A still life painting of a large cracked yam and a shattered African egwugwu mask on cracked earth, with faint locusts above.

To visually represent the theme of tradition versus change, the redesigned book cover features a large cracked yam at the center, symbolizing the decay of traditional Igbo values and masculinity under colonial pressure. Beside it lies a shattered egwugwu mask, representing the collapse of cultural identity and ancestral power. The background is split: the lower half is filled with warm earth tones like brown and red to reflect the strength and rootedness of Igbo traditions, while the upper half fades into pale whites and grays, showing how colonialism creeps in and erodes that foundation. Faint locusts fly near the top to symbolize the silent arrival of colonizers. This layout uses powerful contrast and symbolism to visually mirror the novel’s core conflict, aligning perfectly with the theme and ideas discussed in the artist statement. See more