Wednesday, October 19, 2016

On the subject of Chi


From what I understand, chi in Igbo/Ibo culture is something similar to a guardian angel. Chi is a person's "personal god", whom you depend on for good health and fortune, as well as determining your destiny. Your chi is seen as a fragment of the "universal" chi, the god Chineke. At one point during Things Fall Apart, we learn that each person has a shrine to his or her chi in their own hut, showing that a person's chi is very important among society, maybe almost as important as the greater dieties. Also, on page 27 of the novel, it is said that "when a man says yes his chi says yes also". This further reinforces how a deeply intertwined a person's chi is with his or herself. All in all, chi seems to be very important among Igbo/Ibo culture, determining how one is viewed by the others in society.

1 comment:

  1. Well written, Chi is seen as a persons spirit,"When a man says yes his Chi says yes also"(Achebe 27). I didn't know this, better to know sooner or later. The quote is very helpful as can be seen.

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