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Things Fall Apart Chapter 20
While the family had been in exile Ezinma, Okonkwo's favorite daughter, had come of age to marry as had one of his other daughters. He insisted that they wait to marry a man of their native village and so they did. He expected that the suitors who would pursue them would be men of great wealth and status in Umuofia.
When Okonkwo and his family returned to their home, it was greatly changed by the presence of the white man's church and his government. Now even men of status had been converted and renounced their tribal titles. There was a District Commissioner who judged cases concerning the Ibo people without any knowledge of their customs or religion, and he had court messengers who hunted down the men to be tried and dragged them before the court. Obierika told Okonkwo that
"'The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.'" Part 3: Chapter 20, pg. 152
