Purple Hibiscus

Kambili becomes first girl at school after studying hard and ignoring insults by other girls, thus satisfying Papa’s wishes. During Christmas break in Abba, at their mansion, Papa’s status as “chief,” or Omelora, One Who Does All for the Community, is revealed. The townspeople hail him, but both his and their motives are questionable.

Papa’s disdain for those still following old ways is evident when he forces a man off his property and disturbingly shuns his own father, Papa-Nnukwu, calling him a heathen and refusing any interaction with him, although he allows Kambili and Jaja to visit him for 15 minutes.

While there, the children refuse food and water at Papa’s behest, but relish Papa-Nnukwu’s lively manner and can feel the love he has for them. Papa chastises them later for staying an extra 10 minutes. Kambili remembers how differently Papa treated his father-in-law, a “very light-skinned” (67) man who “did things the right way” (68) and “seemed to use the word sinner in every sentence” (68).

Aunty Ifeoma and her family’s arrival make life happier for Kambili and Jaja. Ifeoma’s carefree manner surprises them. Jaja and Kambili accompany Aunty Ifeoma, cousins