Chinua Achebe Biography
Chinua Achebe remains the most read African author in the world. His enormously successful first novel, Things Fall Apart, first published in 1958, has sold millions of copies and has been translated into numerous languages. Achebe’s primary focus has been African identity. In particular, he has been highly critical of the way that Western literature has portrayed native Africans. His work also explores the many detrimental effects of centuries of colonialism on the African continent. In his fiction, essays, criticism, poetry, and even children’s literature, Achebe has questioned not only how the West views Africa but also how Africa views itself. Achebe’s potent social commentary has earned him worldwide acclaim.
Facts and Trivia
- Achebe’s parents converted to Christianity, and all of their children’s names have spiritual connotations. Chinualumogu (Chinua’s full first name) means “May God fight on my behalf.”
- In his essay “An Image of Africa,” Achebe heavily criticized Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness as one of many novels that depicts Africa as a place of ignorant savagery.
- Oral traditions and storytelling are important influences on Achebe’s work. He loved to hear the Igbo stories that his mother and sister told when he was a small boy.
- As a youth, Achebe read many Western novels but was often disdainful of the African characters—until, that is, he realized the racist biases of the authors.
- In 1990, Achebe was in a serious car accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down.
Biography
Chinua Achebe was a pioneering African writer whose works brought global attention to African literature. His novels, blending English with Ibo, celebrated African heritage and inspired many to explore diverse literary forms. Achebe's influence extended beyond his writing as he played a crucial role in shaping modern African storytelling.
Early Life and Education
Born in Ogidi, Nigeria, on November 16, 1930, Chinualomagu (Albert) Achebe was raised in a rich cultural environment. His father, Isaiah Achebe, was a teacher and catechist for the Church Missionary Society, one of the first in the region to embrace Christianity. Despite growing up with Christian influences, Achebe was fascinated by traditional African culture, thanks to his family's unbroken ties to non-Christian relatives.
Achebe started his education in a Christian mission school in Ogidi before earning a scholarship to Government College Umuahia. In 1948, he became one of the inaugural students at University College, Ibadan, choosing to study literature over medicine. During his university years, he adopted the name Chinua and began writing about the cultural tensions between Christianity and traditional African beliefs, themes that would dominate his literary career.
Beginning of a Literary Career
Achebe's debut novel, Things Fall Apart (1958), vividly depicted the impact of European colonialism on Nigerian society. Set in the late 19th century, the novel explores the life of the Ibo community and the personal tragedy of Okonkwo, a man struggling with cultural change. This novel, acclaimed worldwide, is available in 45 languages, exemplifying Achebe's skillful narrative style and cultural insights.
His second novel, No Longer at Ease, published in 1960, continued examining cultural conflicts through the story of Obi, Okonkwo's grandson. The novel highlights the struggles of educated Nigerians navigating the crossroads of traditional and Western values during the independence era.
Professional and Literary Achievements
In 1961, Achebe became the Director of External Broadcasting for Nigeria, a role that took him across the globe. During this period, he published a collection of short stories titled The Sacrificial Egg and Other Short Stories (1962). His third novel, Arrow of God (1964), further explored cultural collisions and bolstered his growing reputation.
A Man of the People (1966) marked Achebe's foray into political satire, critiquing the corruption of post-colonial African leaders. This novel would be his last for over twenty years, as he became embroiled in the Nigerian Civil War following the 1966 massacre of the Ibo people.
During the conflict, Achebe focused on supporting the Biafran government, producing only a children's book, Chike and the River (1966). After the war, he returned to poetry, publishing three collections, and co-editing anthologies that positioned him as both a distinguished novelist and poet.
A New Era in Academia and Literature
In 1971, Achebe accepted a position at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, later moving to the United States to teach at the University of Massachusetts. His international academic career included lecturing at several prestigious institutions, earning him an honorary degree from Dartmouth College.
Achebe's 1987 return to novels with Anthills of the Savannah was met with critical acclaim, garnering a Booker Prize nomination. This work was hailed by the Chicago Tribune as an extraordinary reflection on contemporary Africa's challenges and aspirations.
Later Life and Enduring Legacy
In 1990, a car accident left Achebe wheelchair-bound, prompting him to accept a position at Bard College in New York. Despite this setback, his influence on African literature remained profound.
Achebe's contributions to Nigerian literature were foundational, drawing from oral traditions and modern African society. His style, blending simple language with African idioms and proverbs, became a hallmark of the African novel. As Bruce King noted, Achebe transformed...
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the European novel form into a distinctly African narrative.
Through his novels, Achebe not only chronicled African history but also aimed to educate, rejecting the notion of writing purely for personal or artistic expression. His words, "Africa was not a vacuum, before the coming of Europe," encapsulate his mission to highlight Africa's rich cultural heritage.
Beyond his novels, Achebe's role as an editor and educator helped nurture a significant literary movement, influencing generations of writers. His legacy is built on a body of work that remains influential in African literature and beyond.
Bibliography
For those interested in further exploration of Achebe's work and its impact, the following texts offer valuable insights:
- Wilfred Cartney's Whispers from a Continent: The Literature of Contemporary Black Africa offers critical analyses of Achebe's novels and their cultural implications.
- Micere Githae-Mugo's Visions of Africa provides interpretations of Achebe's works against a sociopolitical backdrop.
- Christopher Heywood’s A Critical View on Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” offers insights into Achebe's life and critiques of his debut novel.
- Oyekan Owomoyela’s African Literatures: An Introduction surveys African literary works, including Achebe's contributions.
- Arthur Ravenscroft’s Chinua Achebe delivers comprehensive analyses of Achebe's early novels.
- Robert M. Wren's Chinua Achebe, “Things Fall Apart” provides a guide to understanding Achebe's first novel, complete with summaries and critical questions.
Criticism by Chinua Achebe
