Big plans to celebrate Achebe’s Arrow of God at 50

This was made known during the week in Lagos by Dr. Wale Okediran, chair of the National Organising Committee who said there will be international conferences in some 70 countries centred around the book and its themes.The first conference will take place in India and there will be others in countries like Russia, Portugal and […]

This was made known during the week in Lagos by Dr. Wale Okediran, chair of the National Organising Committee who said there will be international conferences in some 70 countries centred around the book and its themes.
The first conference will take place in India and there will be others in countries like Russia, Portugal and at Brown University in the US, where Achebe worked until his death earlier this year. There are also events planned for Spain, Israel and Turkey among others.
In Nigeria, Dr Okediran says there are plans to make the events nationwide.
“The International Colloquium is proposed to be a 7 City Transnational Event with a number of activities ranging from Symposia to a Children’s Carnival, Writing Competition, Stage Presentations of Arrow Of God as well as a Grand Finale with a Night Of Tributes.
The above named activities will be situated in Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja, Sokoto, Awka, Ogidi with the Grand Finale at the Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State,” he said.
Achebe’s Arrow of God, published in 1964, is the epic story of the proud priest Ezeulu one of the most powerful priests in the six villages of Umuaro and how his powers and pride led to his downfall.
This, the organizers say, is fortuitous for the events coming on the centenary of Nigeria as a country and the proposed national conference.
“It will therefore be very auspicious to use the opportunity of the 50th Anniversary of the Publication of the book to re-examine the concepts of power, leadership, responsibility and good governance in Nigeria and Africa as derivable from the vagaries of Ezeulu and his confederating communities in The Arrow of God,” Dr. Okediran said.
Prominent local and international authors will be invited to give talks and present papers centered on “the re-appraisal of Arrow of God in the light of the messages and literary construct it has for the concepts of Literature,Leadership and National Unity in the modern times for Nigerian and African countries.”
There are also plans for a competition in Abuja where secondary school students will be quizzed on the book. There will also be contests on reading and comprehension of the work, which the late Chinua Achebe believes is his most accomplished works.
Some of the prograammes and proposed dates for them are listed below:
The Tentative venues and dates are as follows;
Lagos; Monday April 21 2014; Symposium and Stage Play EZEULU by Isaac Ogezi
Ibadan; Wednesday April 23 2014; Symposium and Stage Play, Harvest Of Ants by Kalu Uka.
Abuja; Saturday April 26 2014; Children’s Carnival and Stage Play by Secondary School Students.
Sokoto; Monday April 28 2014; Symposium and Martinee of the Stage Adaptation
Awka; Wednesday April 30 2014; Symposium and Stage Play, When The Arrow Rebounds by Emeka Nwabueze
Ogidi; Thursday May 1 2014; A DAY WITH THE MASTER; Visits to Achebe’s birth place, primary school and mausoleum by secondary school students.
Otuoke; Saturday May 3 2014; Symposium and Night of Tributes/Dinner