Again, Things Fall Apart, gets global acclaim
From Laolu Akande, New York

HONOUR and renewed acclaim around the world are set again for that award-winning African novel in a class of its own, Things Fall Apart, as the book enters its 50th year publication anniversary.




A series of events, including a world-class tribute at the historic New York City Town Hall, have been lined up here in the United States (US.), Nigeria and across the world for the 50th anniversary celebration of the award-winning novel, including the publication of an anniversary edition by a US. book publisher.

In a statement yesterday in New York by the publishers, Anchor books, part of the international celebration of Achebe's book is a tribute to be hosted by Anchor Books and PEN American Center on February 26 at Town Hall in New York City.

The Town hall is where New York City is being managed, including the offices of the New York Mayor and the City Council. It is at the heart of the city, a major historical site and tourist attraction.

Dignitaries and authors expected at the tribute include Nobel winner, Toni Morrison; Chimamanda Adichie; Suheir Hammad; Edwidge Danticat; Ha Jin, Chris Abani, and Colum McCann. The evening also features other special performances.

Regarded as one of the greatest novels of the 20th century, Things Fall Apart was first published in England in 1958, and its author, Nigeria's Chinua Achebe has since risen to the status of "arguably the father of modern African literature," according to Anchor Books, (US.), the publisher of the 50th anniversary edition of the historic book.

Said the publishers: "2008 marks the 50th anniversary of Chinua Achebe's "Things Fall Apart." To honor this milestone and celebrate Black History Month, (in United States, February is Black History month) Anchor Books has produced a beautiful new 50th Anniversary Edition. Achebe's tale of tribal life in Nigeria is a powerful read, as moving the first time as it is the fiftieth. It is also a fantastic choice for reading groups and is sure to inspire lively discussion."

According to the publishers: "Put simply, Things Fall Apart, one of the first African novels written in English to receive global critical acclaim, is the most illuminating and permanent monument we have to the modern African experience as seen from within. Since its first publication, Achebe's seminal novel has been published in 50 different languages and has sold millions of copies in the US. alone since its original publication."

Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) and Nigerian government officials are also listed as participants in some of the events set to celebrate the book and its world-acclaimed author (Achebe), now an Emeritus Professor at Bard College in New York State.

Other groups around the world playing an active role in the celebrations include the Brooklyn Academy of Music, in New York, the Black Academy of Arts and Letters, African Thinkers Roundtable in Dallas, Texas, Bard College radio station in New York, South African Writers Association among several others.

Other events and programmes to celebrate the book's 50th anniversary would take place in Washington, DC, Princeton New Jersey, Philadelphia, Dallas, Houston, and other places here in the US, 
[b]Events have also been lined up in London; Lisbon, Portugal; Johannesburg and Cape Town in South Africa; Hyderabad, India and in several Nigerian and US. universities. There are also plans for events in Canada, France, Sweden, Kenya, Ghana, Gambia and Brazil.[/b]The celebrations starting this month world-wide will proceed all the way till November this year.

As the US.-based publishers recalled in its statement, " Things Fall Apart concerns the clash of cultures and the destruction of Okonkwo's world through the arrival of aggressive, proselytising European missionaries. These twin dramas are perfectly harmonised and they are modulated by an awareness capable of encompassing at once the life of nature, human history and the mysterious compulsions of the soul."

When the 100 books of the century were honoured in New York marking the 100 years of the opening of the New York library, Things Fall Apart was listed as one of the 100 books of the century in the late 1990s.

According to Nobel winner, Nadine Gordimer, in the New York Times Book Review, "Achebe is gloriously gifted with the magic of an ebullient, generous, great talent," and the Sunday Times of London said "Achebe is one of the most distinguished artists to emerge from the West African cultural renaissance of the post-war world."
http://odili.net/news/source/2008/feb/20/23.html

I am the only person left in the world that is yet to read this book. I think the book is more popular in America than in Nigeria. Since the book is almost 50 years old, why did the world start making so much noise about it over the last decade?

It's a pity the likes of Achebe and Soyinka are aging and will soon be no more, who will replace them? Chimanda Adichie?

I have not read that book too.
And it's a shame that I am in Nigeria
I wonder how long else he will need to contest before the Nobel prize for literature is handed to him?

haba! i cant believe that there are people that have not read things fall apart in Nigerai here

I knw this is not the literature thread, but I just had to mention the novel 'Anthills of the Savannah'

If you want a quick reader on what makes Achebe so great. . . .just fast forward to the 'speech'
by a certain old man on the importance of the story tellers/journalists in society.

The most powerful piece of writing I have read and I have read a few in my time
even if i say so.

It is a shame that it takes the outside world to recognize we have talented individuals in Africa.

No thanks to Nigerians.  This man would have died earlier than God's plan for him--like everything else about the country!

Well, hearty congratulations! Thank God he had the courage to leave with his family when he did.

Let us see if the covenant university and madonna university graduates can do any better!


http://www.gradesaver.com/classicnotes/authors/about_chinua_achebe.html

Imagine a man that studied both literature and MEDICINE at UI--cannot even be well placed in Nigeria. What a shame!

Thank God for "abroad"!

The Honor is well deserved

Anyone that have not read the book should just walk up to any educational bookshop

Its common and easily available especially in the South East

almondjoy:

It is a shame that it takes the outside world to recognize we have talented individuals in Africa.

No thanks to Nigerians.

Including you.

opokonwa:

Including you.

Agreed!

Including you.

LMAO

I read that book more than 10 times.

The novel and its author deserves all this attention

By Doyin13,
I knw this is not the literature thread, but I just had to mention the novel 'Anthills of the Savannah'

[b]If you want a quick reader on what makes Achebe so great. . . .just fast forward to the 'speech'
by a certain old man on the importance of the story tellers/journalists in society.[/b]The most powerful piece of writing I have read and I have read a few in my time
even if i say so.

I heard that his "No longer at Ease" is another thriller comparable to "Things fall Apart".

The Honor is well deserved

Anyone that have not read the book should just walk up to any educational bookshop

Its common and easily available especially in the South East

You can get it easily from Amazon.

Please, If you've read it, can you write a little synopsis on the book?