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SAD: Famous Novelist & Author Chinua Achebe Dies
Chinua Achebe
He was 83 years.
Chinua Achebe, the most celebrated and widely read African writer has written books such as ‘No longer at Ease’“The African Trilogy”: Things Fall Apart, No Longer at Ease, Arrow of God, A Man of the People, Anthills of the Savannah
At the time of his death, he was David and Marianna Fisher University Professor and professor of Africana studies Brown University.
BRIEF BACKGROUND
Chinua Achebe (born Albert Chínụ̀álụmọ̀gụ̀ Àchèbé, 16 November 1930 – 21 March 2013) [1] (pron.: /ˈtʃɪnwɑː əˈtʃɛbeɪ/) was a Nigerian novelist, poet, professor, and critic. He is best known for his first novel and magnum opus, Things Fall Apart (1958), which is the most widely read book in modern African literature.
Raised by his parents in the Igbo town of Ogidi in southeastern Nigeria, Achebe excelled at school and won a scholarship for undergraduate studies. He became fascinated with world religions and traditional African cultures, and began writing stories as a university student. After graduation, he worked for the Nigerian Broadcasting Service (NBS) and soon moved to the metropolis of Lagos. He gained worldwide attention for Things Fall Apart in the late 1950s; his later novels include No Longer at Ease (1960), Arrow of God (1964), A Man of the People (1966), and Anthills of the Savannah (1987). Achebe writes his novels in English and has defended the use of English, a “language of colonisers”, in African literature. In 1975, his lecture An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness” became the focus of controversy, for its criticism of Joseph Conrad as “a bloody racist” and was later published.
When the region of Biafra broke away from Nigeria in 1967, Achebe became a supporter of Biafran independence and acted as ambassador for the people of the new nation. The war ravaged the populace, and as starvation and violence took its toll, he appealed to the people of Europe and the Americas for aid. When the Nigerian government retook the region in 1970, he involved himself in political parties but soon resigned due to frustration over the corruption and elitism he witnessed. He lived in the United States for several years in the 1970s, and returned to the U.S. in 1990 after a car accident left him partially disabled.
Achebe’s novels focus on the traditions of Igbo society, the effect of Christian influences, and the clash of Western and traditional African values during and after the colonial era. His style relies heavily on the Igbo oral tradition, and combines straightforward narration with representations of folk stories, proverbs, and oratory. He has also published a number of short stories, children’s books, and essay collections. Since 2009, he has been a professor at Brown University in the United States.
Posted by Editor
on March 22, 2013. Filed under LATEST NEWS.
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Segula Gigo
March 22, 2013 at 12:49 pm
RIP TO THE GREAT AUTHOR….
Danje Lacky
March 22, 2013 at 12:51 pm
Things fall apart RIP
SHIMWANA
March 22, 2013 at 12:53 pm
All my GOD things have really fallen Apart, a great loss to Africa but hey who are we to question God of His decision to take away our Hero?? we will greatly miss you but your works will live forever!!
Chimbwi No Plan
March 22, 2013 at 12:57 pm
…”Okwonko was a man of valor and vigor.At the age of 18 he brought honor in his village Umofia when he threw down Amarinze the cat.Okwonko’s father was Unoka…”A white man has put a knife on the thing that held us togther and we have fallen apart” (Things Fall Apart).MHSRIP.
Reader
March 22, 2013 at 2:09 pm
Chimbwi No Plan…you reminded me of my secondary days….thanks
Pat
March 22, 2013 at 1:06 pm
Sad indeed. Things fall apart was a great piece by which I shall always remember him
Ba Medza
March 22, 2013 at 1:08 pm
Things have realy fallen apart,nevertheless we will pick up the fallen pieces.RIP Achebe
isaac
March 22, 2013 at 1:13 pm
One of the most powerful men in terms of books writing. Indeed rest in peace my man.
Kalungu wa Lubemba
March 22, 2013 at 1:15 pm
To Him who fell at the Crack of Dawn
I think of you as wayfarer gone on a trip
A troubledour whose belongings are packed
The house is secured and doors are locked
With a promise of your return on the door
Up in the chitele* the hens are brooding
The goats and all await your return, wayfarer:
Would you that we await your return?
Suppose that in your return is our departure?
What then – should we hastily return to your home
To help tend the hatched chicks and Keep your
Name aflame? No, wayfarer, return you home
Stephen Domz
March 22, 2013 at 1:38 pm
…Okonkwo became Umofia village celebrity @ the age of 18 when he brought down a man whose back never touched the ground “Amalinze the cat as he was known” ohh! Great auther chinua Achebe MYSRIP. Africa is crying.
musonda
March 22, 2013 at 1:53 pm
I GUESS YOU USED BE A GREAT MAN MAY YOUR SOUL REST IN INTERNAL PEACE
Jae
March 22, 2013 at 2:16 pm
Thank you for your contribution to african literature. RIP.
kakolwe
March 22, 2013 at 2:35 pm
OMG! The Pillar of our literally skills rests. Achebe, these our many skills you imparted in us describe a successiful life lived.
Vinkubala
March 22, 2013 at 2:43 pm
‘How can a man who has killed twelve men in battle just fall down to pieces just because he has added a boy to the number?’
Vinkubala
March 22, 2013 at 2:45 pm
‘Okonkwo you have become a woman indeed…’
Man of Action
March 22, 2013 at 2:46 pm
Prof Achebe was a true Legend!!RIP Chiniua.
call boy
March 22, 2013 at 3:01 pm
Rest in Peace. I have read “Things Fall Apart” 3 times. I have also read “Arrow of God”, my famous part being and I quote ‘We often stand in the compound of a coward to point at the ruins where a brave man used to live’.
Rest in peace big man.
The wistle blower
March 22, 2013 at 3:20 pm
Ohh God finally one of the celebrated African brains has gone!!It is like an entire library has gone on fire!!He has gone with all that knowledge!!
God bless you even in your death!!I learnt a lot from this great son of Africa!!
king julien
March 22, 2013 at 3:20 pm
Those are great men we need in the society especially Zed where politicians only want to harvest where they did not saw
Zebb Mpinganjira
March 22, 2013 at 3:33 pm
I hear in other cultures, children belong to the woman, said Obrieka. You can as well say that the woman lies on top when making babies, observed Okonkwo, MHRIP!!!!
Livingstone
March 22, 2013 at 4:41 pm
Not the end of the world, will always remember you for the good grammar, touching literature books during my School days and just how you could portray in your books, Thinks for Apart, MHSRIP
Livingstone
March 22, 2013 at 4:42 pm
Not the end of the world, will always remember you for the good grammar, touching literature books during my School days and just how you could portray in your books, Things fall Apart, MHSRIP
shakira wapa zed
March 22, 2013 at 4:54 pm
Halala chinua achebe,i even remember my literature teacher who was so passionate about your books and i developed a love for them too.Your books came alive just by how thrilling your stories are.Halala,rest in peace
mc
March 22, 2013 at 5:05 pm
captivating stories wow ,will be greatly missed!
Mosi
March 22, 2013 at 5:21 pm
MHSRIP
adade 61
March 22, 2013 at 6:12 pm
long live english literature O level…..MHSRIP.
k 1
March 22, 2013 at 6:17 pm
RIP African HERO u made my days 1992-1994 kalulushi Secondry Sch
www.sly j.com
March 22, 2013 at 8:59 pm
@Chimbwi you have reminded me my literature teacher @Chifubu high school(2007-9). may the fallen hero be remembered..!ACHEBE.
the rock
March 23, 2013 at 7:30 am
remembering the days when mr. indala stood in front of the classroom at chamboli s.s 1992 , telling class about okonkwo the impatient 1, obatala who in his drunken state create person with a hutchback and unoka okonkwos lazy dad . what ever goes up must down . rip professor
scone13
March 23, 2013 at 8:39 am
REST IN PEACE YOUR BOOKS REMIND OF MY OLD SECONDARY SCHOOL DAYS. THEY HELPED ME PASS LITERATURE
Saddam
March 23, 2013 at 9:16 am
May His Soul Rest In peace
BEVERLY
March 23, 2013 at 11:28 am
May his soul rest in peace
shame kayela
March 23, 2013 at 12:25 pm
oh!!! what a great lose to the world and Nigeria.I have be a keen follower of his literature Achebe well back in the 80′s.
May his soul rest in peace.God bless his family in this trying times.
In fact thanks to my sister do did literature in English at Luanshya girls for introducing me to this mans work.
Gershom Jere
March 23, 2013 at 9:46 pm
I have lamented his over Chinua Achebe’s death. I feel a a big vacuum in African literature has been created by his death.
He inspired me to such a level that I wrote a fiction novel entitled, “IN CRISIS OF DECISION” which will be published sometime this year by the Triond publishers in UK. (MHSRIEP).
Gershom Jere
March 23, 2013 at 9:54 pm
Correction, “his” has to be deleted on the first line.
nancy
March 24, 2013 at 11:14 am
reminds me of imilumbe nenshimi, africa twasebana, inkwashi, pio na vera,how l miss these books oh yes