How does the portrayal of music in Things Fall Apart and Open Water contribute to the
cultural fabric of both the Igbo society and urban London, and in what ways does music
serve as a dynamic force influencing and reflecting the values, traditions, and identity of
each character? Titles should be in italics, no quote marks
Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson was written in 2021, and explores the themes of love,
identity, music, and crippling trauma. The novel opens in media res, during a dance between
a dancer and a photographer in a basement in South London. As the novel is in second
person, the reader is immediately immersed into this narrative of two Black British artists
connecting through cultural identity and dance. This second person point of view presents
the reader with the disconnect between the main character’s inner thoughts and the way he
expresses himself, causing the narrative to be interspersed with deep moments of reflection
on art, music, and the profound impact it has on the character’s experiences and
relationships. The novel is not only a love story between the two artists, but also a
meditation on navigating the complexities of race and masculinity. Nelson weaves a
narrative that is rooted in the lived experiences of Black men displaying the terror of police
shootings and racial profiling in London. Because of this, the main character finds himself
alienated, scared, mislabelled, and deeply afflicted by the atmosphere he exists in.
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe was published in 1958 and interrogates the clash
between cultures in the Igbo society of Nigeria during the 19th century. The novel portrays
the impact of British colonialism on indigenous African cultures. The narrative revolves
around Okonkwo, a proud Igbo warrior, and his community of Umuofia. Okonkwo's way of
life and hamartia, his tragic flaw is shaped by the desire to distance himself from the
perceived weakness of his father, Unoka. Okonkwo rises to prominence within the village
through his strength, being titled a wrestling champion after defeating Amalinze the Cat, a
recognised wrestler in Umuofia. However, pressure from the arrival of European
missionaries disrupts the balance of Umuofian life, and with British influence spreading, the
traditions and belief systems are left destroyed. Okonkwo finds himself at odds with these
changes, and his innate resistance to colonial forces leads to personal tragedy. The novel
explores themes of cultural collision, racial identity, and masculinity. Things Fall Apart
subverts the Eurocentric perception of African culture, with 19th-century British literature
and general stigmas mislabelling African culture as uncivilised, or primal.
Music as a prevalent theme in Open Water, particularly the importance of drumbeats,
intertwining with the vulnerability and racial trauma experienced by the main character, not
only as a way of expressive outlet, but also as a connection to culture. Music provides him
with a means of expressing emotions that cannot be conveyed through words alone. The
choice of music, such as jazz or hip-hop, which stems from Black culture, provides a sense of
belonging and a reminder of shared experiences within the Black community. This
connection becomes a source of strength for him, where it is permission to be himself. To
him music is everywhere, for example, the writer refers to “headphone wires tangling”1 on
the fourteenth page, and this is a recurring theme in the novel’s imagery The description of
the tangled wires captures the idea that the music that is shared between the two
characters is in fact the very tie that brings the two lovers closer through “a distance” being
made “shorter.” Later still, alone in the house, and overwhelmed with sorrow, the music
stops for the narrator as the headphones fall off as he slides to the floor, this theme of
pauses between music occurs throughout, often as a means of being able to find himself in
sudden moments of reflection. This imagery of breaks between music becomes a prevalent
theme, relating to his fragmented character due to the terror of police brutality and
crippling racial trauma. The narrator is not the only character where percussive breaks are
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depicted as a form of therapy, for example, the dancer describes her love of movement as
dancing into a space that she makes, into “moments and spaces the drums are asking you to
fill.” An innate sense of belonging. “Those pauses like percussive breaks where your own
breath is the loudest.”2 She finds herself in each beat and rhythm. These breaks of comfort
and sense of belonging pervade both Open Water and Things fall Apart, similarly when it is
mentioned that Nwoye finds solace in the hymns of evangelism.
Nwoye's affinity for evangelical hymns contrasts sharply with the traditional expectations of
Igbo manhood, symbolizing his internal conflict. Similarly, his father Unoka's rejection of
violence, or fighting, despite societal traditions, further underscores the tension between
identity and cultural expectations within the Igbo community. For example, Unoka cannot
bear the sight of blood so in conversation he changes the subject and talks about music and
his playing is regarded as “honest”, where his sorrow and grief are heard and “seen”. This is
further shown when as a young man, Unoka is said to have loved the kites that return with
the dry season and the songs of welcome. When he sees one, he sings with his "whole
being." But for Okonkwo, this is simply a betrayal, as his fascination with masculinity and
personal achievement is driven by his sense of shame. In a similar linkage between spiritual
experience and its expression through music Nwoye’s conversion to Christianity,
being rooted in the hymns of evangelism is shown through the imagery of a great relief, "as
the hymn poured into his parched soul like drops of frozen rain melting on the dry plate of
the panting earth” The hymns are earlier described as “gay and rollicking tunes of
evangelism which had the power of plucking at silent and dusty chords in the heart of an
Igbo man."3 Nwoye's conversion ends his relationship with his father and contributes to
Okonkwo's tragic end. No music tempers Okonkwo's violent nature, but he is surrounded by
the melodies of song. "Low voices, broken now and again by singing reached Okonkwo.” Is it
significant that he seems less affected by music than some other characters? Is he less
spiritually sensitive and aware? Is this because of his violence? Is music thus a bringer of or
symbol of peace and unity? You return to this later on; maybe say that you’ll do so later in
the essay?
Turning to Open Water, later in the book, the narrator recalls a train ride home after a jazz
gig, coincidentally also in a basement. “You all moved, alone in this train carriage, together,
improvising.” Jazz, as a Black art form, represents the safety of recognition and community
for the narrator. The photographer describes Black music as the greatest expression of
Blackness, this safety of recognition is further reflected in the imagery of safe space. For
example, when she puts her head to his chest it is “a bassline” which is similarly depicted in
Things Fall Apart where the collective heartbeat of the village is presented
through drumming. These two instances, further the idea that music is depicted as an agent
that breathes life into both the people of Umuofia and the narrator in Open Water.
Just as headphone wires symbolize connection and shared experiences in Open Water, the
drums in Things Fall Apart symbolize unity within the Igbo community. The symbolism of the
drum is presented as a force that brings the people of Umuofia together, being described as
woven into the social fabric of the village, “Their sound was no longer a separate thing from
the living village.” Furthermore, the drum holds profound cultural significance, acting as a
vehicle through which the Igbo people express and preserve their traditions. "The drums
were still beating, persistent, and unchanging” This imagery of heartbeat is repeated, being
described like the pulsation of the village’s heart. The drum's beat and rhythm carry
emotional weight, reflecting the community's pulse. Both novels connect music and
emotion in this way. The drum's rhythm reflects the stability and harmony of the Umuofia
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community until external influences disrupt it. While, in Open Water music depicts a more
immediate and personal emotional impact related to both characters’ experiences.
Despite this central difference between the two novels, in both texts music serves to
connect the characters to a shared heritage and culture while affecting individual
development and personal reactions to differing social situations. The relationship of the
individual to music is indicative of their personality and cultural milieu.
In Things Fall Apart, Achebe depicts Okonkwo as being betrayed by music. He is "possessed
by the fear of his father's contemptible life and shameful death". Unoka enjoys drinking, he
borrows money and lives only for the present. But it is his skill at playing the flute that
makes him sympathetic for the reader. He plays with the village musicians and his face
beams with "blessedness and peace." He wore a haggard and mournful look except when he
was drinking or playing on his flute. He was exceptionally good on his flute and his happiest
moments were the two or three moons after the harvest when the Village musicians
brought down their instruments, hung above the fireplace. This description cuts across the
historical colonial divide and could be a description of any pre-industrial community, with
the instruments of song and community part of hearth and home. Unoka might be a failure
in his son's eyes, but his musical ability is not a sign of weakness although he is contrasted
with Okoye: “Okoye was also a musician. he played on the ogone. But he was not a failure
like Unoka. He had a large barn full of yams and three wives.” The ogone is also the
instrument of the town crier, the bringer of news, the message sender. “Gome, gome, gome,
gome boomed the hollow metal. Then the crier gave his message and at the end of it beat
his instrument again” Here the writer portrays the instrument and musician as almost
separate entities but united in purpose like a horse and rider. It is a subtle but expressive
mix: “Okonkwo...knew certainly something was amiss. he had discerned a clear overtone of
tragedy in the crier's voice.” And it is the absence of this musical voice that is also startling:
“As the criers voice was gradually swallowed up in the distance, silence returned to the
world, a vibrant silence made more intense by the universal trill of a million forest insects.”
The apparent paradox of a silence composed of untold numbers of tiny sounds.
In Open Water the metaphor of his partner's heartbeat being a kick drum links to Things Fall
Apart where the drum's beat is symbolic of the heartbeat of the community. At its core, the
drum serves as a unique form of communication within Igbo culture. The beats and rhythms
emanating from its core convey an array of messages, ranging from announcements and
celebrations to warnings and communal gatherings. This nuanced drum language establishes
a shared understanding among the community members, fostering a sense of togetherness
and collective identity. The drum, therefore, becomes a dynamic tool for communication
that binds the Igbo people in a network of shared meanings. "The drums were still beating,
persistent and unchanging. Their sound was no longer a separate thing from the living
village. It was like the pulsation of its heart." The drums are described as persistent and
unchanging, being a metaphor for the enduring nature of the Igbo cultural rhythm.
In the social hierarchy of Igbo society, the drummer occupies a position of respect and
authority. Mastery of drumming is a testament to cultural expertise, and drummers are
entrusted with significant responsibilities. Their role extends beyond musical performance;
they become bearers of cultural knowledge, conveying messages accurately and preserving
the community's cultural richness through their rhythmic talents. The drummer, therefore,
becomes a custodian of tradition, wielding influence and contributing to the social fabric of
Igbo life.
In the urban landscape of modern London, the speaker in Open Water grapples with shared
human struggles, being unheard and suppressed. The contemporary setting echoes the
societal challenges faced by the Igbo community in Things Fall Apart, portraying the
universal theme of collective identity confronting external pressures. The character
expresses this struggle, stating, "We who are loud and angry, we who are bold and brash.
We who are Black. We find ourselves not saying it how it is. We find ourselves scared. We
find ourselves suppressed."
This resonates with the drum's role in Things Fall Apart, where it becomes a symbol of the
spirit of the Igbo people facing forced cultural change. "The drums were still beating,
persistent and unchanging. Their sound was no longer a separate thing from the living
village. It was like the pulsation of its heart. It throbbed in the air, in the sunshine, and even
in the trees, and filled the village with excitement." This illustrates the drums' persistent
beat, symbolizing the heartbeat of the community. The unchanging rhythm reflects the
resilience of the Igbo people, who continue to maintain their cultural practices, even as the
village faces a period of transformation. The drums, in this context, become an image of the
community's collective spirit and their determination to preserve their way of life.
In Open Water, the couple first meet in a basement club. The driving rhythms of 70s soul /
funk classics that weren't just something to dance to but expressions of the black civil rights
movement. "Fight the Power ", "move on up," for example. The narrator is captivated but
would like to say, "the dance floor heaved, and the young moved like it was the 80s, where
to move in this way was but one of a few freedoms afforded to those who came before."
On the same page, in the 1st paragraph, " the ancestors visit us, and we let them take over."
This is comparable to the ritual aspects of the drums in Things Fall Apart. In both instances,
there's a recognition of the living influence of history and tradition. In Open Water, the
metaphor of the ancestors visiting tells of the dynamic engagement with the historical
struggles, triumphs, and resilience of the Black community. This engagement is not passive;
rather, it's an active invitation for the lessons and strength of the past to shape the present.
In Things Fall Apart, the drums function similarly as carriers of history during rituals. The
rhythmic patterns, specific to certain ceremonies, evoke a communal memory that stretches
back through generations. The drumming becomes the bridge that connects with the history
and traditions of the Igbo people.
Just as headphone wires symbolize connection and shared experiences in Open Water, the
drums in Things Fall Apart symbolize unity and communication within the Igbo community.
The symbolism of the drum is presented as a force of unification that brings the people of
Umuofia together. The drum's rhythm is described as reflecting the stability and harmony of
the community, while conversely in Open Water both the headphone wires and the drum
symbolize vulnerability and fragility. Vulnerability is evident in the tangling wires and the
emotional breakdown of the character. In Things Fall Apart, the vulnerability is exposed
through the disruption of traditional Igbo culture and the impact of colonial forces on the
community.
YOU NEED A CONCLUSION SUMMING UP YOUR
ARGUMENTS.
Say briefly what is similar and what is different between the novels.
EG in both, aspects of shared musical experiences express and
embody Black culture, under threat in TFA and even more
dislocated and fragmented in OW. In both cases music is seen as a
strongly transformative if ultimately threatened entity. As for its
impact on character development this varies (examples) but generally
the imagery and metaphorical aspects of music suffuse the narrative
development of both novels.