Chinua Achebe dies at 82

Famous Nigerian author Chinua Achebe died of an undisclosed ailment on Thursday at his base in the United States of America. He was 82.His death was confirmed by both his family and the Anambra State government.Achebe, whose work titled ‘Things Fall Apart’ was translated into over 50 languages and earned him global recognition, has been […]

Famous Nigerian author Chinua Achebe died of an undisclosed ailment on Thursday at his base in the United States of America. He was 82.
His death was confirmed by both his family and the Anambra State government.
Achebe, whose work titled ‘Things Fall Apart’ was translated into over 50 languages and earned him global recognition, has been active in Nigerian politics since the 1960s and never shied of speaking his mind about what he considered the trouble with Nigeria (actually a title of one of his books).
His most recent work, ‘There was a country’ which was his recollection of the civil war experienced by Nigeria generated controversy with many accusing him of waiting too long to write it, adding that most of the actors mentioned in the book had since die.
Many of his novels dealt with the social and political problems facing Nigeria, including the difficulty of the post-colonial legacy. His novels include also include “A Man of the People”,” Arrow of God” and “Anthills of the Savannah” and his body of work includes literary criticism, memoirs, poetry and even children’s books, making him arguably the most widely read African author in the world.
In 2011, for the second time in seven years professor Achebe rejected an offer of a National Honor by the Nigerian government. He rejected the national honor in a terse statement, saying: “The reasons for rejecting the offer when it was first made have not been addressed let alone solved. It is inappropriate to offer it again to me. I must therefore regretfully decline the offer again.”
Chinua Achebe has received more than twenty honorary doctorates and he is a member of the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters. Though popular for his literary works, some of his books were also generated controversies nationwide.
In his book ‘The Trouble with Nigeria’, published in 1983. Achebe broke his silence about the 1983 Nigerian elections. He said the problem with Nigeria was simply and squarely a failure of leadership. “The Nigerian problem is the unwillingness or inability of its leaders to rise to the responsibility, to the challenge of personal example which is the hallmarks of true leadership.” Naturally the book received a lot of criticism from the government with some others agreeing with the writer that the book could also apply to other countries around the world and not only Nigeria.
According to the website of Brown University, where Achebe held the position of David and Marianna Fisher university professor and professor of Africana studies until his death, “Achebe’s global significance lies not only in his talent and recognition as a writer, but also as a critical thinker and essayist who has written extensively on questions of the role of culture in Africa and the social and political significance of aesthetics and analysis of the postcolonial state in Africa. He is renowned, for his trenchant and famous critique of Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness. Today, this critique is recognized as one of the most generative interventions on Conrad; and one that opened the social study of literary texts, particularly the impact of power relations on 20th century literary imagination.”
Born 16 November 1930 Achebe received early education in English, but grew up surrounded by the complex fusion of Igbo traditions and the colonial legacy. He studied literature and medicine at the University of Ibadan; after graduating, he went to work for the Nigerian Broadcasting Company in Lagos.
In 1987 his novel Anthills of the Savannah was shortlisted for the Booker McConnell Prize. He won the Commonwealth poetry prize for his collection Christmas in Biafra, and in 2007 won the Man Booker international prize.
Achebe is survived by his wife, Christie Chinwe Achebe, a professor of psychology, and four children – Chinelo (a professor), Ikechukwu (a researcher and academic), Chidi (a medical doctor based in Boston, Massachusetts), and Nwando (a professor of history at Michigan State University) – as well as several grandchildren.
Meanwhile, eminent Nigerians including President Goodluck Jonathan, Senate President David Mark and Speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Waziri Tambuwal have paid glowing tributes to the late writer.
Others include former Head of State General Muhammadu Buhari, former vice president Atiku Abubakar, former EFCC boss Nuhu Ribadu, Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, state governors, ministers, National Assembly members and the Nigerian literary world.
Also, Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka said he was devastated over the death of his fellow literary compatriot, Professor Chinua Achebe.
Soyinka, who made the comment on Cool FM, a private radio station based in Lagos, said: “I’m just devastated. I only heard about half an hour ago and I don’t want to say anything yet. I’m just devastated.”
There were also tributes from JP Clark and many others.
The Director General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri described Professor Achebe as a symbol of Nigeria’s rich human resource from which the whole world benefits.
Omeri said it was “shocking to hear that such a man whose wealth of knowledge, experience and insight would have benefited the nation more at this transformational moment in our history is no more.”
He noted that Achebe’s works, especially the legendary fiction ‘Things Fall Apart’ have helped nurture the minds of Nigerian children as well as those of several nations across the world in successive ages, “that is the true nature of the Nigerian factor”. He said “As an accomplished academic, Chinua Achebe has mentored other talents that now also make Nigeria proud in the literary world.”
While condoling with Achebe’s family and all Nigerians, he urged Nigerians to take solace in his enduring legacies and to emulate his deep faith in the unity and progress of Nigeria.
His PRP days
Achebe was a member of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) and served briefly as Deputy National President in the early 1980s. He was described by former Kaduna State Governor of the same party, and elder statesman, Balarabe Musa as an honourable and gentle man. “Prof. Achebe joined the party in 1978 and was one of the elders of the party. He was an honourable man and an inspiring intellectual. His closest associate was Mal Aminu Kano and S.G. Okoku who was the first national secretary of the party. 
“I personally considered him a gentle man and forthright man.”
On the controversies and debates Achebe’s memoir, ‘There was once a country’ provoked, Mal. Musa said, “As far as I am concerned, the controversies didn’t affect my feelings towards him. I understand where he was coming from with regards to the continuity of Nigeria with the civil war. Everyone had doubts about the continuity of Nigeria and no honest person will say he didn’t have these doubts after the war. But after the war it will be recalled that Achebe stood for one Nigeria and preached it too.
At the time of his death I don’t think he was actively involved with any political party. And if he made any political announcements he usually did in favour of the PRP.”
On turning down the national merit awards, Musa said, “He did the right thing because he was disappointed by the nation’s leaders and didn’t think he could honestly accept the award from a group he didn’t consider honourable.”
Poet and essayist Odia Ofemun whose response to Achebe’s last book also raised a lot of debates said it is, “painful that Achebe has died at a time when we are learning to argue with him properly. At twenty eight he was regarded as old and it was only this last book that gave us the room to challenge and debate with him as we did.
The activist added that, nobody can deny the fact that he wrote great stories and as long as storytelling exists, he will be remembered as a great storyteller.
According to the publisher, “His last book will force people to revise their opinions of his earlier books because this produces the links to understanding the previous ones. His death will not end the debate and it will continue for generations to come. We’ll be unfair to ourselves if we don’t question the legacy he is leaving behind,” Ofeimun concluded.
Chinua Achebe, poet and novelist, was one of the most important living African writers. He was also considered one of the most original English literary artistes.