Gathering around Sister Henrietta after learning about the Igbo, Mrs. Gifford's 10A honors class thanks her for coming to visit. Photo by: Jack Bowen
By Logan Richards
By reading Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, Mrs. Gifford’s English 10 Honors classes learned about the story of the Igbo tribe from Nigeria and their culture. After Mrs. Gifford’s classes had finished reading the novel, Sister Henrietta, a member of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, a religious order with United States Headquarters in Donaldson, Indiana, came to Plymouth High School to speak to the classes regarding how values have changed and how they contrast to those of the U.S.
Listening intently to Sister Henrietta, Mrs. Gifford's English 10A Honors class learns about the cultures and traditions of the Igbo. Photo by: Jack Bowen
According to Sister Henrietta, the principle of home is incredibly important to Nigerians when compared to the U.S. The Igbo culture dictates that a tribesman’s home village or hometown is essential to a number of celebrations that are common around the world. For example, when a couple is to be married, they must return to the home village so their relatives can experience the joy along with them; however, a couple of Plymouth High School students would not be willing to do the same. Sister Henrietta describes that her father used to live in the city, and when he retired, he felt like he had to come back. Sister Henrietta goes on by saying, “Anything can happen in the city, but in the village, that’s your roots.”
Sophomore Brianna Gantz explains her experience of learning by saying, “I learned a lot about the Igbo tribe. For example, what they did to the twins when they were born. They killed them because they thought they were evil.” Sister Henrietta also put this and several misconceptions about Nigeria and the Igbo tribe to rest. When asked about polygamy in Nigeria, she answered by saying that it is not as common as it was in Things Fall Apart, because people are more educated now compared to before; however, there are a few members of the Igbo who still follow this practice. She tells that sometimes the husband “wants a male heir and wants to see if he can have a male child from a second or third wife.” She said that “most men are grateful for what they have.” With the introduction of Christianity, technology, and modern education the Igbo tribe has evolved since the days described in the novel Things Fall Apart. For example, the Igbo tribe used to follow the act of killing twins, calling twins a sin against nature, but again, as Sister Henrietta said, “People are educated,” and such acts are now history.
Describing the concepts of land ownership to Mrs. Gifford's 10A honors class, Sister Henrietta exposes the class to a whole new set of concepts and principles. Photo by: Jack Bowen
A major difference between the U.S. and Nigeria would be the importance of the male figure. Sister Henrietta said that when a father’s land is passed on, it usually goes to the sons in the family, and if no sons are available then it is passed on to the the father’s brothers. Sister Henrietta said, “Males are very important to us in the Igbo tribe.”
With the help of Sister Henrietta, many misconceptions of Nigeria and all of Africa have been laid to rest. This has definitely affected students’ views of the world. One sophomore, Hurford said, “I didn’t know how different people’s beliefs and traditions are in different places.”