In the Igbo cultural settings, an ‘Obi’ is the most revered building.

In the Igbo cultural settings, an ‘Obi’ is the most revered building.

In the Igbo cultural settings, an ‘Obi’ is the most revered building.

This ‘Obi’ is more like our modern day palour.

Here, a man entertains his visitors and discuss important issues with his kinsmen.

In Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe,

When it was time for Okonkwo to return back to his father’s land after spending his years of exile with his mother’s people,

his best friend helped him build huts so he and his wives and children could get a place to rest their head.

But his friend did not build him an Obi, because it was more honourable for a man to build his Obi himself.

Just like the last son inherits his mother’s portion of land,

the first son inherits his father’s Obi.

It is a shame for the first son to sell off the Obi he inherited from his father.

Igbo history.