Things Fall Apart Introduction
Ibo Culture Jigsaw
DUE: __________________________
Objective: To increase familiarity with various ideas and practices of the Ibo people, thereby increasing
comprehension of our study of Things Fall Apart.
Assignment:
 In groups, you will research various aspects of Ibo (a Nigerian tribe) culture.
 Each group member will learn about one of those aspects and teach their three group members that
information.
 Then, in your group, you will create a summary poster together.
Process:
Part One in the library/computer lab: ____________________
1. In your groups, choose one role:
 Spiritual Advisor
 Event Planner
 Historian
 Cultural Expert
2. Use the provided links (on the back) to research and take notes on the “Must Haves” for your role. Use
these as a starting point, but you should use other (reputable!) sources.
Note: the Wikipedia links provide a place to start only. From that page, you can find other resources in
the References and/or External Links sections.
3. After researching your role, prepare notes that you will use while teaching your group members the
information you learned.
4. Your group will turn in one correctly-formatted Works Cited page of all the resources you used. If
you’re using sites like easybib.com, ALWAYS double-check what it gives you against the Purdue
Online Writing Lab (OWL) link on my website and the instructions Ms. Bacon gave you.
Note: you will NOT have any Wikipedia entries; only those resources obtained from Wikipedia.
5. Select at least five images that directly connect to your information. Bring them to class on
_____________ for your group’s poster.
Note: The source(s) of your images will be part of your Works Cited page as well.
Part Two in class: ____________________
1. Meet with your group to teach them what you have learned.
2. With your group, create a poster of your group’s information. You will use a large sheet of butcher
paper provided by the teacher so think big, visual, and creative. Use the images you brought as
inspiration to incorporate into your poster. Follow the color scheme for your information: Blue-spiritual
advisor info, orange-event planner info, purple-historian, green-cultural expert.
Group member contact information:
Role Descriptions, ‘Must Haves,’ and Sources
(Control-Click on each of the links to go to the website):
Role
Spiritual
Advisor
Topic:
Religion &
spiritual
beliefs of
Ibo tribe
Role
Event
Planner
Topic:
Festivals &
Foods of the
Ibo tribe
Role
Historian
Topic:
Origins &
History of
Ibo tribe
Role
Cultural
Expert
Topic: Ibo
People &
Culture
Must Haves
 Tribe’s religious beliefs
 Role of ancestors
 Role of spirits
 Concept of chi
 Things considered shameful
 Beliefs regarding death
 Read “Praise Songs for Orishas” (red literature
book page 642-649) and explain how it relates to
your topic.
Starting sources
http://www.gatewayafrica.com/tribe/igbo_tribe.html
Must Haves
 What is the yam festival?
 What does it symbolize?
 Rituals/practices associated with the festival.
 Significance of the yam
 What is the kola nut?
 How is it used?
 Explain its social & ritual role.
 Explain the tradition & purpose of wrestling.
 Read “Tales of Anansi the Spider” (red literature
book page 650-657) and explain how it relates to
your topic.
Starting sources
Must Haves
 Location
 Approximate date of origin
 Characteristics of traditional Ibos
 First contact with Europeans. Why?
 Effect of imperialism
 Goods traded
 Relationship with Europeans
 Read “The First Bard Among the Soninke” (red
literature book page 628-631) and explain how it
relates to your topic.
Starting sources
http://www.qub.ac.uk/en/imperial/nigeri
a/origins.htm
Must Haves
 Dress
 Language
 Daily life
 Village life/leadership
 Role of women
 Hospitality
 Political system
 Patriotism
 Read “How the World was Created from a Drop of
Milk” (red literature book page 624-627) and
explain how it relates to your topic.
Starting sources
http://www.qub.ac.uk/en/imperial/nigeri
a/religion.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igbo_myth
ology
http://www.emeagwali.com/nigeria/cuis
ine/igbo-new-yam-festival.html
http://kaleidoscope.igbonet.com/culture/
kolanutseries/jukaegbu/
http://www.everyculture.com/wc/Maurit
ania-to-Nigeria/Igbo.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igbo_%28p
eople%29
http://www.oraifite.com/bed-timestory/oraifite-folk-stories/
http://www.africaguide.com/culture/trib
es/ibo.htm
http://ibopeople.com/igbotradition/igbo-culture-and-socialization