Chinua Achebe (bornAlbert Chinụalụmọgụ Achebe, 16 November 1930 – 22 March 2013) was aNigerian[2]novelist,poet,professor, andcritic. He was best known for writing the novelThings Fall Apart which was first printed in 1958.[3][4] It is the most widely read book in modern African literature. Achebe went to Nigeria's first university, University College. Achebe wrote his first short story, "In a Village Church," at university.
Achebe was anIgbo man. The Igbo are one of the biggest tribes in Nigeria. His parents were Christians. They gave him the English name Albert. His full Igbo name is "Chinualumogu," which means "may God fight on my behalf."
Achebe went to University College in Ibadan to studymedicine on ascholarship, but then decided to study English,history, andtheology after reading a book written by a white man that made Nigerians and Africans look bad. He wanted to tell the world stories that did not make Africans look bad. Because he switched his field of study, he lost his scholarship.
Achebe's writing style is based on how the Igbo tell stories orally (by word of mouth). The Igbo did not write down their stories before Europeans came to Africa. His stories use a lot of folk tales, songs, and proverbs. The characters in his book also make long speeches.
Many other African writers criticized Achebe for writing inEnglish instead of in an African language. They said that by using the colonizer's language, he was spreadingneo-colonial ideas that were preventing progress in Africa.
Achebe said that writing in English let everyone in Nigeria read in one language. Before colonization, the different tribes spoke different languages. He also said that writing in English allowed for people in other countries read his stories. However, he says that there are many African concepts and words that cannot be fully expressed in English.
Achebe wrote in English but used it in ways that reflected an African style.
Achebe has influenced many other modern African writers. He got a lot of awards for his stories. Even to this day, people still talk about him and the stories he wrote.
