Unoka’s Flute, The Foundation Of Okonkwo’s Emerging Fame
I booked this weekend with the movie, THINGS FALL APART. While watching the movie, i saw the verse contributions of Unoka’s flute to the foundational backdrop upon which Okonkwo rose to fame.
At the exposition of the movie, Okonkwo despised his father playing the flute always, while the farm dies. To Okonkwo, constant playing of the flute by his father, Unoka, is a sign of laziness. Okonkwo prefers his father to do other manly activities such as going to the farm, tilling the soil, making farm ridges, planting yam seedlings, taking titles, etc. Unoka’s wife, Adaeze also sees Unoka’s constant blowing of the flute as irritating. She tells Unoka that it is this act of his that makes Okonkwo to be ashamed of him.
However, Unoka recounts to Adaeze, his wife that, it was this same flute and its beautiful music that attracted him to her and they became husband and wife. Afterwards, she bore Okonkwo for him. Unoka has a defence to make for himself as if he knew that his spectators will write him off as a failure. Thus he points out that he gave birth to Okonkwo, gave him a new wife and made him a great farmer.
More so, Unoka’s mastery of the flute, coupled with his ability to compose enchanting melodies, demonstrates an artistic sensitivity that serves as a poignant contrast to the harsh realities of his surroundings. Achebe underscores the significance of Unoka’s musical talent by juxtaposing it against the societal obsession with materialism, dominance and power. During Unoka’s conversations with his son, Okonkwo, he, Unoka informs Okonkwo of Amalinze the Cat who wants to retire undefeated from wrestling. Unoka encourages his son Okonkwo to challenge The Cat and defeat him. He blows the flute to eulogize Okonkwo and this swells his pride. Eventually, Okonkwo challenged Amalinze The Cat, and he defeated him.
Again, Unoka rejects the pursuit of material wealth, instead finds solace in the simplicity of his existence. Unoka embraces a life of contentment and peace as against Okonkwo who craves for riches and fame. He asked Adaeze his wife, what else does Okonkwo wants from him? Is it “breast, food, money, or water”? He waves all these aside with a flip of his hand. Also a contrasting character to Unoka and similar to Okonkwo, is Ogbuefi Okorie. Ogbuefi Okorie‘s enthusiasm for materialism brings him out so early in the morning to demand for the money Unoka owes him. He is gathering his eggs for his third title. Unoka on the other hand, beliefs that a man should be free with himself even at the early hours of morning.
In conclusion, Achebe through the character of Unoka, cautions against the loss of spiritual fulfilment. He highlights the profound understanding that life is transient, hence the need for personal tranquility. The so much interest attached to material things is all Ash. This is because, we came into this world bringing nothing, we shall also exit the world with nothing. Citing Isidore Diala’s ‘Ululation’(lines 17-18) of THE LURE OF ASH,
“Begotten we die, dying we are reborn
We weave our way through the dance of life”.
©️ Chioma Iwuala
16th June, 2024
@chiomajamesiwuala@gmail.com