Why is the character of Ikemefuna significant in Things Fall Apart?What role does he play?

Ikemefuna comes to Okonkwo's compound to live. Because a
daughter of the Umuofian tribe had been killed by the Mbaino tribe, there had to be some
sort of compensatory agreement made in regards to her
death:

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Ikemefuna comes to live with Okonkwo's family as
a peace offering from Ikemefuna's home tribe to the Ibo for the killing of a Umuofian
daughter.

Ikemefuna serves
the purpose that Oknokwo's tribe will not go to war with
Mbaino:

A
young boy named Ikemefuna is given to Umuofia in order to avoid
war.

While living with
Okonkwo, Ikemefuna becomes like a son to Okonkwo. In fact, he is more of a son than
Nwoye is. Ikemefuna is talented. He is hard working. He is a great hunter. Okonkwo
admires Ikemefuna. He realizes that Ikemefuna is a good role model for Nwoye. Ikemefuna
teaches Nwoye how to be a man:

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Ikemefuna already knows much about the world and
can do almost anything. He can identify birds, trap rodents, and make flutes. He knows
which trees make the best bows and tells delightful folk
stories.

Okonkwo begins
loving Ikemefuna as his very own son. Okonkwo truly appreciates Ikemefuna for teaching
Nwoye to be a man:

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Nwoye begins to associate more with the men of
the family and tribe, and to act more like the man that his father wants him to
become.

Nwoye looks up to
Ikemefuna. He respects his leadership. Nwoye loves him as if he were his brother. Truly,
Ikemefuna becomes part of Okonkwo's family. He is loved and respected by
all.

In his death, Okonkwo takes part in killing Ikemefuna.
Even though Okonkwo was warned not to take part, he does so. This leads to severe
consequences for Okonkwo. Okonkwo cannot sleep at night. He cannot eat. Most
importantly, Okonkwo's killing of Ikemefuna drives a wedge between Nwoye and himself.
Nwoye cannot accept the tradition of killing Ikemefuna. Nwoye cannot believe his father
would take part and kill Ikemefuna. From this point in the story, Nwoye begins
questioning the customs and traditions of his tribe. It is a foreshadowing of things to
come. Nwoye will leave his father's home and join the Christians. Ikemefuna's death
opened Nwoye's eyes to the senselessness of killing an innocent young
man:

After
Ikemefuna's death, Nwoye feels an emptiness that cannot be filled by the clan's
traditions. He is plagued by old questions for which the clan has no
answers.