Biography Major Works African American Literature

Stella Kim Deborah KimEnglish 9F April 23 2009

Biography

Albert Chinụalụmọgụ Achebe

Born 16 November, 1930 in Nneobi, Nigeria

Raised by Christian parents in the Igbo village of Ogidi

Excelled at school, winning a scholarship for undergraduate students

Fascinated by world religions and traditional African culture

Early LifeAchebe’s parents incorporated both traditional culture and Christian influence to their lives

Moved to ancestral village (Ogidi) of Achebe’s father

Storytelling was an integral tradition of the Igbo tradition

Educated by father using almanacs and numerous amount of books

EducationIn 1936,enters St Phillips Central School

Attended Sunday school every week

Includes a scene in Things Fall Apart about an incident of apostates from the new church challenging the catechist about the tenets of Christianity

Middle school: Achebe gained an appreciation for Mbari, an art form which seeks gods' protection

High school: Accepted to two most prestigious schools

Learned to use english

Doubled up his first year, and spent four years instead of five

Education in UniversityAttended the first University in Nigeria (University Collage)

Obtained such high marks on the entrance examine that he was admitted as a Major Scholar to study Medicine

Decided science was not suited for him and changed his major to English, History, and Theology

Began to write, starting with articles in school newspaper and short stories which incorporated African culture

Learned comparative religion from a new professor

Began to explore the fields of Christian history and African traditional religions

Began to become critical about European literature after reading Joyce Cary’s Mister Johnson

Major WorksFirst novel to be published was Things Fall Apart which took much effort to publish

Publishers thought fiction from African writers had no market potential

Once published, received mixed reviews Some mocked his work, however majority thought that the novel created vivid pictures of Nigeria (“…plot and characters are little more than symbols representing a way of life lost irrevocably within living memory.” Black Orpheus Magazine) and he became most translated African write

Second novel to be published was No Longer at Ease

About a civil servant (Okonkwo’s grandson) who is embroiled in the corruption of Lagos

Described modern life in Nigeria

Minor WorksAchebe also wrote several children’s books

Chike and the River, (1966)

How the Leopard Got His Claws (with John Iroaganachi), (1972)

The Flute, (1975)

The Drum, (1978)

Created “Voice of Nigeria” network as he was promoted to position of Director of External Broadcasting at NBS (Nigeria Broadcasting System)

Published his third book Arrow of God, A Man of the People and more.

Awards

AWARD RECIEVED YEAR

Commonwealth Poetry Prize 1974

Afro-Asian Writers Association’s Lotus Award 1975

Royal Society of Literature, London 1981

American Academy of Arts and Letters 1983

Campion Medal 1996

German Booksellers Peace Prize 2002

American Academy of Arts and Sciences 2002

Quote Analysis"We have heard stories about white men who made the powerful guns and the strong drinks and took slaves away across the seas, but no one thought the stories were true.”- Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart, Ch. 15

Things Fall Apart is written from a Nigerian’s point of view, giving a clear visual of what it was like for Africans not Europeans

Achebe’s books allowed people in Europe (and the world) to understand that Africans had feelings, traditions, and were hurt by European behaviors of non humanity

Quote Analysis II

“People go to Africa and confirm what they already have in their heads and so they fail to see what is there in front of them. This is what people have come to expect. It's not viewed as a serious continent. It's a place of strange, bizarre and illogical things, where people don't do what common sense demands.” -Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart

He described how imposed Western values led to social and psychological disorientation of traditional African society 'Things Fall Apart'

Discussion Questions

Achebe was well educated compared to what Europeans thought the condition of education in Africa was. What is your definition of education? How did education effect Achebe’s writings?

What would Africa-American literature be like if Achebe did not write/publish Things Fall Apart?

How do you think white people responded to the book? (Feelings, change in thoughts, etc.)

Bibliography"CHINUA ACHEBE." PHILWEB HOME. 22 Apr. 2009 <http://www.phillwebb.net/regions/africa/Achebe/Achebe.htm>.

"File:Nigeria linguistic 1979.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 22 Apr. 2009 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nigeria_linguistic_1979.jpg>.

"Chinua Achebe." Bard College. 22 Apr. 2009 <http://www.bard.edu/academics/faculty/faculty.php?action=details&id=27>.

"Chinua Achebe quotes." Find the famous quotes you need, ThinkExist.com Quotations.. 22 Apr. 2009 <http://thinkexist.com/quotation/people-go-to-africa-and-confirm-what-they-already/371929.html>.