Chinua Achebe

Early Life and Background

Albert Chinụalụmọgụ Achebe was born on November 16, 1930, in Ogidi, a large village in Anambra State, Nigeria. He was the fifth of six children born to Isaiah Okafo Achebe and Janet Anaenechi Iloegbunam Achebe. His father was an evangelical Protestant missionary and a teacher, while his mother was a leader among church women and a provider of traditional stories. Achebe's parents were converts to Christianity, and he was raised in a household that blended Christian faith with profound respect for traditional Igbo culture. This dual heritage profoundly influenced his worldview and literary output. He learned to speak both Igbo, his native language, and English from a young age. His early education began at St Philip's Central School in Akwukwu, followed by Government College, Umuahia, one of Nigeria's premier secondary schools at the time, which he attended from 1944 to 1948. At Umuahia, he distinguished himself academically and developed a deep appreciation for literature.

Education

Achebe received a scholarship to study medicine at University College, Ibadan, in 1948, which was then a college of the University of London. However, after a year, he switched to the liberal arts, studying English, history, and theology. This decision meant he lost his scholarship and had to secure government loans to continue his education. He immersed himself in the study of English literature, but also critically examined the Eurocentric bias prevalent in the curriculum, particularly the portrayal of Africa and Africans in works by European authors. He graduated in 1953 with a second-class honours degree, a Bachelor of Arts (London) General degree. During his time at Ibadan, he contributed short stories and essays to the university's literary magazine, The University Herald, and served as its editor.

Career

After graduating, Chinua Achebe briefly worked as a teacher at a secondary school in Oba, before joining the Nigerian Broadcasting Service (NBS) in Lagos in 1954 as a producer of radio talks. His career at NBS was marked by rapid progression; he rose through the ranks to become the Director of External Broadcasting in 1961. This role allowed him to travel extensively and gain a broader understanding of global affairs and media. It was during his time at NBS that he wrote his seminal novel, Things Fall Apart, which was published in 1958. This novel achieved immediate international recognition and was swiftly followed by No Longer at Ease in 1960, Arrow of God in 1964, and A Man of the People in 1966, forming a powerful quartet that explored the impact of colonialism and post-colonial corruption on Nigerian society.

The Nigerian Civil War (Biafran War) from 1967 to 1970 profoundly impacted Achebe. He resigned from the NBS and became a staunch supporter of the Republic of Biafra, serving as an ambassador, traveling to Europe and North America to seek international support for the nascent nation. After the war, he took on a senior research fellowship at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, from 1967 to 1972. In the early 1970s, he held professorial appointments in the United States, serving as Professor of English at the University of Massachusetts Amherst from 1972 to 1975, and then at the University of Connecticut from 1975 to 1976. He returned to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in 1976, eventually becoming a Professor Emeritus. In 1990, a severe car accident in Nigeria left him paralyzed from the waist down, necessitating his relocation to the United States for specialized medical care and rehabilitation. He subsequently joined Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, as the Charles P. Stevenson Jr. Professor of Languages and Literature, a position he held from 1990 to 2009. In 2009, he moved to Brown University, where he served as the Roger S. McAdam Distinguished Professor in the Humanities until his death in 2013.

Major Achievements

Chinua Achebe's most significant achievement is undoubtedly his novel Things Fall Apart (1958), which has been translated into over 50 languages and sold more than 20 million copies worldwide. This work is widely regarded as the archetypal modern African novel in English and a foundational text in post-colonial literature. It provided an authentic African voice and perspective, effectively challenging the stereotypical and often dehumanizing portrayals of Africa prevalent in Western literature, most notably Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness. His essays, particularly "An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's Heart of Darkness" (1975), sparked significant literary and academic debate, critically dissecting the racist underpinnings of colonial narratives. Achebe was awarded the Nigerian National Merit Award (NNMA), Nigeria's highest award for academic achievement, in 1979. In 2007, he received the Man Booker International Prize for his lifetime achievement in literature. He was a recipient of numerous honorary degrees from prestigious universities around the world, including the University of Stirling, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Dartmouth College. Notably, Achebe twice rejected the Nigerian national honor of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR), first in 2004 and again in 2011, in protest against the widespread corruption and political instability in Nigeria, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to justice and good governance.

Personal Life

Chinua Achebe married Christie Chinwe Okoli on September 10, 1961. Christie was a fellow student at University College, Ibadan, and later became a professor of sociology. Together, they had four children: Chinelo (a daughter), Ikechukwu, Chidi, and Nwando (a daughter). Their family life was often intertwined with Achebe's professional and political engagements, particularly during the turbulent years of the Biafran War. The car accident in 1990 in Nigeria, which occurred while he was traveling to Lagos, left him with permanent paralysis from the waist down, confining him to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Despite this profound personal challenge, he continued to write, teach, and speak globally. Chinua Achebe passed away on March 21, 2013, in Boston, Massachusetts, at the age of 82, following a brief illness. He was buried in his hometown of Ogidi, Nigeria.

Legacy

Chinua Achebe is widely regarded as the "father of modern African literature" and one of the most important literary figures of the 20th century. His work fundamentally altered the global literary landscape, paving the way for countless African writers and inspiring new generations to tell their own stories with authenticity and pride. His novels remain essential texts for understanding the complexities of colonialism, post-colonialism, and the enduring strength of African cultures. Achebe's intellectual courage in challenging dominant narratives and advocating for a nuanced understanding of African history and identity continues to influence academic discourse and cultural movements worldwide. His commitment to social justice and his unwavering voice against corruption and misgovernance in Nigeria also form a significant part of his enduring legacy, making him not just a literary giant but also a moral compass for his nation and continent.