Half of a Yellow Sun: Part 4, Chapter 26 Summary & Analysis

Ugwu hates the relief food, and he misses his old kitchen in Nsukka. Olanna is grateful for everything she gets, but Ugwu complains about the bland flour and salty fish. Olanna has forbidden him to go out during the day, as boys are being forced into conscription everywhere.

Odenigbo and Olanna have guests in the living room, and they discuss how “saboteurs” cost Biafra its territories in the West. Special Julius says the “vandals” have looted everything there and raped the women, and Ugwu shudders at the thought of Anulika or Nnesinachi beneath a “dirty sun-blackened Hausa soldier.” He doesn’t know what has happened to his family.

One day Olanna says that the school where she has been teaching has been turned into a refugee camp. Olanna says she will start holding classes in her yard, and she asks if Ugwu will teach a class too. Ugwu asks if she thinks the vandals are in Opi, but she sharply assures him that it is too small of a village, so the Nigerians would ignore it.

One day a black Mercedes-Benz drives up to the house and Professor Ezeka (the old dinner-party guest from Nsukka) gets out. He is now the Director for Mobilization. Neither Odenigbo nor Olanna are home, so Ezeka leaves a note and goes. Eberechi, the neighbor girl whom Ugwu has been admiring, asks him about Ezeka and seems impressed that a “Big Man” was visiting Ugwu’s house.

Ugwu is nervous talking to Eberechi, and he agrees to work on the school roof with her later. Olanna returns and is amused by the pretentious note Ezeka left her. Ugwu goes off to work on the roof, and he greets Eberechi there. They talk easily, and Ugwu is excited by her company and friendliness. They work together disguising the school roof with palm fronds so it won’t be a target for air raids. Ugwu looks at all the refugees now living in the school, and is repulsed by their horrible living conditions.

One of the refugees declares that his town fell because of saboteurs, and he says that anyone who can’t speak Igbo should not be trusted. Some young boys play at war nearby, while a shell-shocked soldier with one arm wanders about. Eberechi says that her brother is in the army. Then she and Ugwu part ways.

Days later Ugwu sets up benches for the class he is supposed to teach. Olanna tells him he will teach mathematics, civics, and to speak perfect English and Igbo. One woman brings her child to the “school” and is insulted that a houseboy is teaching, so she takes her daughter away. Other women bring gifts for Olanna. Mrs. Muokelu is teaching a class too, though Ugwu starts to suspect that she knows very little.

Two weeks later Mrs. Muokelu decides to cross enemy lines to trade, as she has lots of people to feed and there are no real markets on the Biafran side. Many people have been doing this. Ugwu takes over her class while she is away. Sometimes Eberechi watches him teach, and Ugwu starts slipping her some of the food that Odenigbo brings home. Ugwu now feels totally comfortable with her, and Eberechi tells him how her parents offered her as a “gift” to a visiting army officer.

Ugwu is angry that this happened, and he imagines having sex with Eberechi, and how he will be different and more respectful than the army officer. He tries to remember some sexual positions he found in a book Odenigbo had in Nsukka. Ugwu then gets sad that there are so few books in their current home.

One morning the radio announces that Tanzania has recognized Biafra as a real country, and everyone is overjoyed. Odenigbo says that other countries want to do so as well, but “America is the stumbling block” stopping them. Ugwu finds Eberechi and tells her the good news, and she pinches his neck, as is her habit lately. He looks at her and not only lusts after her but also realizes he loves her. Ugwu tries to tell her that he loves her, but he can’t.

Then an army truck drives up and a soldier asks for Eberechi. He says that Major Nwogu is calling for her, and Eberechi excitedly goes to get ready. The soldier accuses Ugwu of idleness, but Ugwu says he is a teacher and is sponsored by the Director of Mobilization. The soldier mocks him but leaves him alone, and then takes Eberechi away.

Ugwu is heartbroken and depressed, and when Eberechi comes to see him that night his jealousy causes him physical pain. Eberechi talks about Major Nwogu, and she says she told him Ugwu was her brother, so he won’t be conscripted. Ugwu can hardly talk to her, and he leaves.

Ugwu starts ignoring Eberechi, and he gets angry when she asks him what’s wrong. Eventually they stop talking altogether. Ugwu decides to tell Olanna what happened with Eberechi, but when he goes inside to do it Olanna is in shock – Odenigbo’s mother has been shot in Abba. Even though he had disliked her, Ugwu still starts to cry and he wonders if his own mother is alive.

Odenigbo comes home and goes into his room with Olanna. Ugwu cooks Baby’s food, and then Olanna comes out and yells at him for using the kerosene stove, even though she had earlier asked him to. She then sits down and says that Odenigbo won’t speak to her. Ugwu wants to comfort her, but can’t bring himself to touch her. Ugwu offers his sympathies to Odenigbo, who acts brisk and distracted.

The next day Odenigbo leaves early to try and find his mother’s body, even though it is in occupied territory. Olanna begs him not to go, but he rushes off. Meanwhile a group of people walk by with machetes, saying they are going to “root out the infiltrators.” Night falls and Odenigbo still hasn’t come back, and Olanna starts to despair.