The Chi In the novel, Achebe consistently refers back to Chi. In the Igbo culture, your Chi is one of the most important things. It is your "spiritual double" and helps determine wether or not you are succesful. A bad Chi means that you will live a nonhonorable life and vice-versa.
"At the most one could say that his chi or personal god was good. But the Ibo people have a proverb that when a man says yes his chi says yes also." pg. 23
The Evil Forest In Igbo Society, there were certain circumstances that permitted someone to be buried in the Evil Forest. The Evil Forest was the graveyard of those who were non-honorable and considered to be plagued. Evil Forest was also the leader of the nine egwugwu and the eldest son.
"Each of the nine egwugwu represented a village of the clan. Their leader was called Evil Forest. Smoke poured out of his head. The nine villages of Umofia had grown out the nine sons of the first father of the clan. Evil Forest represented the village of Umueru, or the children of Eru, who was the eldest of the nine sons." pg.75-76
"Every clan and village had its "evil forest". In it wee buried all those who died of the really evil dieses, like leprosy and smallpox...An "evil forest" was therefore alive with sinister forces and powers of darkness." pg. 124