Chapter Fifteen Summary

Okonkwo, in his second year of exile, was visited by Obierika. In a discussion with the men, he narrated the story of the destruction of a village named Abame. All the residents had fled to Umuofia; apparently, a white man had entered their village. The Oracle of Abame had warned its people that the white man would cause destruction and more of his kind would come. He had not shown any violence toward the people but since he rode a carriage, he was too foreign for the tribe. Eventually, they killed him and tied his “iron horse” to a tree since they thought it to be a living thing that would run away to call its master’s associates. Soon after, three white men with Igbo people showed up at the village. They returned with a large band of men and shot everyone in the village on a busy market day.

Uchendu, who has been listening quietly until now, was seething with anger at the tribesmen for having killed an innocent man, which brought havoc upon themselves. At this point, Obierika pointed out that they had heard stories of men with guns and alcohol who took slaves away on ships but had never believed any of it to be true. Now, the same dangers seemed almost at their doorstep.

Uchendu’s words of wisdom to the young men were to believe every story and understand that not everything was always black and white.

Chapter Fifteen Analysis

Readers are introduced to accounts of slavery in this chapter. Further, Obierika’s narration of the destruction of a local village at the hands of white men is prophetic of the fate that awaits the Igbo clan of Umuofia and surrounding villages. Okonkwo’s uncle Uchendu proves to be the wisest man who warns the men of not making enough effort to travel and gather news of their surrounding villages. He is also deeply unhappy that a white man was killed, without reason, for simply visiting a village.