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In the story, Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, egwugwu are the spirits of the ancestors of Nigerian tribes. Great men of these tribes wear masks that can have a rather terrifying look about them, which is exactly how it is supposed to make you feel.

The most disgraceful things you can do to an egwugwu would be to unmask it in public, which kills the spirit. When an egwugwu dies, the mother spirit cries a dreadful cry for the death of her son for a week.

The egwugwu were also summoned whenever the villagers needed to settle disputes in a court. The spirits of the ancestors were said to be the highest judges in the land.

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9y ago
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12y ago

Like any religion, they serve as symbols of the gods and their divine will.

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Q: What is an egwugwu?
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Related questions

What was done to the egwugwu that caused them to be angry?

One of the egwugwu was unmasked, killing the egwugwu.


Who unmasked an egwugwu?

Enoch, a Christian convert, unmasks an egwugwu, killing it.


What is the name of the chief egwugwu?

The chief egwugwu is called Evil Forest.


Was okonkwo in things fall part a spirit?

Okonkwo did play the role of an egwugwu in the egwugwu court.


Who do the egwugwu represent?

"Egwugwu" is used in Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe to represent the gods.


Why does Enoch's unmasking of the egwugwu encourage the clan?

Enoch's unmasking of the egwugwu enrages the clan, and forces them into option.


Why are there nine people in the egwugwu clan?

Each egwugwu represents a village of the clan. There are nine villages in the clan.


Why did the egwugwu gather In Things Fall Apart?

The egwugwu gather for several reasons:FestivalsCourtFuneralsRevenging the death of one of their own.


What is the egwugwu ceremony in the igbo culture?

Egwugwu were present in many ceremonies in the Igbo culture. They were present at funerals of honoured men, to pay homage to dead warriors. There was also an egwugwu court, where they would preside over cases among mortals.


What happened when Enoch unmasked an egwugwu?

When Enoch unmasked an egwugwu in Chinua Achebe's novel "Things Fall Apart," it was seen as a great offense because the egwugwu represented powerful ancestral spirits. The unmasking disrupted the traditional order and caused outrage among the clan members, leading to serious consequences for Enoch and his family.


What is the purpose of the egwugwu in Things Fall Apart?

The egwugwu act as the embodiment of ancestral spirits and serve as judges in the Igbo community, resolving disputes and upholding traditional beliefs and customs. They are also a way to maintain order and ensure justice within the society.


What is the women's attitude towards the egwugwu?

The women's attitude towards the egwugwu is that they are to respect them. They are not to go to their house, yet they are the ones to paint the walls on the outside