In Things Fall Apart, Ikemefuna symbolizes the innocent victims who are unjustly treated by traditional Igbo society before it falls apart. This demonstrates that, while the Igbo culture is rich and complex, it is also brutal and arbitrary.

With a feeling of hopelessness, Okonkwo gives up and hangs himself. He commits suicide because he cannot deal with the changes that the Christian white men are making in his village. While the white man from Europe came in to civilize the Igbo tribe, he did not succeed.

In contrast to Ikemefuna, Okonkwo feels that Nwoye is effeminate and overly sensitive. Okonkwo shuns Nwoye and wishes that Ikemefuna was his biological son. Ironically, Okonkwo is closer with his adoptive son than he is with his biological son. It is ironic that Okonkwo loves Ikmefuna like a son.

Of course, not all scholars agree with the assertion that Things Fall Apart has literary merit. However, this is not important. Achebe’s skillful use of literary devices like metaphor, simile, imagery, and repetition demonstrate the quality of writing.

Fire. Okonkwo is associated with burning, fire, and flame throughout the novel, alluding to his intense and dangerous anger—the only emotion that he allows himself to display.

Okonkwo consciously adopts opposite ideals and becomes productive, wealthy, thrifty, brave, violent, and adamantly opposed to music and anything else that he perceives to be “soft,” such as conversation and emotion. He is stoic to a fault. Okonkwo achieves great social and financial success by embracing these ideals.

As a spiritual symbol, Evil Forest is a fearful being who assists in making decisions about village disputes. Both sides of the Evil Forest are important for understanding the idea of fear and evil in Things Fall Apart.

The Evil Forest is land beyond the village considered desecrated by the Ibo. People who contract infectious diseases or the bloating disease (like Okonkwo’s father), are considered unclean and cursed by the village. Thus, they are taken to the Evil Forest and left to die. It is same for twins who are born in Umuofia.

Yams are the essential crop within Umuofia; the yam is a crucial staple in the Igbo diet. The number of yams a man successfully grows indicates his wealth and rank within the society. Additionally, the cultivation of yams is associated with masculinity: “Yam, the king of crops, was a man’s crop” (23).

In addition to masculinity, cultivating yams symbolizes wealth and power. Because of Unoka’s failures, Okonkwo is forced to fend for himself and provide for his family. To overcome these issues, Okonkwo decides to approach “a wealthy man… Yam, the king of crops, was a man’s crop” (Achebe 15 – 16).

Taraba is the top region by production of yam in Nigeria. As of 2005, production of yam in Taraba was 3,162 1000 metric tons that accounts for 12.89% of Nigeria’s production of yam. The top 5 regions (others are Benue, Niger, Enugu, and Kaduna) account for 50.55% of it.

Ipomoea batatas var. margarita

Are Yams and Sweet Potatoes the Same? No, yams and sweet potatoes are not the same. Yams have rough, dark brown skin that is often compared to tree bark, and their flesh is dry and starchy like a regular potato. Sweet potatoes have smooth reddish skin, softer flesh (when cooked), and a sweet flavor.

But unlike regular potatoes, which contain the dangerous enzyme solanine in their raw state, sweet potatoes can actually be consumed raw. Sweet potatoes are high in Vitamin A and C, fiber, potassium, and iron, and are a relatively low-calorie addition to your smoothie blend.

Sweet potatoes are more nutritious than yams. Sweet potatoes and yams are both healthy foods, and they look similar. Sweet potatoes, however, have higher concentrations of most nutrients and more fiber.

In terms of nutrition, a baked sweet potato is high in vitamins A and C, fiber, potassium and iron. Flavor-wise, it’s like dessert and a savory casserole got married and had a baby. But a baked sweet potato also has twice the glycemic index of a raw sweet potato. Before you panic, don’t.

Here are 6 surprising health benefits of sweet potatoes.

• Highly Nutritious. Sweet potatoes are a great source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
• Promote Gut Health.
• May Have Cancer-Fighting Properties.
• Support Healthy Vision.
• May Enhance Brain Function.
• May Support Your Immune System.

That sweet, orange-colored root vegetable that you love so dearly is actually a sweetpotato. Yes, all so-called “yams” are in fact sweetpotatoes. Most people think that long, red-skinned sweetpotatoes are yams, but they really are just one of many varieties of sweetpotatoes.

When soft varieties were first grown commercially, there was a need to differentiate between the two. African slaves had already been calling the ‘soft’ sweet potatoes ‘yams’ because they resembled the yams in Africa. Thus, ‘soft’ sweet potatoes were referred to as ‘yams’ to distinguish them from the ‘firm’ varieties.

Outstanding Sweet Potato Varieties

• ‘Tainung 65’: (95 days) velvety light pink skin; creamy light golden flesh; early harvest; high yields; long vines (1)
• ‘Vardaman’: (105 days) light orange skin; long, thin, orange-fleshed roots; tall, bush-type growth habit (2, 4, 5)

Sweet potatoes are often touted as being healthier than white potatoes, but in reality, both types can be highly nutritious. While regular and sweet potatoes are comparable in their calorie, protein, and carb content, white potatoes provide more potassium, whereas sweet potatoes are incredibly high in vitamin A.