Proverbs are mentioned in relation to the conversation
that Okoye and Unoka have in the opening chapter of this tremendous novel. Achebe uses
them because, above all, he is trying to create an impression of this tribal society in
all of its beauty and mannerisms, and, as we can see if we read the novel, proverbs were
used extensively by this tribe to show the way that the art of conversation was so
important. Note what the text tells us about the use of proverbs for this
culture:
Having spoken plainly so far, Okoye said the
next half a dozen sentences in proversb. Among the Ibo the art of conversation is
regarded very highly, and proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten. Okoye
was a great talker and he spoke for a long time, skirting round the subject and then
hitting it finally.
This
quote helps us to identify the importance of conversation in this culture and the way
that proverbs were considered to be akin to gem stones in a good piece of conversation.
Clearly Okoye uses proverbs to help "skirt round" the issue, avoiding direct
confrontation and openly demanding his money back from Unoka. Proverbs therefore are
something that the skilled communicator is able to use in this
society.
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