The Concubine

by Elechi Amadi

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Chapters 1-8

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Chapter 1

What Happens

While hunting in the forest outside the village of Omokachi, Emenike encounters another village man named Madume: "Emenike guessed Madume's intentions immediately. They had quarreled over a piece of land the previous day, and many villagers had spoken in favor of Emenike."

The two men begin to brawl, with Emenike gaining a quick advantage. However, "Emenike's caution deserted him as he gained confidence." The fight ends with Emenike badly injured and unconscious as Madume flees the scene.

When Emenike wakes up, he returns home to his wife, Ihuoma. Though Madume is also injured, he is relieved to hear that Emenike survived, as the thought of killing another villager "filled him with fear."

Why it Matters

Chapter 1 establishes the rivalry between Emenike and Madume while also introducing the traditional African society they live in. In particular, Madume's worries about having potentially killed Emenike are related to the costs associated with "the rites of purification" he would be expected to perform in the aftermath and the social stigma surrounding killing another villager.

Chapter 2

What Happens

Madume is unhappy with his life and widely regarded as a lazy underachiever. He has four children with his wife, Wolu, but they are all daughters—which he regards as the "most annoying thing," since they cannot inherit his land and name.

Madume has been jealous of Emenike since they were children, as others always praised Emenike as "the ideal young man." However, the biggest source of their rivalry is Emenike's wife, Ihuoma. Madume wanted to marry her in his youth, though Ihuoma and her family were "never keen on the match."

Emenike's condition worsens the day after the fight, and the village medicine man, Anyika, provides him with medicine and instructions for conducting a healing ritual.

Why it Matters

Chapter 2 provides further insight into the characters of Emenike and Madume. While Emenike is hardworking, responsible, and well-liked, Madume is ill-tempered and lazy. As Emenike's condition worsens, it becomes clear his wife, Ihuoma, loves him dearly. She does everything she can to tend to his wounds and ensure his comfort, and Emenike's family rallies around him as the medicine man instructs them to perform a ritual sacrifice in the hopes that the gods will spare Emenike.

Chapter 3

What Happens

Emenike begins to recover, much to the relief of Ihuoma and his children.

Ihuoma is well-regarded within the village for both her beauty and her temperament. Both men and women respect her, and she "often found herself settling quarrels and offering advice to older women."

Why It Matters

Ihuoma is characterized as both an ideal woman and a perfect wife. She is beautiful and obedient, and she does not fight with anyone. Her husband is loving and playful towards her, and she is a kind mother to her children. If Emenike is the "ideal young man," then Ihuoma is the ideal young woman.

Chapter 4

What Happens

Emenike travels to a shrine in the forest to thank Amadioha—the god of justice and thunder—for his recovery. While there, Emenike and a few other village men prepare a feast. Before they eat, a chicken wing is cut off and tossed towards the temple where a giant serpent consumes it: "The god having been fed, the men fell on the remains of the feast."

Why it Matters

The religiosity of Omokachi is further explored. The gods play a major role in the villagers' daily lives, and any slight or trespass against them is punished. Sacrifices and rituals are frequently performed to appease the gods and ward off misfortunes, which range in nature from smallpox...

(This entire section contains 1300 words.)

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to crop failure.

Chapter 5

What Happens

Despite his apparent recovery, Emenike dies. Ihuoma is left inconsolable, and she questions why the gods would allow such a thing.

Many villagers suspect that the fight with Madume is what killed Emenike, although the official cause of death was "lock-chest." Wolu, Madume's wife, attempts to sympathize with Ihuoma, but her efforts prove unsuccessful, and she departs.

Omachi, Ihuoma's mother, scolds Ihuoma for crying so much. She laments that her daughter has been made a widow at such a young age.

Ekwueme, another young man from the village, arrives at Emenike's compound. In an effort to lighten the mood, he begins commenting on how Ihuoma's oldest son will grow up to be a fine wrestler—a valued skill within the village. As they talk, Ihuoma laughs, which she immediately feels guilty for.

Why it Matters

Ihuoma is suddenly widowed, despite her husband's apparent recovery. This reinforces the fickle nature of life—and of the gods. This chapter also introduces Ekwueme, a charming young village man who can make an otherwise grief-stricken Ihuoma smile for the first time since her husband's death—highlighting his affection and familiarity towards her.

Chapter 6

What Happens

Ekwueme is a musician who prepares a song in honor of the deceased Emenike. He, along with several other drummers and chanters, debut the song at a village dance. Ihuoma does not attend the dance, but she hears the song from her home. She cries herself to sleep and dreams of Emenike.

Why it Matters

Music and wrestling are central components of Omokachi society because it brings people together. However, as much as Ihuoma once enjoyed dancing, losing Emenike has stolen her joy. She is left alone and isolated while the rest of the village carries on around her.

Chapter 7

What Happens

One year after Emenike's death, Ihuoma and her brother-in-law, Nnadi, prepare for Emenike's "second burial." This ritual lasts for eight days and sees a procession of mourners, who must be fed and attended to by Ihuoma, her children, and Emenike's family. 

Throughout the second burial, the villagers remark that Ihuoma has lost weight and smiles less often. They lament that such a young woman has been left widowed. 

Emenike's second burial is well-attended, with the elderly men commenting that "it is almost as if a village elder died."

At the end of the eight-day ceremony, Ihuoma is expected to "cast off her sackcloth and dress properly, for the first time since her husband's death a year ago." Her neighbor, Nnenda, reassures her that she will look beautiful, but Ihuoma claims she does not want to be beautiful, as "ugly people do not suffer as much."

Why it Matters

The second burial is an important part of the grieving process for Ihuoma and the village. Emenike was a strong and capable young man, and his loss was devastating to many. The ceremony allows everyone to vent their feelings and openly mourn Emenike. However, while the end of the ceremony is meant to represent closure, Ihuoma is still not ready to move on from her beloved husband, having come to resent her own beauty and the suffering she feels it has brought her.

Chapter 8

What Happens

Life gradually returns to normal for Ihuoma, and she dutifully tends to her children and the farmland Emenike left her. As she begins eating more, her figure fills out again, drawing the eyes of the men in the village.

On rest days, Ihuoma takes her children to visit her parents in a neighboring village. However, her mother pesters her about finding someone to "care for her," even going so far as to suggest Ekwueme as a possible match. Ihuoma is upset by the implication that she would move on before her children are grown and depart.

Why it Matters

Ihuoma's parents are worried that tending to the farm and raising three children is too much for a single woman to do alone. Furthermore, Ihuoma is still young and beautiful; many men would gladly take her as their wife or lover. However, Ihuoma refuses to even consider the possibility of remarrying until her children are grown, highlighting both her loyalty to Emenike and her ongoing grief over his death.

Next

Chapters 9-13