As well as normal for an enthusiastic African girl, she actually is held accountable to own without having given this lady spouse, Ezekiel, over a couple college students, just one at which is actually a guy. The unique begins with Ma Blackie, mom out of Aku-nna and Nna-nndo, making the woman members of the family. This lady has returned to the girl native community, Ibuza, to strengthen the girl virility.
Shortly after her partner’s passing, Ma Blackie try observed from the the woman inactive husband’s older brother and you may has to take their youngsters back into Ibuza. Ma Blackie isn’t the simply girlfriend from the sis, but she gratefully takes this lady invest their friends, at some point getting pregnant toward brother’s child.
With lifetime into the Ibuza rooted in conventional tradition, Ma Blackie really does the woman best to adhere to what is questioned out-of this lady. She along with attempts to abuse the lady students so that they, also, might possibly be approved and not become a shame. If the the lady youngsters do not comply, it will seem to the newest villagers, Ma Blackie’s members of the family, that she has rotten the girl college students. When certainly one of this lady people vacations some of the norms out-of community existence, Ma Blackie is quick so you’re able to in public places humiliate them. Ma Blackie usually uses a rough tone of voice together daughter, due to the fact Aku-nna tries to totally free by herself on the subjugation enforced of the Ibuza tribe.
In the beginning, Ma Blackie takes into account herself happy you to definitely the woman children provides turned out very well. The woman is a clever businesswoman, along with some of the currency the girl husband has leftover the lady, this woman is able to conserve by herself regarding the far more real errands requisite off other village females. She actually is along with certainly one of the new professional of your own village as the she can be able to publish their children to school.
Finally, Ma Blackie tries her better to save her child. Despite the fact that their the newest partner divorces their on account of this new shame Aku-nna has taken towards their nearest and dearest, Ma Blackie attempts to avoid the new curse that this husband features apply the girl daughter’s lives. She exits the story for the a variety of cultural dilemma, purchasing good witch doctor so you’re able to avoid the woman second husband’s curse and you can after that praying on the Goodness of the Christians to assist the girl from the birth off the girl the new boy.
Ezekiel Odia
Aku-nna’s dad, Ezekiel Odia, are directly introduce simply in the 1st couple pages of your own facts. He’s got endured an ailing legs since the helping the british soldiers from inside the World war ii. His death is the stimulant for all the remarkable changes in Aku-nna’s existence. Emecheta spends the fresh dad’s funeral service introducing the culture conflict anywhere between the newest Anglican rituals of one’s Christian faith system while the indigenous rituals of your Ibo tribe.
He was trapped in the middle of his African way of life and the methods of your Europeans
In the event Ezekiel dies, his presence try believed on facts because Aku-nna usually wonders just how the woman lives would have been more had the girl father existed 
. Got he lived, she’d have cultivated right up inside Lagos, a location whose community is much more modern than the way of life regarding the woman nation relatives. But Ezekiel, not citified, however was able of many antique means. While he got his relationship privileged in the Anglican Church and you will offered within the an area Christian providers, the guy nevertheless sent his wife toward conventional gods away from his members of purchase to improve their virility, very she could promote him another child. Ezekiel, whatsoever, had paid down a top bride-to-be rate to own his spouse, and then he experienced he’d a directly to significantly more sons. Got he resided, Aku-nna’s lifetime could have perhaps not differed as much as she imagines.
Aku-nna welcomes the information one their dad best sons. She knows that “she try also insignificant to be thought to be a true blessing to it unfortunate marriage.” Ezekiel pitied Aku-nna because the she is short for the build and light in colour. However, her label, which intended “father’s wide range,” the guy provided to her, “comprehending that the actual only real consolation he might trust out of the lady will be their fiance rates.” Ezekiel’s final terms to help you his girl is actually: “Always remember your mine.” This declaration try afterwards frequent of the Chike, Aku-nna’s future husband, representing one to an enthusiastic African woman constantly is part of one: their dad within birth, the woman partner upon relationship.