Things Fall Apart Uchendu’s Speech

Uchendu’s Speech: Saving Ourselves My friends and fellow Ibo, I come to tell you the evils of the abomination called Christianity. To see what I have seen in my homeland Mbanta, I cannot look upon these people with respect and camaraderie. They have stolen our brothers and sisters, angered our gods, and assaulted our age old culture. As a member of this tribe, I cannot stand by and watch the destruction of our people’s traditions. My son-in-law, Okonkwo, was known throughout his fatherland and all neighboring villages as one of the greatest men of his time.
His achievements were famous, and he had always hoped his son would carry on his legacy. His oldest son, Nwoye, had betrayed Okonkwo by converting to the new religion. You may ask how one can ignore the lessons of his father and the examples of hard work, dedication, and loyalty to our customs. But the even the protective mother lion can lose her young cub who runs after a little bug. Nwoye was intrigued by the new people, and unfortunately he had been tainted; he did not want to return to us.
I understand the Christians say they teach our people civil behavior, but to take a young boy away from his own father is just inhumane. We must raise our children right and protect our sons and daughters from being taken by the Christians. They tear families apart. They have soiled our tribe, our traditions, and our hopes. If this continues, Mbanta, Umuofia, and Mbaino will be no more unless we stick to our customs. If our sons and daughters convert to the new religion, any hopes of preserving our history will be ruined.