Things Fall Apart Chapter 24
After the release of the tribal leaders, Okonkwo went home feeling defeated. But in the night the messenger came around announcing a tribal meeting in the morning. Okonkwo got out his wardress and felt alive again because he knew that his clan was finally coming together to defend itself. They would finally break free from the white men and drive them from Umuofia. Okonkwo's only concern was that some cowardly members of the tribe might try to prevent them from going to war, and he planned to speak out against them and incite his neighbors and the men of neighboring villages to go to war against the white men who had divided them.
As the people of Umuofia met, emotions ran high and Okonkwo prepared himself to urge them to war. He knew that one man in particular would oppose violence, and so he readied himself to speak out in the packed market place. But before the people of Umuofia could be urged to lash out at the white men, court messengers arrived and ordered that the group disperse on the order of the District Commissioner. Without a second thought, Okonkwo used his machete to sever the head messenger's head.
"Okonkwo stood looking at the dead man. He knew that Umuofia would not go to war. He knew because they had let the other messengers escape. They had broken into tumult instead of action. He discerned fright in that tumult. He heard voices asking: 'Why did he do it?'" Part 3: Chapter 24, Pg. 176
As the crowd murmured in fear, Okonkwo cleaned his blade in the sand and left.