Ichulu

Ichulu is one of the primary settings of the novel. It is a fictional African village. Ichulu is situated "along Idemili, a sacred river that gave the people a place to bathe, to drink, and to witness their faith in the god after whom the river was named" (2). The Ichulu villagers, therefore, are deeply connected with Idemili, and its waters. They believe that only good can come from the water, and that it is an innate sign of their gods' protection and favor.

Ichulu is also the home to Ijeoma, her family, and friends. Ichulu is central to the narrative action, in that its customs, ancestors, and history dictate many of the primary narrative tensions. Fights between the villagers complicate their understanding of truth. Disagreements with Igbokwe, the village healer, spur new debates and unrest. After Ichulu learns that Ijeoma is Chukwu's vessel, however, the villagers discover a...