60 years after, Things Fall Apart travels the world again

 Regarded as one of the most celebrated literary pieces from Africa in the 20th century, Things fall Apart (TFA), written by late Professor Chinua Achebe is marking the 60th anniversary of its publication.  And for the organizers of the book’s diamond age celebration, this is one celebration that should have global resonance. From the interior […]

 Regarded as one of the most celebrated literary pieces from Africa in the 20th century, Things fall Apart (TFA), written by late Professor Chinua Achebe is marking the 60th anniversary of its publication.  And for the organizers of the book’s diamond age celebration, this is one celebration that should have global resonance.

From the interior of Ogidi, the South Eastern Nigerian village where Achebe, the author had crafted the narrative, Things Fall Apart did travel across the world with many who are scintillated with its narrative, interpreting and breaking it down into components for consumption in their respective regions and countries. 

As at last count, TFA, according to The Economist had been translated into 50 languages across the world.  The London-based magazine thus rated Achebe as the most translated African writer of all time. 

Dr. Wale Okediran, former President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) and Chairman, five-man Africa Organizing Committee of the 60th celebration, harped on this at a press conference in Lagos.

“In view of the global acceptance of the book and its author, it becomes very imperative to celebrate the golden anniversary of the publication of this very important novel with a Colloquium and other literary activities in Nigeria and 10 other African countries,” Okediran said.

At the centre of its global acceptability is the import of the message it delivered to the world 60 years ago. As Okediran observed, the story’s main theme concerns pre and post-colonial life in late 19th century Nigeria. 

“It is seen as the archetypal modern African novel in English, one of the first to receive global critical acclaim. It is a staple book in schools throughout Africa and is widely read and studied in English-speaking countries around the world. It was first published in 1958 by William Heinemann Ltd in the UK in 1962, it was also the first work published in Heinemann’s African Writers Series” 

“The novel follows the life of Okonkwo, an Igbo (“Ibo” in the novel) leader and local wrestling champion in the fictional Nigerian village of Umuofia. The work is split into three parts, with the first describing his family, personal history, and the customs and society of the Igbo, and the second and third sections introducing the influence of British colonialism and Christian  missionaries  on the Igbo community,” the African organising committee chairman recalled.

TFA was followed by a sequel, No Longer at Ease  (1960), originally written as the second part of a larger work along with Arrow of God (1964). Achebe states that his two later novels A Man of the People (1966) and Anthills of the Savannah  (1987), while not featuring Okonkwo’s descendants, are spiritual successors to the previous novels in chronicling African history.

In putting up a befitting programme that matched up to the book’s stature, organizers say a “five city transnational event in Nigeria and 10 other countries with a number of activities ranging from symposia to a children’s carnival, writing competition, stage presentations of ‘Things Fall Apart’ as well as a grand finale with a Night Of Tributes” is now on.

Of significance in the lineup of activities is a conference being packaged to attract paper presentations from foreign writers and scholars, notable African-based writers and scholars. 

In a statement authored by the Christie and Chinua Achebe Foundation, the conference was described as one that would be celebrating “the works of one of Africa’s most outstanding writers as well as the achievements, friendships, partnerships and challenges of African Literature this past 60 years.”  

“The conference will be a platform for students, writers, scholars, literary critics and other interested parties to engage, rethink and propose possible new directions for African Literature after 60 years of Things Fall Apart.  In view of the above, The Christie and Chinua Achebe Foundation invites abstracts for 15 – 20 minute presentations during the International Conference to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the iconic book.  

“The conference will hold at five different centers in Nigeria; Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan, Sokoto, and Nsukka as well in nine other African countries; South Africa, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Togo, Uganda, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Cameroon and Togo between February and December 2018,” a part of the statement read.

 Area of focus or sub-themes at the conference would be:  Conflict Generation and Resolution in Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, African Literature after Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, The Achebe Spirit in the Emergence of Modern African Literature, Managing Changes and Transitions in a Pluralized Society: Achebe’s Things Fall Apart in Reference, Africa at the Crossroads of Development and Good Governance: What Has Literature Got To Do With It? Traditionalism versus modernism in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, Sexualities and subjectivities: Women in Achebe’s Novels, Imagining a New Africa: The Rhetoric of Transformation in Literature and Oratory, The Dialectics and Symbolism of Things Fall Apart, Prophesy and Poetry in the works of Chinua Achebe, Culture, Nationalism and the African Writer as well as Literary Influences, Impacts and Imitations across Generations.

“Would be presenters would be allowed to go out of the proposed sub-themes as long as their presentations conform to the broad theme and the idea behind the celebration of African Literature. At the end, the papers presented will be further edited and published into a book that will fossilize the gains of the celebration of the book’s contribution to the contemporary discourse on African Literature, 60 years after Things Fall Apart,” the statement read.

A Literary competition among secondary school students in the five centres (Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan, Sokoto, and Nsukka) is also said to be in the offing. The competition is expected to be complemented with the provision of copies of Things Fall Apart for the students to read for one month before the day of the literary competition which would take the form of quiz, reading comprehension and one act dramatic enactment of any part of the book by participating schools.

“In Nigeria, collaborations will be done with the Association of Nigerian Authors at the national level and through its local branches where the events are billed to hold as well as tertiary Institutions such as University of Lagos, University of Ibadan, University of Abuja, Othman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto as well as the University Of Nigeria, Nsukka.  The Nigerian Television Authority will also be brought on stage for support in the area of publicity and the use of the NTA Arena in Abuja,” Okediran explained.

The former ANA president added that plans are also being fine tuned in Asia, Europe, North and South America to stage remarkable celebrations for the book just as it was 10 years ago when TFA received global celebration at its 50 anniversary.