The book that soyinka wishes chinua achebe had never written friday june 2 2017 lieutenantcolonel odumegwu emeka ojukwu declares the. Achebe is bold and tough as nail but on those occasions achebe the infallible god inadvertently massaged the ego of the nigerian country by trying to be politically correct as mere mortals do. Chinua achebe, in full albert chinualumogu achebe, born november 16, 1930, ogidi, nigeriadied march 21, 20, boston, massachusetts, u. The book has sparked intense debate in nigeria, and, thanks to achebes renown, will undoubtedly influence discussions for years to come, and possibly action, on. When he was 14, he was one of a few boys selected to attend the government college at umuahia, which was one of the best schools in west africa. The title, the trouble with nigeria should actually be called the trouble with africa. Achebe has been at the universities of nigeria, massachusetts and connecticut, and among the many honours he has received are the award of a fellowship of the modern language association of america. The only book i read from chinua achebe is things fall apart, but i read lots of poems, novels and plays from wole soyinka. I vaguely heard about biafra growing up and this book did a good job creating a mental picture of biafra. A personal history of biafra emerges into this landscape of memory and remembrance, 42 years after the war ended. Prof chinua achebe is an ibo man,ibos fear no foes. Nigerias federal government, intent on preventing the secession, in turn declared war on the breakaway republic of biafra. The tragedy of the 1970s war continues to this day. National hero achebes first novel, things fall apart 1958, is a masterpiece, regarded as the most successful and most widely read book in modern african literature.
A personal history of biafra 2012 and other, read online free in epub,txt at. From the legendary author of things fall apart comes a longawaited memoir about coming of age with a fragile new nation, then watching it torn asunder in a tragic civil war the defining experience. Chinua achebe, things fall apart posted by authors publisher about things fall apart things fall apart tells two overlapping, intertwining stories, both of which center around okonkwo, a strong man of an ibo village in nigeria. Chinua achebe, author info, published books, bio, photo. Acclaimed writer chinua achebe, whose full name was albert chinualumogu achebe, was born in 1930 in ogidi, nigeria and died in 20 in boston, massachusetts. There were strained relationships within the nigerian writing community over the secession, as some people supported it wole soyinka was imprisoned for two years because he met with biafran officers while others opposed the idea j. According to him, the igbo people were feeling aggrieved. The trouble with nigeria by chinua achebe goodreads. Like much of achebes other work, this book about the progress of war and the. His writings, including the novel things fall apart, have introduced readers throughout the world to creative uses of language and form, as well as to factual inside accounts of modern african life and history. The novelist chinua achebe november 16, 1930 march 21, 20, a fine stylish and an astute social critic, is one of the bestknown african writers in the west and his novels are often assigned in university courses.
At the age of eight, achebe began to learn english. A personal history of biafra and his article published in the guardian on 2 october 2012, there have been many debates about the biafra war. Achebe accuses the united nations of following nigerias lead, and standing idly by as biafra was crushed. There was a country, by chinua achebe the new york times. Chinua achebes memoir about the moment when nigeria split apart at a cost of. It has taken 42 years for nigerias and africas greatest writer, chinua achebe, to produce a book of the tremendous passion as his personal recollection of biafra. Genocidal biafran war still haunts nigeria by max siollun on october 3, 2012 article by chinua achebe in todays uk guardian claiming that nigeria is still haunted by the ghost of the biafranigeria civil war. It is a long time already since the biafran war 19671970 to write a memoir, and it makes me wonder how affective chinua achebes narrative in the guardian is to his audience.
Chinua achebe 1930 20 was a nigerian novelist, poet, professor, and critic. You see we, the little people of the world, are ever expendable. Chinua achebes book is impassioned and well written, but unfortunately it is analytically defective. Chinua achebe was born on november 15, 1930, in ogidi in eastern nigeria. The defining experience of chinua achebes life was the nigerian civil war, also. From the legendary author of things fall apart comes this longawaited memoir recalling chinua achebes personal experiences of and reflections on the biafran war, one of nigerias most tragic civil wars chinua achebe, the author of things fall apart, was a writer whose moral courage and storytelling gifts have left an enduring stamp on world literature.
It contains scarcely any insights from economics, social science, or historical perspective. Achebes work, particularly things fall apart, paved the way for many. Chinua achebe books list of books by author chinua achebe. The conflict was infamous for its savage impact on the biafran people, chinua. Achebes reminiscences of biafra, a country whichthat spent the entirety of its brief existence, from 1967 to 1970, in civil war with nigeria, result in an uneasy mix of history and memoir. Chinua achebe pronounced cheenooah ahchaybay is considered by many critics and teachers to be the most influential african writer of his generation. The novel was listed in time magazines time 100 best englishlanguage novels from 1923 to 2005 and has been translated into more than 50 languages. A personal history of biafra by achebe, chinua isbn. His first novel things fall apart 1958 was considered his magnum opus, and is the most widely read book in modern african literature.
Of his novels, arrow of god won the new statesmanjock campbell award, and anthills of the savannah was a finalist for the 1987 booker prize. Raised in nigeria, achebe excelled at school and won a scholarship for undergraduate studies. The book reveals how observant he is because he always had something to say about people he had encountered in the course of. For the first 30 years of his life nigeria was a british colony and it was controlled and exploited by the british for agricultural goods such as cocoa. He attended the university of ibadan where he studied english. Nigerian books books by chinua achebe 2012 nonfiction books. Chinua achebe christmas in biafra by chinua achebe. I spent the weekend reading chinua achebes longawaited book on his biafran experience. As a student i knew wole soyinka was far more talented than chinua achebe.
He was born into the igbo tribe, one of the countrys three major tribal groups. He published novels, short stories, essays, and childrens books. Achebe has also written short stories and childrens books, and beware soul brother, a book of his poetry, won the commonwealth poetry prize in 1972. Writer chinua achebe was born in the village of ogidi in eastern nigeria. Born in nigeria in 1930, chinua achebe made a splash with the publication of his first novel, things fall apart, in 1958. Achebe pools his varied experience and excerpts from daily newspapers to prove, indeed, that the only thing nigeria has learnt from experience is that we learn nothing from experience. Achebe, 16 november 1930 21 march 20 was a nigerian novelist, poet, professor, and critic. In the aftermath of the release of chinua achebes book titled there was a country. A personal history of biafra appears to have reopened old wounds and resulted in widespread debate, whether in oped columns, on blogs or on social media. Yet, apart from an interview with transition magazine in. His family belonged to the igbo tribe, and he was the fifth of six children. After an insightful, masterful account of his education, his attention wavers between the individual and the international without settling on a steady tone. It is a very explosive personal account of the most. An evening with chinua achebe featured the author reading from his celebrated work.
A personal history of biafra is a personal account of the nigerian civil war 19671970, also known as the biafran war by the nigerian writer chinua achebe. Chinua achebe was a genius, but had a troubled relationship with his own country, writes tolu ogunlesi. A personal history of biafra emerges into this landscape of. Surprisingly, chinua achebe wrote this book decades ago, but the realities he spoke about are still largely evident today in the present nigerian society. Of the numerous quotes favourited, i share 10 that that will leave you snapping your fingers while reading the trouble with africa nigeria. Achebe lived through nigeria, biafra and then nigeria and knows the truth. Of his novels, arrow of god won the new statesmanjock campbell award, and anthills of the savannah was a finalist for the 1987. His volume of poetry, christmas in biafra, was the joint winner of the first commonwealth poetry prize. That war would last 30 months, claiming the lives of between one and two million biafrans.
Biafra heroes and heroines remembrance day day fifteen. Achebe added flavor to the book with stories from his personal life. His first novel things fall apart 1958, often considered his masterpiece, is the most widely read book in modern african literature. Chinua albert achebe biography, death, net worth, family. Forced to flee a section of nigeria, chinua achebe was a citizen, pioneer, even one of the writers of the constitution for that country. But achebe has transcended the elemental foibles of mere mortals. Representatives of the british government that controlled nigeria convinced his parents, isaiah okafor achebe and janet ileogbunam, to abandon their traditional religion and follow christianity. It seems, therefore, that the book, the trouble with nigeria is a prognosis, a prophetic writing with unrivaled effect. Achebes most recent book, his longawaited memoir of the nigerianbiafra war, is both sad and angry, a book by a writer looking back and mourning. Was biafra ever really a country, as achebe would have it. Chinua achebe biography cliffsnotes study guides book. I dont know who this man is and i never heard of him until.
Ogidi was a focal point of anglican missionary outreach in nigeria, and the towns role in this process likely influenced his views on the westernization and christianization of precolonial nigerian cultures. The trouble with nigeria by chinua achebe african book. He was best known for his first novel and magnum opus, things fall apart 1958, which is the most widely read book in modern african literature. Of course, it is not that kind of book, but that is the point it is only that kind of. Renowned as one of the seminal works of african literature, it has since. Chinua achebes lament for his native biafra and the decline of nigeria is. Chinua achebe received numerous honours from around the world, including the honorary fellowship of the american academy of arts and letters, as well as honorary doctorates from more than 30 colleges and universities.
Achebe systematically breaks this book into ten chapters, where he discusses the. We want hausa fulani and yoruba to fight their own war too. His volume of poetry christmas in biafra was the joint winner of the first commonwealth poetry prize. In 1967, the eastern region seceded from nigeria and formed the republic of biafra. The novelist chinua achebe is one of the bestknown african writers in the west and his novels are often assigned in university courses. Following school, he joined the staff of the nigerian broadcasting corporation in lagos. He has published novels, short stories, essays, and childrens books. The interpreters and the man died were my favourite. Chinua achebe was born on this day in 1930 in ogidi, nigeria. It is no surprise that achebe confronted this issue headon in his book. Radio biafra nigeria is haunted by biafran war chinua. There was a country could easily refer to biafra, or given the state of nigeria as described by achebe, could be to nigeria itself. In this short book, achebe questions the motives of the leaders and citizens of nigeria.
African literary icon, chinua albert achebe, was born in ogidi, a small town near onitsha, in anambra state, the eastern region of nigeria to isaiah okafo achebe father and janet anaenechi iloegbunam mother, in 1930. His father worked for the church missionary society, and his early education was through the societys school. Yet, apart from an interview with transition magazine in 1968 and a book of biafran poems, nigerias most eminent novelist has kept a literary. Some have accused achebe of stirring up old wounds by resurrecting the b question, while others are appalled at his comment about awolowos policies, which achebe. He travelled the world seeking for international support for the people of biafra.
Chinua achebe, biafra and the travesties of war vanguard. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. A personal history of biafra emerges into this landscape of memory and remembrance, forty two years after the war ended. Yet, apart from an interview with transition magazine in 1968. This book is part memoir, part history of the biafran war and part a survey of nigerian literature. He was also the recipient of nigerias highest award for intellectual achievement, the nigerian national merit award. Nigeria did fracture once, however, and it is this story that chinua achebe, a giant of african letters, tells. It is ugly and extreme but it is the only word which fits nigerias decision to stop international red cross and other relief agencies from flying food to biafra washington post editorial, july 2, 1969. He is the son of a teacher and the most widely read african novelist in history. He was the fifth child of his father, who worked as an instructor in christian catechism for the church missionary society. In the book achebe, a few weeks before his 82nd birthday, finally sets out to tell the story of his biafra.
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