Ulu, the villages of Umuaro and Okperi, and the colonial officials are all fictional. However, the depiction of colonial Nigeria is accurate in depicting the conflict between the traditional beliefs and religions of the Nigerians and the foreign values introduced by the Europeans, including Christianity. In addition, indirect rule was favoured by the colonial authorities in West Africa as a way to reduce the cost of colonial administration. The novel is considered a work of African literary realism.
Achebe's first novel, Things Fall Apart, tells the tale of Okonkwo, a leader in his community who comes into dispute with the colonial authorities. Arrow of God similarly describes the downfall of a traditional leader at the hands of the colonial authorities. The central conflicts of the novel revolve around the struggle between continuity and change, such as Ezeulu refusing to serve Winterbottom, or between the traditional villagers and Ezeulu's son who studies Christianity. Change is realized as inevitable among the Igbo people.[5]
