As the majority of you know (because the majority of you are likely Endicott), we're reading Things Fall Apart right now in AP 12. I can't help but find it very relevant to the research I'm currently doing on the subject of African mythologies. A lot of the Proverbs they cite in the dialog are actually the very type of thing I'm studying (the turtle whose shell gets broken when he fell from the sky is a perfect example). In addition to those, the gods and goddesses they worship are also points of interest for me. This is exactly the kind of thing I needed to get me fired up about this project once again.
Mythy fun fact: The god that Akunna and Mr. Brown discuss, Chukwu, is also called Chuku or Chineke, and he is the "first great cause" "or creator" for the Ibo people (the tribe Achebe writes about). They often offer him sacrifices in groves in hopes that he will extend his power of goodness to them by offering them help
Fun fact #2: Ani, the goddess of earth that the Ibo often worshiped in Things Fall Apart, is actually often called Ala and is the earth goddess of fertility, and is said to make the seed in women's wombs grow. She also ruled over the Underworld and as the bodies of the Ancestors became one with her (by being buried in the soil), the their souls entered the Underworld, and stayed under her rule.
Hopefully more to report back later, and as always, thanks for reading,
Allie
