Who Fears Death

The belly chain and stone, particularly in Part 1, function as a symbol of patriarchal ownership in Jwahir society. From the moment Onye partakes in the Rite, both the stone and the belly chain exist as reminders that the girls do not belong to themselves but to their future husbands. Of course, the bewitched scalpel ensured that they are reminded of this every time they attempt intercourse, but the chain and stone become an integral part of their identity to the point that Onye is unable to get rid of them even when she wants to. Because of their purpose, those ideals become a part of their identity, as well, making it even more potent when Aro begins Onye’s training by telling her to throw the stone away.

Mwita tells Onye when he first begins teaching her minor juju that for an Eshu, one’s first animal is important. Onye believes that vultures are ugly scavengers, but Mwita argues that they are in fact noble birds. Noble here can mean both distinguished and a person of distinguished rank or title, and of course, within the novel, Onye is both—the daughter of the general