Nigerian Poet, Novelist, Critic Wrote about social and cultural changes that occurred in Africa considered the founding father of African literature
born in Ogidi
Achebe’s parents stood at crossroads of traditional culture and Christian influence Achebe’s parents were some of the early converts to Christianity Achebe decided to become a writer after reading Mister Johnson (struck him as superficial and helped form his determination to write his own novels about Nigeria)
fiercely critical of how Western literature depicted Africa
won the Man Booker International Prize in 2007
born: November 16, 1930 died: March 21, 2013
themes: works:
believed that it was okay to write in English at a time when most African writers saw it as
Quotes
“English is something you spend your lifetime acquiring, so it would be foolish not to use it.”
see also: Ngugi wa Thiong’o
Chinua Achebe
Bio
Year of birth: (born::1930)
Year of death: (died::2013)
Nationality: (nationality::Nigerian)
Family: Father - Isaiah Okafor Achebe, Mother - Janet Anaenechi Iloegbunam, Wife - Christie Okoli
Period: (timecontext::20th century, early 21st century)
Works
Important Works: (impworks::Things Fall Apart, Arrow of God, No Longer at Ease)
Contributions: Foundational work in African literature, critique of colonialism
Key Ideas: (KeyIdeas::Colonialism, African Identity, Tradition vs. Change)
Known For: (KnownFor::Things Fall Apart, African Literature)
Influenced By: (influencedby::Joseph Conrad, W.B. Yeats, Igbo Oral Tradition)