Chinua Achebe (1930-2013) was a literary giant whose novel "Things Fall Apart" (1958) revolutionized African literature. Born Albert Chinụalụmọgụ Achebe in Ogidi, Anambra State, he was raised in a Christian household but remained deeply connected to Igbo culture.

"Things Fall Apart" has sold over 20 million copies, translated into 57 languages, making it the most widely read book in modern African literature. The novel challenged colonial narratives by presenting pre-colonial African society as complex and sophisticated. Achebe's other masterpieces include "No Longer at Ease" (1960), "Arrow of God" (1964), "A Man of the People" (1966), and "Anthills of the Savannah" (1987).

Beyond fiction, Achebe was a poet, essayist, and critic. His essay collection "The Trouble with Nigeria" (1983) diagnosed Nigeria's post-independence problems with surgical precision. He taught at universities worldwide, including Bard College, where he held the Charles P. Stevenson Jr. Professorship.

Achebe received numerous honors: over 30 honorary doctorates, the Man Booker International Prize (2007), and multiple award nominations. He declined Nigeria's second-highest honor, the Commander of the Federal Republic, protesting the government's state of affairs. Despite a car accident in 1990 that left him partially paralyzed, Achebe continued writing and mentoring young African writers. His death in 2013 was mourned globally as Africa lost its literary conscience. His legacy endures in every African writer who dares to tell African stories from African perspectives.


ARCHITECT OF AFRICAN LITERARY INFRASTRUCTURE:
Beyond authoring classics, Chinua Achebe helped institutionalise African literature. As founding editor of the Heinemann African Writers Series (1962-1972), he championed authors from across the continent—Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, Ama Ata Aidoo, and Alex La Guma—ensuring African voices entered classrooms worldwide.

WITNESS AND STATESMAN:
During the Nigerian Civil War he served as Biafra’s roving ambassador, using diplomacy and essays to explain the humanitarian crisis to world leaders. His poetry collection Beware, Soul Brother captured the anguish of war while maintaining hope in collective healing.

TEACHER AND MENTOR:
Achebe taught at the University of Nigeria Nsukka, UMass Amherst, and Bard College, establishing creative writing programmes that nurtured new generations. He co-founded the Association of Nigerian Authors in 1981, creating platforms for readings, prizes, and policy advocacy on literary copyright.

ENDURING INFLUENCE:
The Chinua Achebe Center for African Writers and Artists at Bard preserves his papers, while the annual Achebe Colloquium on Africa at Brown University convenes scholars and policymakers. His essays on language, leadership, and storytelling remain essential reading for anyone seeking to understand Nigeria’s moral compass.

FAST FACTS:
- Served as editor of Okike literary journal (1971) and founding editor of the University of Nigeria Press.
- Honorary degrees: over 30 from universities including Dartmouth, Harvard, and the University of Cape Town.
- Awards: St. Louis Literary Award (1999), Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize (2010), Man Booker International Prize (2007).
- Quote to remember: “Until the lions have their own historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter.”