Culture Vocab
TFA: Who Said It?
Igbo Words
Other Writers
Picture Potpourri
100
The shared values, traditions, norms, customs, symbols, art, history, folklore, ways of living and institutions of a group of people; the characteristic features of everyday existence shared by people in a place or time.
What is culture?
100
"I will only have a son who is a man, who will hold his head up among my people."
Who is Okonkwo?
100
The village green, where assemblies for sports, discussions, etc., take place.
What is ilo?
100
On the first day of class, we read the poem "On Listening to Your Teacher _____ _____" by Aimee Nezhukumatathil.
What is "Take Attendance"?
100
This famous author wrote the acclaimed African Trilogy, which begins with Things Fall Apart.
Who is Chinua Achebe?
200
Shared standards a culture lives by; shared expectations and rules that guide the behavior of people within a social group.
What are norms?
200
"My father, they have killed me!"
Who is Ikemefuna?
200
The large living quarters of the head of the family.
What is obi?
200
"Body Ritual among the Nacirema" by Horace Miner is an example of this genre of literature, which uses humor, ridicule, or irony to critique society.
What is satire?
200
Things Fall Apart takes place in a fictional country inspired by this real country. 
What is Nigeria?
300
The idea that one should not judge a culture according to our own standards of what is right or wrong, strange or normal; to instead ask "why" and to try to understand cultural practices in their own cultural contexts.
What is cultural relativism?
300
"There are no other gods," said ______. "You carve a piece of wood...and you call it a god. But it is still apiece of wood."
Who is Mr. Brown?
300
A masquerader who impersonates one of the ancestral spirits of the village.
What is egwugwu?
300
Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie gave a famous TED talk entitled "The Danger of ______." (Hint: We watched it as part of the culture vocab quiz.)
What is "a Single Story"?
300
These insects "came in the cold harmattan season after the harvests had been gathered, and ate up all the wild grass in the fields."
What are locusts?
400
A leaning or outlook, usually driven by a personal or unreasonable judgment; may be driven by prejudice.
What is bias?
400
"Ekwefi," she called, "Agbala greets you. Where is my daughter, Ezinma? Agbala wants to see her."
Who is Chielo?
400
Outcast; one who is taboo and not allowed to mix with the freeborn in any way.
What is osu?
400
In class, we read an excerpt from this famous book by Joseph Conrad, which chronicles European merchants sailing up the Congo River. (Hint: Think love and the opposite of light.)
What is Heart of Darkness?
400
This is a powerful symbol of hospitality, respect, and community in Igbo culture. Throughout the novel, the ritual of presenting, breaking, and sharing it highlights the intricate social customs and traditions that structure Igbo society. 
What is a kola nut?
500
The idea that there are certain thoughts we have in one language (e.g., English) that cannot be understood by those who exist in another language context (e.g., Spanish); that what we think and value is influenced by our native language.
What is linguistic relativism?
500
"The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. ... 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."
Who is Obierika?
500
A changeling; a child who repeatedly dies and returns to its mother to be reborn.
What is ogbanje?
500
The epigraph to Things Fall Apart is an excerpt from "The Second Coming," a poem by this famous Irish poet.
Who is W.B. Yeats?
500
According to one of the proverbs in Things Fall Apart, if a child washed his hands, he could do what?
What is eat with kings?