Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi: *1977

Purple Hibiscus, 2003 - Explanations

Characters | Igbo Terms and Cultural References

Characters
- Kambili Achike — Narrator and central character in novel
  Eugene “Papa” Achike — Kambili and Jaja’s father
  Beatrice “Mama” Achike — Kambili and Jaja’s mother; wife of Eugene
  Chukwuka “Jaja” Achike — Kambili’s older brother by about two years
  Aunty Ifeoma — Eugene’s sister; widowed with three children
  Amaka — Aunty Ifeoma’s oldest daughter; 15 years old
  Obiora — Aunty Ifeoma’s son; 14 years old
  Chima — Aunty Ifeoma’s youngest child; 7 years old
  Father Amadi — A young, attractive priest; close with Aunty Ifeoma’s family
  Papa-Nnukwu — Eugene and Ifeoma’s father; rooted in traditional non-Christian beliefs of his indigenous culture
  Father Benedict — White, British-born head of St. Agnes Church
  Ade Coker — Editor of the newspaper "The Standard" owned by Papa Achike
  Yewande Coker — Wife of Ade Coker; has two young children
  Sisi — Servant girl in the Achikes’ home
  Kevin — The Achikes’ driver
Igbo Terms and Cultural References
- Agbogho - short for Agboghobia; young lady, maiden
  Agwonatumbe - "The snake that strikes the tortoise" (i.e. despite the shell/shield)--the name of a masquerade at Aro festival
  Aja - sand or the ritual of appeasing an oracle
  Aku - winged termites, common during the rainy season; also means wealth.
  Akwam ozu - Funeral/ grief ritual or send-off ceremonies for the dead
  Aro - Spear referring to Aro-Igbo people, short for Arochukwu
  Aro festival - The main cultural festival of Aro people known for its fierce masquerades
  Asusu anya - Eye language
  Atilogu - A form of Igbo acrobatic dance performance
  Atulu - Sheep/lamb--insinuating stupidity, dumb, a fool
  Azu - Fish
  Big man, Big Oga, or Big people - Powerful, wealthy, influential, high status in the community, large (ex. Head of state)
  Chukwu - God
  Dim - my husband
  Kwa - also
  Kobo - Nigerian Currency, cents
  Harmattan - dry, dusty West African trade wind, blows south from Sahara into Gulf of Guinea between the end of November and the middle of March (winter)
  Mmuo - spirits, separated between good and bad
  NEPA - Nigerian Electric Power Company
  Naira - Nigerian Currency, dollar
  Nwunye m - My wife
  O bugodi - dispel
  Ogbunambala - "He that kills in public." No secrecy or privacy. He who loves to publicly disgrace or shame another
  Okada - motorcycle taxi
  Omelorav - one who does for the community
  Umunna - “ancestors,” extended group of paternal kinsmen; extended family
  Unu - you (plural)