Obierika

He was one of Okonkwo's closest friends. The personality of Obierika is very different from Okonkwo, they are rather opposite. Okonkwo has a lot more outburst and just reacts to things while Obierika is more rational and thinks things out before he does them, also he is more calm. After Okonkwo takes part in the murder of Ikemefuna and goes into depression Obierika is there for him and supports him even if he didn't approve of Okonkwo's actions. He remains a strong friend for Okonkw even through the hard times. Something unqiue about Obierika is that he questions some of the Igbo tribes tradition, his beliefs on some of the traditions is that they should change. Besides traditions Obierika also questions some of the tribal laws, even if he questions the laws and traditions it does not affect Obierika's manliness.

Obierika is one of the only people who actually understands Okonkwo's character. He is a very wise friend, and is almost a counterbalance to Okonkwo's irrationality. He is always supportive of Okonkwo even when nobody else is on their side, and he is probably one of the most caring and compassionate characters throughout this story. Obierika questions tribal laws and traditions, which shows that he pays attention to detail and analyzes situations well. He will have the most potential to correct Okonkwo's characteristical impurities.

During the time of Okonkwo's exile Obierika remains a friend to him. Obierika does not visit often but when he does he brings news to Okonkwo. He promises Okonkwo that every year after his harvest he would bring the profit that is made by Okonkwo's yams, after two yeas of exile Obierika brings him bags of cowrie shells for the profit of the harvest. Besides giving him the profit of his yams Obierika also brings the news to Okonkwo that a village was destroyed by white men, and then later on the news of Okonkwo's sons relations with the missionaries. This tells us a lot about the character of Obierika, it shows that he still remains a loyal friend to Okonkwo.