About a few months ago, Nigerian
novelist and essayist, Chinua Achebe, published his latest work. “There Was a
Country”, a memoir about the three-year Biafran war. After forty years of
remaining silent about his war experiences, this last October, he gave us yet
another reason why to value and cherish his writing. Now, Chinua Achebe… you
might think writer perhaps, African literature, Things Fall Apart, but really,
how much do we know about this cultural leader? Do we even know where he comes
from and what type of works he’s done? I’m betting most of us don’t, which
makes it really a pity, having his presence still between us and simply
ignoring whom this man is.
Born in the village of Ogidi (eastern Nigeria),
on 1930, Albert Chinualumogo Achebe, came to the world as a member of the Igbo
ethnicity. He was raised by his father, who taught him both their traditional
culture and Christianism. Received early education in English, (being this
mainly the reason why he writes in English), and he studied medicine and then
literature in the University of Ibadan. Fascinated by African religion,
tradition and culture, he began writing as a university student. Later on, he
changed his name, adopting indigenous name, Chinua.
After graduating (1954), Achebe has worked
until now, (currently professor of Africana Studies at Brown University). He
first worked in a Nigerian Broadcast Company, and then founded and directed
many projects such as magazines (Okike: A
Nigerian Journal of New Writing), recompilations of African works (African Writers), a cultural space (Mbari Club) and editorials (Heinemann African Writes Series). He has
also worked as editor and as professor in several universities: University of
Nigeria, University of Massachusetts and Connecticut, University of Ibadan and
Bard College.
It is in 1958, when Achebe publishes the first
volume of his trilogy, Things Fall Apart,
(examines the Igbo culture), which became his most famous work, selling over
twelve million copies and translated into more than fifty languages. In 1964,
he publishes the second volume: Arrow of
God, and a third volume, No Longer at
Ease (1960). It is also in the 1960’s, when Chinua married Christie Chinwe
Okoli (with whom he had four children) and when he involves himself in politics
(supported Biafra to gain its independence, serving as ambassador of the new
nation).
Among his famous works we can find: A man of the People (a satire), Soul Brother (a poem), Morning Yet on Creation Day (a series of
essays) and Girls at War (short
stories). He has also won many awards such as “The Nigerian National Merit
Award” (1987). Being Achebe “one of the founders of Nigerian literature’s
renaissance”, I hold the job to transmit just a small piece of his words: “It’s
not difficult to identify with somebody next door who looks like you. What’s
more difficult is to identify with someone you don’t see (…) who’s a different
colour (…). When you begin to do that, then literature is really performing its
wonders.”
Bibliography:
A+E Networks, (2013),
Chinua Achebe.biography. Available from:
http://www.biography.com/people/chinua-achebe-20617665?page=2 [Accessed: Jan
20, 2013].
Biografías y Vidas,
(2004), Chinua Achebe. Available from: http://www.biografiasyvidas.com/biografia/a/achebe.htm
[Accessed: Jan 20, 2013].
Fisher, D. Fisher, M.
, (2010), Chinua Achebe, . Available from: Brown University, Africana
Studies:
http://brown.edu/Departments/Africana_Studies/people/achebe_chinua.html
[Accessed: Jan 20, 2013].
Goodreads Inc.,
(2012), Chinua Achebe. Available from:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8051.Chinua_Achebe [Accessed: Jan 20,
2013].
Grade Saver, (2007),
Biography of Chinua Achebe. Available from:
http://www.gradesaver.com/author/chinua-achebe/ [Accessed: Jan 20, 2013].
Ike, A. (2012),
Nigeria is haunted by Biafran war. Available from:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/oct/10/chinua-achebe-biafra-review
[Accessed: Jan 20, 2013].
Thomson, G., (2006),
Chinua Achebe Biography, . Available from: http://www.bookrags.com/biography/chinua-achebe/
[Accessed: Jan 20, 2013].
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