The quote highlighted in this question occurs in Chapter
Six and is part of a conversation that Ekwefi has with Chielo, who is also the priestess
of Agbala, the Oracle of the Hills and the Caves. They are talking about Ezinma, and in
particular note the following exchange that they have about Ekwefi's
daughter:
"She hs been very well for some time now.
Perhaps she has come to stay."
"I think she has. How old is
she now?"
"She is about ten years
old."
"I think she will stay. They usually stay if they do
not die before the age of
six."
Ekwefi was considered
to have born a spirit child in the form of Ezinma. This is shown in the number of
children she had born before who died in their infancy. Ibo culture believed that such
spirit children were born in the form of humans but so desired to return to their
original state that they would die quickly afterwards. This conversation, and Ekwefi's
statement of hope that is quoted in the question, indicates the way that the Ibo
believed life was a matter of fate and the result of supernatural influence rather than
of free will. Ekwefi is only able to "pray" for her daughter's safety and long life, and
thus it is revealed that the Ibo have a radical belief in supernatural forces that they
believed controlled their lives.
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