Second Class Citizen Flashcards

Adah's Home and Education

• Akinwunmi Street is where Adah lived with her family in Lagos.
• Ladi-Lak Preparatory was the school attended by boys, emphasizing a focus on education.
• The Igbos prioritized education, recognizing it as a means to escape poverty and disease, ensuring their children received schooling.

School Characteristics

• Students at Ladi-Lak wore navy blue pinafores as their uniform.
• Ladi-Lak was expensive because it did not teach African languages, such as Yoruba, and the proprietress had studied in the UK.

Local Infrastructure

• Methodist High School was located around the corner from Adah's house.
• The police station near Sabi Market was where Ma was taken when charged with child neglect.

Neighborhood Details

• Mr. Cole, Adah's neighbor, was a young, handsome Sierra Leonean man known for his quiet demeanor and friendly smile towards Adah.

Family Dynamics

• Ma's punishment involved being forced to eat a big bowl of garri with water.
• Ma referred to prison as "Pilizon," showing informal language use within the family.
• Adah's pet names included Nne Nna (Father's mother), Adah Nna, and Adah Eze (Princess), reflecting familial affection.

Cultural and Familial Background

• Adah was named Nne Nna because her grandmother promised to return as her daughter after her death when Pa was five.
• Pa and Ma were married at Christ Church in Lagos.
• The meaning of the phrase "Ezidiji ji de ogoli ome oba" is "When a good man holds a woman she becomes a queen."

Women's Attire and Traditions

• Ma and other women wore blouses and lapas with a dark velvety background decorated with pale blue feather designs when welcoming the new lawyer, showcasing cultural attire.

Occupation and Personal Transition

• Pa worked as a railway man.
• Adah's last name before marriage was Ofili.
• After Pa's death, Adah moved in with Ma's brother.
• Latifu was the boy who defended Adah from being punished by the headmaster.

Family Relations

• Francis had seven sisters, including Cecilia and Angelina.

Employment and Finances

• Adah worked as a librarian at the American consulate library on Campbell Street.
• She earned 60 pounds from her job.
• Adah's bride price was set at 500 pounds.

Travel

• Francis traveled from Ikeja Airport, indicating the location of significant life events.

Test your knowledge of key terms and concepts from Buchi Emecheta's 'Second Class Citizen'. This quiz focuses on important settings and cultural insights found in the story. Dive into the details of Adah's life and the values of the Igbo community.