The battle-lines between the two sides are drawn in the first paragraph of “Dead Men’s Path.” Michael Obi is young, energetic and educated, a reforming headmaster with big ideas. Ndume Central School is an unprogressive school which has always been dominated by older, more traditional, less well-educated teachers dedicated to doing things the old-fashioned way.

Nancy, Michael’s wife, is swept along by his enthusiasm and makes it her mission to beautify the school gardens. Arrayed against the two of them are the villagers, who have always used the path across the gardens to walk from the village shrine to the burial ground. They are led by the village priest, who regards Michael as committing sacrilege when he fences off the path. When a woman dies in childbirth, the diviner joins the ranks of those opposing Michael and the villagers attack the school. This attack leads, ironically, to Michael’s final opponent being the white Supervisor, who blames Michael’s “misguided zeal” for the antagonism between school and village.