How does Okonkwo react to Ikemefuna's death?

In chapter 7, Okonkwo receives the bad news that Ikemefuna will be sacrificed, according to the will of Agbala. He is also warned by Ogbuefi Ezeudu to not have a hand in Ikemefuna's death, because he is so close to the boy and acted as his surrogate father. However, Okonkwo dismisses Ezeudu's instructions and strikes Ikemefuna down in order to avoid looking weak in front of the other men.

Following Ikemefuna's death, Okonkwo loses his appetite and does not eat any food for the next two days, only drinking palm wine from the morning to the evening. Okonkwo's relationship with Nwoye is permanently ruined, and he cannot sleep at night. Okonkwo also becomes ill and cannot stop thinking about Ikemefuna. No matter how hard he tries to suppress his memory, Okonkwo's mind returns to his surrogate son. On the third day, Okonkwo finally eats and visits Obierika, who chastises him for playing a role in Ikemefuna's death. Okonkwo is clearly traumatized by killing Ikemefuna and struggles to emotionally heal from the experience. Okonkwo likens himself to an old woman and tries everything to take his mind off Ikemefuna. His inability to cope with his emotions and understand his feelings is a significant character flaw.

What role does Okonkwo play in Ikemefuna's death in Things Fall Apart?

Unfortunately, Okonkwo played quite a major role in the death of Ikemefuna. Let us remember that since he was taken to become part of Okonkwo's family, Okonkwo had become incredibly fond of Ikemefuna, even preferring him in some ways to his own son, Nwoye. He certainly has a positive effect on Nwoye's development that Okonkwo is definitely not blind to. However, when the news comes that Umuofia has decided that Ikemefuna must be killed, in spite of warnings not to have anything to do with his death, Okonkwo insists on showing his manly nature by going with Ikemefuna to his slaughter and even being involved in the act himself:

As the man who had cleared his throat drew up and raised his matchet, Okonkwo looked away. He heard the blow. The pot fell and broke in the sand. He heard Ikemefuna cry, "My father, they have killed me!" as he ran towards him. Dazed with fear, Okonkwo drew his matchet and cut him down. He was afraid of being thought weak.

Note how the fear of what others think of him impels him to cut Ikemefuna down, even though he calls Okonkwo his "father." Okonkwo's determination to be viewed as a strong man in his tribe causes him to act in a way that even he recognises is wrong at some levels, as his fasting following the act shows.

Who advised Okonkwo against killing Ikemefuna?

In the brutal slaying of Ikemefuna, we see the sins of the father visited upon the son. Okonkwo has been solemnly informed by Ogbuefi Ezeudu, the oldest man in the village, that the Oracle has decreed that Ikemefuna must die. This is in retribution for Okonkwo's killing of a woman three years previously in Mbaino. The son is effectively being punished for the father's past actions.

Although Okonkwo isn't Ikemefuna's birth father, he treats him as if he were his own son. And Ikemefuna, for his part, has started calling Okonkwo "father," which will come to have great significance. The Oracle, via Ogbuefi Ezeudu, has told Okonkwo that he must not participate in Ikemefuna's killing precisely because the boy has started calling him "father."

When the time comes, however, Okonkwo defies the Oracle's strict instructions and administers the fatal blow. A group of men has started attacking Ikemefuna with their machetes. Despite Ikemefuna calling to him for help, Okonkwo cuts him down with his own machete for fear of looking weak and feeble in front of the others. Okonkwo cannot, therefore, use tradition as an excuse for killing Ikemefuna; he did it out of a misguided desire to avoid looking weak.

What does Okonkwo's participation in Ikemefuna's death reveal about his character?

Okonkwo's participation in the death of Ikemefuna shows how insecure Okonkwo still is. Okonkwo's greatest fear is that he will end up like his father, who was considered weak and died having no titles. So, Okonkwo has worked very hard to overcome the stigma attached to being the son of a man such weak "chi". Even though he is warned by Ogbuefi Ezeudu, the oldest man in the village, not to take part in the killing of Ikemefuna, Okonkwo goes ahead and kills the boy whom he had come to regard as a son. He kills him because he is still afraid others may think he is weak. This shows how deeply affected and insecure Okonkwo is over the perceived weaknesses of his father and how far he will go to cover his insecurities.

In Achebe's "Things Fall Apart," why does Okonkwo participate in Ikemefuna's death and how does he react afterward?

Ikemefuna is paid to Okonkwo from a rival village as punishment. Quickly, Ikemefuna becomes the type of son the ambitious and hardworking Okonkwo always expected but never saw in his own son Nwoye. Quickly, Ikemefuna and Okonkwo form a bond.

Although Okonkwo is seen as a great warrior and leader in his tribe, his fellow tribesmen decide he has grown too arrogant when he breaks the Week of Peace, and as punishment, they decide to sacrafice Ikemefuna. Typically, the killing of an adoptive son from a rival tribe would not be expected to be so difficult, but everyone knows how close Okonkwo has grown to the boy.

Okonkwo is told he does not have to take part in the killing, but he demands it. When the time come Okonkwo uses his own hand to take part in Ikemefuna's violent death. This represents one of his tragic flaws- Okonkwo's fear of appearing weak (human).  

As the killing takes place, Nwoye feels a chill and knows something has happened to his beloved adopted brother. Okonkwo has gone against the tribe and human nature by taking part in the killing of someone he loves. He drinks for two days and lashes out at himself in self anger and pity.