b. Perceptions of Obi’s Friends
Obi has two close friends. They are Joseph and Christopher. Joseph is an uneducated person. However, he still holds on to Ibo tradition firmly. Christopher
is different from Joseph. He is an educated person but he has a good understanding of living in two different cultures.
In Joseph’s opinion, Obi is lucky to know that Clara is an osu from the beginning. Joseph feels that it is great to know it as early as possible because he
knows the fact that an osu cannot marry a freeborn. According to Joseph, it is better for Obi to end his relationship with Clara since he cannot marry her.
“The very thing I was thinking to ask you. I was thinking how such a good and beautiful girl could remain unmarried until now.” Obi was
undressing absentmindedly. “Anyhow, you are lucky to know at the beginning. No harm is done yet. The eye is not harmed by sleep,” Joseph
said some what pointlessly. He noticed that Obi was not paying any attention. 81
Joseph is closer to the Ibo tradition than Obi. He knows that in Ibo society, there is no one who is willing to marry an osu because marrying an osu is
prohibited. In Joseph’s opinion, Obi’s decision to marry Clara rebels against Ibo tradition. Therefore, Joseph thinks that Obi’s decision to marry an osu is wrong.
That is why Joseph tells Obi that he is better not to marry Clara. “Look at me,” said Joseph, getting up and tying his coverlet as a loincloth.
He now spoke English. “You know book, but this is no matter for book. Do you know what an osu is? But how can you know?” In that short
question he said in effect that Obi’s mission – house upbringing and European education had made him a stranger in his country-the most
painful thing one could say to Obi. 82 The fact that Clara is an osu makes Joseph come up to the idea that Obi’s
parents will not allow him to get married to Clara. Joseph is sure with his idea
because he knows exactly that Obi’s family hold Ibo tradition firmly. Ibo families will not allow their sons or daughters to marry an osu.
“We came away. We couldn’t possibly stay after that. By the way, we are now engaged. I gave her a ring this afternoon.”
“Very good,” said Joseph bitterly. He thought for a while and asked: “Are you going to marry the English way or are you going to ask your people to
approach her people according to custom?” “I don’t know yet. It depends on what my father says.”
“Did you tell him about it during you visit?” “No, because I hadn’t decided then.”
“He will not agree to it,” said Joseph. “Tell anyone that I said so.” “I can handle them,” said Obi, “especially my mother.” 85
According to Joseph, marrying an osu is not a good choice. Marrying an
osu will put Obi in difficulties in the future. There are bad consequences of
marrying an osu. The consequences are not only for the one who marries the osu but also for his generations in the future. According to Joseph, Obi’s decision to
marry Clara is irrelevant since it is not the time to marry anybody freely. Joseph’s statements imply that Ibo society holds the rules of the tradition firmly.
“Look at me, Obi.” Joseph invariably asked people to look at him “What you are going to do concerns not only yourself but your whole family and
future generations. If one finger brings oil it soils the others. In future, when we are all civilized, anybody may marry anybody. But that time has
not come. 86
Christopher is an educated person like Obi but his understanding of living in two different cultures makes him have different view from Obi. Although he
has lived in another country like Obi he still respects his own culture. He appreciates his culture by obeying the rules of his culture. Therefore, Christopher
states he does not want to marry an osu. According to him even though they are now educated it does not mean that they can neglect their traditional rules and
customs.
“You know, Obi,” he said, “I had wanted to discuss that matter with you. But I have learnt not to interfere in a matter between a man and a woman,
especially with chaps like you who have wonderful ideas about love. A friend came to me last year and asked my advice about a girl he wanted to
marry. I knew this girl very very well. She is, you know, very liberal. So I told my friend: ‘You shouldn’t marry this girl.’ Do you know what this
bloody fool did? He went and told the girl what I said. That was why I didn’t tell you anything about Clara. You may say that I am not broad-
minded, but I don’t think we have reached that stage where we can ignore all our customs. You may talk about education and so on, but I am not
going to marry an osu.” 163
Joseph and Christopher come from a different background of education but they have the same idea. Both believe that marrying an osu is forbidden in Ibo
society. The fact that Joseph and Christopher have the same idea that they will not marry an osu shows that they obey Ibo’s traditional rules and customs.
Igwe’s and Agbasiere’s statements about Igbo’s caste system and Igbo’s marriage tradition shows that Joseph and Christopher stand against Obi’s decision
to marry an osu. It is so because Joseph and Cristopher know that marrying an osu will bring Obi to more complicated problems in the future.
c. Perceptions of Obi’s Parents
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