The undisputed Father of African literature Prof. Chinua Achebe, writer of African all time bestseller Things Fall Apart called it a day yesterday at 82 in Boston following a short illness according to his agent.
Africa mourns a man who strove to rid Africans of colonial-linked thoughts. His death has been greeted with solemnity as his books sold out in Nigerian bookshops. he has lived a remarkable life of service to humanity and his ideas will be revered centuries to come.
Despite a car crash in 1990 which left him partially paralysed Chinua defied that hurdle to become Africas Most successful Author, with one of his books selling over 30 Million copies in over 50 languages! Some critics found his early novels to be stronger on ideology than on narrative interest. But his stature grew, until he was considered a literary and political beacon, influencing generations of African writers as well as many in the West.
Achebe was a fierce critic of successive Nigerian governments and frequently lamented the failure of the country’s leadership. In 1983, he published the immensely popular pamphlet, “The Trouble With Nigeria” which lashed out at Nigeria’s pervasive corruption and labelled the West African nation as “dirty, callous, noisy, ostentatious, dishonest and vulgar. In short it is among the most unpleasant places on earth.” He went further: “The Nigerian problem is the unwillingness or inability of its leaders to rise to the responsibility,” - words which unfortunately remain true today.
Many african writers have raised their sentiments on the icon immediately he died.
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Africa mourns a man who strove to rid Africans of colonial-linked thoughts. His death has been greeted with solemnity as his books sold out in Nigerian bookshops. he has lived a remarkable life of service to humanity and his ideas will be revered centuries to come.
Despite a car crash in 1990 which left him partially paralysed Chinua defied that hurdle to become Africas Most successful Author, with one of his books selling over 30 Million copies in over 50 languages! Some critics found his early novels to be stronger on ideology than on narrative interest. But his stature grew, until he was considered a literary and political beacon, influencing generations of African writers as well as many in the West.
Achebe was a fierce critic of successive Nigerian governments and frequently lamented the failure of the country’s leadership. In 1983, he published the immensely popular pamphlet, “The Trouble With Nigeria” which lashed out at Nigeria’s pervasive corruption and labelled the West African nation as “dirty, callous, noisy, ostentatious, dishonest and vulgar. In short it is among the most unpleasant places on earth.” He went further: “The Nigerian problem is the unwillingness or inability of its leaders to rise to the responsibility,” - words which unfortunately remain true today.
Many african writers have raised their sentiments on the icon immediately he died.
Related stories:
Kenya's best Paid Author
Chinua Achebe, African Literary Titan
Tribute to Chinua Achebe
Things fall Apart? legend Author
Nigerian Literary Legend Chinua Achebe Is Dead-Forbes
Achebe's Books
Chinua Achebe at 82: “We Remember Differently”, By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
I had once presentation about post-colonialism in my university and in one article there was something about Achebe. Maybe in the future I will read some of his books. Greetings from Poland.
ReplyDeleteHi Zim, u should try some African Literature. It sheds much light on what Africa used to be. Quite interesting & Achebe is quite a read,.
DeleteThanks for your Comment
hoping to engage you more
HE was the ultimate author for me because the first litreture book i read was Things fall Apart but his legacy lives with us in his books
ReplyDeleteDefinitely the best of them all.....he contributed alot in the English I know today
DeleteUnfortunately there's no new breed of writers to equal his prowess...Think you can make one? Joyce?