Ethics as a way of life: Self-Cultivation as moral framework in the Igbo universe of Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

Existing scholarship in the field of traditional African ethics has identified three broad themes namely communitarianism, personhood, and the vital force, instrumental for the common good of all. The present paper argues that African traditional ethics allows ample room for an individual’s personal cultivation, regardless of the community’s view on the ultimate good. In order to substantiate this argument, the paper seeks to undertake an analysis of proverbs as used in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. The paper begins by surveying existing scholarly approaches to African ethics. It then compiles proverbs related to the ‘communitarian’ aspects of ethics and those that depict ‘individual cultivation’ in Achebe’s African trilogy (Things Fall Apart, No longer at Ease, Arrow of God).It examines how the proverbs are woven into the first novel, guiding the actions of the protagonist and other characters toward personal growth, illustrating ethical principles of personal development. Finally, the paper concludes by summarizing the arguments developed through this analysis.