Dozie was thirteen, a year is too “tomorrow older…Grandmama said Nonso far” (p.188) was her son’s only son, while Dozie was only a nwadiana, her The punishment daughter’s son”(p.188) (guilt) that follows the garden and the Rain is (p.189) snake “silver” never left your room with The tree that “She that laugh” [when reminiscing cracks when struck about her mother’s deep laugh by lightning the when saying goodnight to summer Nonso Nonso] (p.190) dies (p.189) both needed Nonso to get The avocado tree “You hurt… to make him less (191-192) loveable…Less able to take up your space”(p.195) Unnamed daughter (the protagonist) though you were not there. “As Sometimes she would pat your back and say in Igbo, it’s good you are learning, nne, this is how you will take care of you husband one day”(p.194) The moment before Nnonso’s accident: open “[a]n moment…[with] a sky washed clean” (p.196) are weeping, standing “You under the avocado tree”(p.197) Nwamgba; [description of Nwamgba]: The waters of the Agency; religion; ‘The Obierika; headstrong Oyi goddess (p.200) identity; cultural “sharp-tongued, Historian’ Anikwenwa daughter who had once imperialism (Michael); wrestled her brother to the Missionaries Afamefuna ground” (p.199) (Grace) Slavers Nwamgba being perceived by the local Catholic priest as Obierika’s grasping assertive”(p.209) cousins “troublingly people ruled over Anikwenwa “…since others not because they were baptised as better people but because they (p.208) ‘Michael’ had better guns”(p.204) The singlet and white men set up a court shorts given to “…the in Onicha where they judged following ‘Michael’ disputes”(p.205) his baptism (p.209)
Dozie was thirteen, a year older…Grandmama said Nonso was her son’s only son, while Dozie was only a nwadiana, her daughter’s son”(p.188) Rain is “silver” (p.189) “She never left your room with that laugh” [when reminiscing about her mother’s deep laugh when saying goodnight to Nonso] (p.190) “You both needed Nonso to get hurt… to make him less loveable…Less able to take up your space”(p.195) “As though you were not there. Sometimes she would pat your back and say in Igbo, it’s good you are learning, nne, this is how you will take care of you husband one day”(p.194) The moment before Nnonso’s accident: “[a]n open moment…[with] a sky washed clean” (p.196) “You are weeping, standing under the avocado tree”(p.197) “tomorrow is too far” (p.188) The punishment (guilt) that follows the garden and the snake The tree that cracks when struck by lightning the summer Nonso dies (p.189) The avocado tree (191-192) Unnamed daughter (the protagonist) ‘The Historian’ Nwamgba; Obierika; Anikwenwa (Michael); Afamefuna (Grace) [description of Nwamgba]: “sharp-tongued, headstrong daughter who had once wrestled her brother to the ground” (p.199) Nwamgba being perceived by the local Catholic priest as “troublingly assertive”(p.209) “…since people ruled over others not because they were better people but because they had better guns”(p.204) “…the white men set up a court in Onicha where they judged disputes”(p.205) The waters of the Oyi goddess (p.200) Missionaries Slavers Obierika’s grasping cousins Anikwenwa baptised as ‘Michael’ (p.208) The singlet and shorts given to ‘Michael’ following his baptism (p.209) Agency; religion; identity; cultural imperialism