The Ibo also worshiped their ancestral spirits and the village was adorned with many shrines and places of sacrifice. The tribe relied on the voice of wisdom from the Oracle of the Caves to give insight to the choices to be made and obligations the tribe must complete in order to keep the Gods pleased, ancestors happy, and as a result, the health and prosperity of the Ibo themselves assured. They also relied on the concept of a positive inner chi, or voice, and if a person's chi were in accordance, then when a person said Yes, its chi would also then say Yes. Okonkwo was a strong warrior in the tribe, with a favorable chi. He had married three wives, maintained and was successful with his compound, and his wives had had many strong sons and beautiful daughters. Okonkwo had won respect by overthrowing a great wrestler, Amalinze the Cat, in the great ceremonial-wrestling matches held in the villages Ilo, a large center of the village where festivals, events, and other discussions are conducted. He has even killed five men in war and brought back their heads to show his pride for the Ibo and his prowess in war. However his strong convictions towards dedication and the principle that he"d do anything to show he had strength and manliness eventually led him towards many acts that eventually brought his death.
The European missionaries came to the African villages, including and surrounding the Ibo tribe, after they had set up base in Umuru on the bank of the Great River. Mr. Brown was the first missionary to enter Okonkwo's mother land of Mbante where Okonkwo was staying while in exile. Mr. Brown was a patient man consumed with the belief that the Christian religion would save these heathens. While he was persistent with his beliefs, he showed his general interest in their culture and religious traditions and arranged many meetings with one of the honored men, Akunna, and exchanged their different religious beliefs and debated with him on different aspects but was always willing to seek out his, and the entire Ibo's reasoning for having faith in their different values.
