Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe
List of Characters With Pronunciations
Okonkwo (Oh--kawn--kwoh)--The central character of Things Fall Apart A leader of the African Igbo
community of Umuofia (Oo--moo--oh--fee--ah),
known as a fierce warrior as well as a successful farmer, although he is a man
still in his thirties. He has three wives and several children who live in
their homes in his village compound. He is determined to overcome the stigma
left by his father's laziness and wastefulness.
Unoka (Ooh--no--kah)--Okonkwo's father, known for his
weakness and. lack of responsibility.
Nwoye (Nuh--woh--yeh)--Okonkwo's oldest son, age twelve at
the book's beginning. By nature, he is a sensitive young man.
Ikemefuna (Ee--keh--meh--foo.nah)--A boy of fourteen when he is
given to Umuofia by a neighboring village to avoid
war, he is a clever, resourceful young man.
Ekweft (Eh--kweh--fee)--Okonkwo's second wife, mother of Ezinma, her only living child.
Ezinma (Eh--zeen--mah)--Daughter of. Ekwefi and Okonkwo;
Ekwefi's only surviving. child.
Ojiubo (o h--jee--ooh--
boh)--Okonkwo's third wife and Mother of
several of Okonkwo's children.
Obierika (Oh--bee--air--ee--kah)--Okonkwo's best friend in Umuofia. He often represents the voice of reason. He is the
father of Maduka (son) and Ekuwke
(daughter).
Chielo (Chee--eh--loh)--A village widow who is also the priestess of Agbala.
Agbala (Ahg--bah--lah)-- The Oracle of the Hills and the Caves,
she influences all aspects of Umuofian life (based on
the real Oracle at Awka who controlled Igbo life for
centuries).
Mr. Brown-- The first white Christian
missionary in Umuofla arid Mbanta,
an understanding and accommodating man, he is inclined to listen to the Igbos.
Mr. Kiaga (Kee--ah--gah)--
The native interpreter for the missionaries, he is. a teacher and a leader of
the new church in Mbanta.
The Reverend
James Smith--
A strict, stereotypical white Christian missionary, he takes over the church
after Mr. Brown's departure
The District
Commissioner--
A stem, stereotypical white colonial administrator of Umuofia,
he follows regulations to the letter and has little knowledge or understanding
of the people for whom he tries to administer a new government.
--Peter N. Peregrine
Lawrence University
http://www.lawrence.edu/dept/freshman_studies/resource/fsachebe.html#_LIST_OF_CHARACTERS
Unoka ("Home
is supreme")
Nwoye (from nwa =
"child")
Okonkwo (from oko = attributes of
masculinity + nkwo = the third day of the Igbo
4-day week, the day on which Okonkwo was born)
--Cora Agatucci, Professor of
English, Central Oregon Community College
http://web.cocc.edu/cagatucci/classes/hum211/achebtfa.htm