Chinua Achebe

Chinua Achebe (1930–2013) was a Nigerian novelist, poet, essayist, and critic, widely regarded as the father of modern African literature. Through his pioneering works, he gave voice to African perspectives during and after colonialism, challenging Eurocentric portrayals of the continent. Achebe’s writing blended traditional Igbo storytelling with modern literary forms, presenting a nuanced understanding of Africa’s cultural heritage, colonial trauma, and postcolonial identity. His most celebrated novel, Things Fall Apart (1958), remains a cornerstone of world literature and a defining text in postcolonial studies.

Early Life and Education

Albert Chinualumogu Achebe was born on 16 November 1930 in Ogidi, a town in southeastern Nigeria, into an Igbo Christian family. His father, Isaiah Okafo Achebe, was a catechist and evangelist for the Church Missionary Society, while his mother, Janet Anaenechi, came from a family deeply rooted in traditional Igbo culture.
Growing up at the intersection of indigenous African traditions and Western Christianity, Achebe developed an early awareness of cultural duality. This experience later became central to his literary vision, as he sought to portray both the richness and disruption of African life under colonial influence.
Achebe attended Government College, Umuahia, a prestigious secondary school known for its academic excellence, and later University College, Ibadan (then affiliated with the University of London). He studied English literature, history, and theology, graduating in 1953. It was during his university years that he began to write short stories and to question the colonial narratives embedded in British literary texts, particularly those depicting Africa and Africans in stereotypical or demeaning ways.

Literary Career and Major Works

Achebe’s literary career began while he was working for the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation in Lagos. His first and most famous novel, Things Fall Apart (1958), marked a turning point in African literature. Written in English but deeply infused with Igbo idioms, proverbs, and oral traditions, the novel portrays precolonial Igbo society through the life of Okonkwo, a proud and ambitious village leader whose world collapses with the arrival of British colonialism and Christian missionaries.
The title, derived from W. B. Yeats’s poem The Second Coming, symbolises the disintegration of traditional structures under external forces. The novel’s balanced depiction of Igbo culture — its strengths and flaws alike — and its critical view of colonial arrogance earned international acclaim. Things Fall Apart has since sold over 20 million copies and been translated into more than 50 languages, making Achebe one of the most widely read African authors.
His subsequent novels further explored the complexities of Nigeria’s colonial and postcolonial experiences:

• No Longer at Ease (1960): Follows Obi Okonkwo, the grandson of Okonkwo, who struggles with corruption and moral conflict as a modern civil servant.
• Arrow of God (1964): Depicts the tension between traditional authority and colonial administration through the story of Ezeulu, a priest torn between his spiritual duty and the changing world.
• A Man of the People (1966): A satirical account of post-independence political corruption in Nigeria, presciently published just before the Nigerian military coup of 1966.
• Anthills of the Savannah (1987): Set in a fictional African nation, this novel examines the abuse of power, the responsibility of intellectuals, and the endurance of storytelling in oppressive regimes.

In addition to his novels, Achebe wrote short stories, essays, and poetry, displaying his deep engagement with African identity and moral responsibility. His essay collection Hopes and Impediments (1988) and Home and Exile (2000) offer profound reflections on culture, language, and the politics of representation.

Literary Themes and Style

Achebe’s works are characterised by cultural realism, linguistic innovation, and moral depth. Central themes include:

• Clash of cultures: The conflict between African traditions and Western colonialism.
• Moral integrity and leadership: The struggle between corruption, tradition, and modernity.
• Colonial and postcolonial identity: The search for self-definition in a world reshaped by imperialism.
• The power of language and storytelling: Achebe emphasised the role of the writer as a moral guide and the necessity of reclaiming African narratives.

Achebe’s use of English was both strategic and symbolic. While critics debated whether African writers should write in colonial languages, Achebe argued that English could be “Africanised” to convey local rhythms, proverbs, and idioms. He succeeded in creating a unique literary style that combined the oral traditions of Igbo storytelling with modern narrative techniques.

Role in African Literature and Criticism

Achebe’s influence extended beyond creative writing. As an editor and critic, he played a crucial role in shaping the development of African literature. He edited the influential African Writers Series by Heinemann, which brought the works of authors such as Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, Wole Soyinka, and Nadine Gordimer to a global audience.
His critical essay “An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad’s Heart of Darkness” (1977) sparked intense debate by exposing the racist undercurrents in Joseph Conrad’s portrayal of Africa. Achebe’s argument that Heart of Darkness dehumanised Africans became a foundational text in postcolonial literary theory, redefining how Africa’s representation in Western literature was understood.

Political Engagement and Later Life

Achebe was deeply concerned with Nigeria’s political and social development. During the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970), he supported the secessionist state of Biafra, serving as an ambassador and using his literary voice to advocate for peace and justice. His poetry collection Beware, Soul Brother (1971), later published as Christmas in Biafra and Other Poems, captured the suffering and resilience of people during the conflict.
Following the war, Achebe continued to teach and write, holding academic positions at universities in Nigeria, the United States, and the United Kingdom, including Brown University, where he served as the David and Marianna Fisher Professor of African Studies.
In 1990, Achebe was involved in a car accident that left him paralysed from the waist down. Despite this setback, he remained active intellectually and continued to write and lecture until his death.

Awards and Recognition

Chinua Achebe received numerous honours for his literary achievements and contributions to culture, including:

• Commonwealth Poetry Prize (1972)
• St. Louis Literary Award (1999)
• Man Booker International Prize (2007) for lifetime achievement
• Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize (2010)
• Nigerian National Merit Award and Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) honours from the Nigerian government.