Food Symbolism In Things Fall Apart

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As almost every culture does, the Ibo have a specific thing they add to every meal. Drinking and eating goes on at any cultural event or holiday and is a key part of any event to the Ibo people. In Things Fall Apart, we find out is symbolistic to the Ibo culture when the westerners come and tear them apart. Chinua Achebe is from Africa and he wanted people to see their point of view on the westerners coming onto their land and making it thiers. Even though it is fiction it is based on many true events that happened to the Africans. The Africans had their own way of life that worked for them and the westerners came in and introduced their way of life. Some were for it but the majority didn't like it but they didn't take action quick enough and it was to late when they decided it was time to take action. Even though the westerners tore them apart, before that food was and always will bring people together and food was a very key part for anything to the Ibo people.
Food in the Ibo culture brings everyone together and brings extra happiness to know that you are gonna have good food, but the food is a …show more content…

The yam is used in almost every food in the Ibo culture and is a very important crop to everyone. The yams were important at home but was also important at big events, “Traditionally, the yam was the food of choice for ceremonial occasions” (Igbo). The yam was used at almost every event because of the availability of the yam and ability to make it in bunches so it can feed a group of people. The yam means more to the Ibo than just food as well, “‘That women standing there is my wife, Mgbafo. I married her with my money and my yams…” (Achebe 54). The yam is used for much more in the Ibo culture than just as food it can be used to barter with someone and can be used as a type of money if you have enough of them. The yam was a staple food in the Ibo culture and it was worth much to the people of the Ibo