Researching the Context of

‘Purple Hibiscus’

Slides prepared by 12 English Advanced,

Auckland Girls Grammar School, 2011
Locations mentioned in the novel
Enugu Nsukka

Abba
NSUKKA
• Nsukka is a town in South-East Nigeria
• Population (2006 Census) 309,633
• Nsukka is home to the igbo tribe
Differences between
North and South Nigeria
• Cultural differences between North and South Nigeria.
• The people of North Nigeria were mostly Muslim
• People of South Nigeria were predominantly Christian.
• All governments since independence had been controlled
by northerners - the 1999 elections were the first to elect
a southerner. Some southern Christian people resented
this domination.
• There have been religious riots in the north started by a
dissident sect of Muslims, and numerous riots and
disturbances between the majority Muslims in the north
and the Christians - mostly immigrants from the south.
These seem to be increasingly frequent and more violent.
Group 2: Nigeria’s
Economy

Oil pollution in the Niger Delta has deprived tens of millions of people from their
most fundamental right to food, water, and health. Environmental degradation in
the delta where about 31 million people live. People who live in this region have
to drink polluted water, as well as cook and wash their clothes with the dirty water.
When they have a chance to catch some, these people eat fish contaminated by
oil and other toxins.
The poverty of the people, in contrast with the wealth generated by oil, has
become one of the most absolute and disturbing proofs of how a natural resource
can be transformed into evil, according to the group
Nigeria’s Exports
•Nigeria’s economy is largely driven by their exports of
petroleum and natural gas which provide the country with a
large part of their GDP.
•However since the economic reform of 2005 they have
been trying to diversify their exporting trade by moving into
other sectors such as mineral resources and agriculture.
•In 2009 their main exports included
oil, cocoa and timber with Nigeria’s
largest trading partners being the
United Kingdom and America.
•The amount of money received from
exports has been increasing steadily
GDP
•Nigeria’s GDP in 2009 was at $173 Billion (US Dollars) as
compared to New Zealand’s at $126.68 Billion.
•However despite this in 2010 the poverty rate of Nigeria
was up to 70% showing how large the gap between rich and
the poor is in developing countries, there is no even
distribution of wealth.
•In New Zealand our percentage of poverty is at 8%, which,
as a developed country, still leaves much room for
improvement.
•Despite the large GDP 70% of Nigerians are still involved
with agriculture, generally as subsistence farmers.

Chelsea and Gina

Political situation in Nigeria
•General Sani Abacha was the military dictator of Nigeria from 17
November 1993 to 8 June 1998, when he died suddenly of a heart
attack.
• Abacha was close to the central power base of successive military
governments in the coastal West African nation of Nigeria, and
finally assumed power himself through a coup in November 1993.
•While continuing to assert his intention to bring democratic civilian
rule to Nigeria, Abacha was criticised by prominent Nigerian
democracy campaigners, human rights advocates, civil rights
lawyers, and world-renowned authors. These critics doubted his
sincerity and commitment after 11 straight years of virtually
uninterrupted military rule in Nigeria, all accompanied by promises
made by other dictators for a return to democracy. In 1995, Abacha
announced a three-year program of transition to civilian rule. On
March 1, 1995 there was an attempted coup by Lawan Gwadabe.
Also suspected as part of this coup were Olusegun Obasanjo and
Shehu Musa Yar'Adua (recent Nigerian Prime ministers). They were
sentenced to 25 years of imprisonment for this.
•Reign: July 29, 1966 - July 25, 1975
•Lieutenant-Colonel Yakubu Gowon became
head of the Federal Military Government and
Supreme Commander of the Armed forces on
August, 1966.
•At 32 he was Africa's youngest head of state.
•He was the son of a missionary
•He was a keen hockey player and took part in
competitive athletics including soccer and boxing.
•His other hobbies include cinematography and
bird watching.
•On 30 May 1967, Gowon declared the formal
withdrawal of the Eastern Region, which was now
to be known as the Republic of Biafra.
•This was to trigger a war that would last 30
months, and see the deaths of more than 100,000
soldiers.
Nigeria’s Human Rights Record
Human Rights in Nigeria

Police continued to violate a variety of human

rights. Examples include unlawful killings,
torture and enforced disappearances.
Prisoners were kept in very brutal
conditions.

The government attempted to exploit

journalists and human rights activists by
harassing, bribing and threatening them.
Cases
• Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti: A notable human rights activist,
doctor, and chairman of Campaign for Democracy (CD),
who was victimised by Nigerian military dictators. His
family has also been affected by his protesting and have
been illegally and inhumanly treated. He was imprisoned
for 15 years but was released in June 1998.

• Hafsaf Abiola: Another more recent Nigerian human

rights activist who promotes democracy in Nigeria. She is
the one of the daughters of Moshood Abiola, who was the
late President-elect imprisoned by the dictator of the time,
Gen Sani Abacha. In 1996, Abiola’s mother was murdered
during a plea to release her husband.
Nwankiti Ogechi = Ken Saro-Wiwa
• “Soldiers shot Nwankiti Ogechi in a bush in Minna. And then they
poured acid on his body to melt his flesh off his bones, to kill him
even he was already dead…[he was] referred to…as “a man of
honour” (p. 200-201).

• Ken Saro-Wiwa was a famous Nigerian author, television

producer and president of the Movement for Survival of Ogoni
People (MOSOP), which defended environmental and human
rights for Ogoni people that live in Nigeria.
• Similar to Ogechi, Saro-Wiwa was a martyr protecting his people
from the military government’s unjust treatment and human
rights violations.
• On November 10, 1995 Saro-Wiwa was hanged for merely
attempting to bring freedom his people and environmental
protection.
Igbo people are mostly farmers and the The native, traditional religion of the
yam is a staple food in their lives. They Igbo people is known as Odinani –
although after colonisation many
even have a festival for yams! Wrestling is people became Christian. In Igbo
the most popular sport amongst boys and mythology the supreme God is called
young men, the other popular sport is Chukwu which means “great spirit”.
The universe is divided into four
soccer. Carving is a skilled occupation
sections: Okike (creation), Alusi
practiced only by men, though women also (supernatural), Mmuo (spirit) and Uwa
practice many other crafts such as pottery (world).
making, spinning, weaving, basketry, grass
plaiting.

By Emma M, Camille and Ropa

Mmanwu is the name for traditional

masquerades in Igbo culture. It is a
major form of entertainment, and
Kambili and Jaja visit one with Aunty
Ifeoma in Purple Hibiscus. The
practice originally evolved from the
Igbo people worshipping their
Igbo [EE-bo] people inhabit south-eastern traditional gods, which is why Papa
Nigeria. Igbo is the second largest group of would not be happy if he had known
people living in southern Nigeria. Population – 5.5 that they went to a masquerade. The
million approximately. European contact with the spirits are embodiments of the dead
who have risen again.
Igbo began with the arrival of the Portuguese in
the mid-1600s.
Igbo language
Igbo phrases By Emma M, Camille and Ropa
Kedu – Hi, hello
Ka omesia – Goodbye The Igbo language is spoken by the Igbo people.
Biko – Please There are over twenty different dialects, and it is
Daalu / Imela – Thank you written with the same Latin alphabet that we use,
Nne / Nna – Mother / Father but pronounced differently. It is also a tonal
Nwanne – Brother or sister language, with high, mid and low ranges, and it
Gini bu afa gi? – What is your includes accented characters.
name?
Afam bu ... – My name is ... Fufu recipe!
Potato flakes, butter, salt, pepper, cream,
water.
1. Bring about 2 – 4 cups of water to boil in a large
pot.
2. If you are using cream of wheat, add about 1 –
2 cups of the cream of wheat into the boiling water
and stir. This leaves a thick pasty mixture.
3. Add 1 – 2 tablespoonful of butter or margarine.
4. Add 2 – 4 cups of potato flakes and stir
continuously. You can add hot water to the mix to
achieve your desired texture.
5. You may sprinkle very small amount of salt in to
taste here if desired.
6. Continue to stir until you get a smooth dough.
7. The dough is rolled into balls and served with
desired soup.
Religion in Nigeria
By Chelsea King, Charlotte Crick-Friesen and Tessa Kirkland

•The country has a dominant Muslim

North, a mixed Christian and Muslim
South West, and a Christian South.

•In 1963 47% of Nigerians were Muslim,

35% Christian and 18% were members of
local indigenous congregations.

•In 2009 Islam made up 50.4% and

Christianity made up 48.2% of the
population with other religions making up
the remaining 1.4%. (Judaism, Hinduism
and indigenous religions.)
National Church of Nigeria
Influence of Religion on society
• Major congregations
of the larger Anglican
and Roman Catholic
missions represented
elite families of their
respective areas.

• All major public

centres had areas put
aside for churches or
mosques. Society in general has more gradually and
selectively expanded to accommodate new
influences, it is fairly certain that they will
• Inter-ethnic conflict continue to assert their distinctive cultural
was said to be caused identity in creative and often ingenious ways".
by religion e.g there - Cultural Survival (Publications):The Texture
were riots against Igbo of Change
in 1953
Missionaries
in Nigeria
• Came to Africa in the
1840s but their mission
failed, however they
returned in the 1850s
and were more
successful.
• They targeted Nigeria
after their success
abolishing the slave • Missionaries made good use of freed
trade to convert natives slaves and other people in
and discover natural evangelising Nigeria. This is portrayed
resources. in ‘Things Fall Apart’ by Chinua
• For many Nigerians Achebe, the missionaries use village
missionaries were the converts to encourage more tribe
first Europeans with members to join the church.
whom they came into
contact.
Role Of Women Equality

The role of women in Nigeria is greatly affected

by religious views. The three main religions are
Christianity, Islam and Igbo. In All three women
are considered second to men and have to be
submissive to their husbands. Marriage is
considered important, and the success of
marriage relies on the women to prevent a
“disgraceful” divorce.
Polygamy is allowed by Islam and Igbo religions
for men whereas for women its shameful to
even speak about sex. Women are used for sex
at their husbands demand and cannot even use
a female condom without permission. Rape,
female mutilation and child marriages are still
widespread.
Colonisation & Women’s Rights
In pre-colonial times women in Nigeria were
workers alongside men in trades. Women who
depended on their husbands were regarded with
contempt. At this time women were considered
free adults by law although there were
restrictions in place for example women could
not inherit land.

During the colonial period education changed to

teach women to be good housewives unlike
before when some even provided for whole
families. Policies in this time were clearly biased
against women.

In the post colonial period women again came into

the workforce. In the South especially women
started to gain status and power. Although in the
North they were still denied the right to vote.
Nigerian
History in a
nutshell
Slave Trade in Nigeria. Slavery in northern
Nigeria was abolished
in 1936.
• The first Europeans to trade
slaves in Nigeria were the The slave trade that was
Portuguese and Spaniard established was to the
explorers. detriment and
occasionally profit of
many Nigerian ethnicities.
Colonial history
• In many ways, Nigeria has a unique
Colonial history. Perhaps more than in any
other colonial project, missionaries were
used to their utmost effectiveness.
• After their success in fighting for the
abolition of the Slave Trade, they targeted
Nigeria with a dual purpose - to convert
the natives and to discover natural
resources which could be traded as a
substitute for slaves.
Britain 4 Nigeria 4eva! x0x
Biographical
info on
Chimamanda
Ngozi Adichie
Growing Up Adichie
• Adichie was born in Nigeria on September
15, 1977.
• She was born in the town of Enugu but
grew up in Nsukka.
• She is from an upper middle class
Nigerian family.
• Her novels are all set in Nigeria, because
this is the place she is most familiar with.
What real life parallels are there
between the author’s life and
Kambili’s?
• In Purple Hibiscus, Kambili visits her aunty Ifeoma
who lives in the same town Adichie grew up in.
• Ifeoma worked at the university like Adichie’s
parents. Ifeoma’s character was modelled on the
author’s mother.
• Adichie grew up under a repressive political
regime in Nigeria. She experienced hardships /
food shortages.
• Adichie’s personality is far more similar to
Amaka’s than Kambili’s.
• Kambili Achike’s name is similar to Chimamanda
Adichie.