this
Kola: the fruit from the trees that are native to the tropical rainforests of Africa; caffeine-containing fruit of the tree used as a flavoring ingredient in beverages; origin of the term “cola” Polygyny: the practice or custom of having more than one wife at the same time; most accepted form of polygamy; only form of polygamy permitted in Muslim-majority countries Dibia: folk medicine practitioner Orisha: (in Southern Nigeria) any of several minor gods Yaws: A tropical infection of the skin, bones, and joints (caused by spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum pertenue); the disease begins with a round, hard swelling of the skin 2-5 centimeters in diameter Dowry: Property or money brought by a bride to her husband on their marriage Okita: Owner of the Great River; supposed to be married to Uhamiri with whom he quarrels Onicha: Government area of Ebonyi State, Nigeria Ndoni: Government area of Rivers State, Nigeria Ugwata: Also called Oguta, which is a town on the east bank of Oguta Lake in Imo State of southeastern Nigeria; made up of 27 villages; one of the special African communities in that status and recognition are not biologically based (so accomplished women can break kola nuts) Nkwo Day: fourth of the four market days; ceremonial day for weddings, funerals, and other celebrations Orie Day: second of the four market days; day of slaughter, feast, and sacrifice Biafra: This group represented nationalist aspirations of the Igbo people, whose leadership felt they could no longer coexist with the Northern-dominated federal government; they attempted to leave Nigeria Chinua Achebe: The father of African literature; a Nigerian novelist, poet, professor, and critic. His book, Things Fall Apart (1958) is often considered his best and is the most widely read book in modern African literature; raised in an Igbo town and supported Biafran independence; editor of Heinemann’s African Writers’ Series; read and recommended Efuru for publication |
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VERA:Important Scenes
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The End of Efuru’s First Marriage (“Efuru came back after a month and vowed that it was over with her and Adizua. She told herself that even if Adizua came back and begged her on his knees with a bag of money, she would not listen to him...”)
Gilbert’s Infidelity (“‘Oh, you want to spend another night in the town. I won’t stop you. But remember that thieves could come at night and steal all the corn we have bought. Then we shall go home empty-handed. It will be your folly, and I shall tell mother how it happened.’ Gilbert did not say a word. When it was night, he went out. He came back at about midnight...”) Exchange between Dibia and Efuru’s Father (“He respected Nwashike Ogene, and he too knew the story. So he was the only person to whom he could open his heart...”) Efuru’s Father’s Death and Disclosure (“The booming of the cannons was announcing the departure of a great son, the last of the generation that had direct contact with the white people who exchanged their cannons, hot drinks and cheap ornaments for black slaves ...”) |