ilugunboy: The Biafran Chief propagandist is dead..who will wear his shoes? Chukwumerije?

Unnecessary!

kliffo:

What goes around comes around, yeah someday you will die and having not made a mark like Achebe or Awo for that matter you will not be mourned like some discerning Yorubas and Igbos mourn Achebe.

You made no sense. I hope you are not the smartest in your village.

Chinua Achebe, African Literary Titan, Dies at 82
By JONATHAN KANDELL
Published: March 22, 2013
New York Times



Chinua Achebe, the Nigerian writer who was black Africa’s most widely read novelist and one of the continent’s towering men of letters, has died after a brief illness, his publisher and agent said in London on Friday. He was 82.

Few details were immediately available.

Besides novels, Mr. Achebe’s works included powerful essays and poignant short stories and poems rooted in the countryside and cities of his native Nigeria, before and after independence from British colonial rule. His most memorable fictional characters were buffeted and bewildered by the conflicting pulls of traditional African culture and invasive Western values.

For inspiration, Mr. Achebe drew on his own family history as part of the Ibo nation of southeastern Nigeria, a people victimized by the racism of British colonial administrators and then by the brutality of military dictators from other Nigerian ethnic groups.

Mr. Achebe burst onto the world literary scene with the publication in 1958 of his first novel, “Things Fall Apart,” which sold millions of copies and was translated into 45 different languages.

Set in the Ibo countryside in the late 19th century, the novel tells the story of Okonkwo, who rises from poverty to become an affluent farmer and village leader. But with the advent of British colonial rule and cultural values, Okonkwo’s life is thrown into turmoil. In the end, unable to adapt to the new status quo, he explodes in frustration, killing an African in the employ of the British and then committing suicide.

The novel, which is also compelling for its descriptions of traditional Ibo society and rituals, went on to become a classic of world literature and was often listed as required reading in university courses in Europe and the United States.

But when it was first published, “Things Fall Apart” did not receive unanimous acclaim. Some British critics thought it idealized pre-colonial African culture at the expense of the former empire.

“An offended and highly critical English reviewer in a London Sunday paper titled her piece cleverly, I must admit Hurray to Mere Anarchy!” wrote Mr. Achebe in “Home and Exile,” a collection of autobiographical essays that appeared in 2000. A few other novels by Mr. Achebe early in his career were occasionally criticized by reviewers as being stronger on ideology than on narrative interest.

But over the years, Mr. Achebe’s stature grew until he was considered a literary and political beacon.

“In all Achebe’s writing there is an intense moral energy,” observed Kwame Anthony Appiah, professor of Afro-American studies and philosophy at Princeton, in a commentary written in 2000. “He speaks about the task of the writer in language that captures the sense of threat and loss that must have faced many Africans as empire invaded and disrupted their lives.”

In a 1998 New York Times book review, the novelist Nadine Gordimer hailed Mr. Achebe as “a novelist who makes you laugh and then catch your breath in horror — a writer who has no illusions but is not disillusioned.”

Mr. Achebe’s political thinking evolved from blaming colonial rule for Africa’s woes to frank criticism of African rulers and of citizens who tolerated their corruption and violence.

Forced abroad by Nigeria’s bloody civil war in the 1960s and then by military dictatorship in the 1980s and 1990s, Mr. Achebe had lived for many years in the United States, where he was a university professor. But he continued to believe that writers and storytellers ultimately held more power than army strongmen.

“Only the story can continue beyond the war and the warrior,” an old soothsayer observes in Mr. Achebe’s 1988 novel, “Anthills of the Savannah.” “It is the story that saves our progeny from blundering like blind beggars into the spikes of the cactus fence. The story is our escort; without it, we are blind.”

A fuller obituary will be coming soon on NYTimes.com.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/23/world/africa/chinua-achebe-nigerian-writer-dies-at-82.html?hp&_r=0

Why would people introduce bigotry into this discussion? Professor Achebe was not perfect, but he achieved a lot and is recognised all over the world. Every Nigerian, nay, every black man shares in the glory of what he achieved. Why would some want to denigrate him at this time when we should be honouring his memory?

~Bluetooth:


ThankGod he never achieved it.




Chief tribalist of peoples republic of biafra.

Must you talk like a child like this?

slimyem: Its a laughable suggestion Mr. and the why is too obvious but its understandable that you are just overrating your hero.

Why not go and do the hero thing rather than crying

Much respect to this literary genius who projected African culture in a beautiful manner. All honor to you and hoping the afterlife brings you bliss.

To all those who speak ill of a dead man. You must judge a man by the entirety of his lifes work and not just pull an excerp out of his dealings to pass judgement upon him. Only an enlightened man can understand such a concept.

R.I.P. old man you had a good one.

His impact speak for him........ Rip baba

naptu2: Why would people introduce bigotry into this discussion? Professor Achebe was not perfect, but he achieved a lot and is recognised all over the world. Every Nigerian, nay, every black man shares in the glory of what he achieved. Why would some want to denigrate him at this time when we should be honouring his memory?

I wonder oo. It beggars description, I tell ya.

There was a country.

R.I.P. Chinua Achebe.

TheBookWorm:
I see the point you are trying to make with the Igbo icon. I do slightly disagree, but your argument still can be made.

Concerning the "pigeonholing" accusation, I disagree. In the literary world, authors from around the globe are associated with their geography. We have European literature, American literature, Asian literature, Latin American literature and African literature. Professor Achebe's novels falls into the category African literature and I see nothing wrong with that. His novels illustrate Africa's unique cultures. You may call it "pigeonholing" but I see it as bringing diversity to the world of literature.

The man was a proud Biafran and alluding something else to him is disrespectful to him. Personally, I only see myself as a Yoruba despite having a Nigerian passport(which I have never used). When I die, I believe people should respect me for being a Yoruba Briton AND not Nigerian. Calling me a Nigerian would be disrespectful!

We need to stop letting people define what and who we're to us. African Literature is more Afrocentric, and the late Achebe was more into fiction and modern literature from an African and Nigerian perspective after the arrival of the Europeans(post-colonial era). So he's more of a modern 'literaturist' than anything else. Africa literature deals solely with the African people and their culture before the arrival of the Europeans.

Anything "modern" isn't African because "modern" is another pseudonym for WESTERN. So, you're pigeonholing his works into what it's not.

Rest in Peace, Sir!

We will all miss your immense wisdom and truthfulness.

THATS ONE GREAT NIGERIAN GONE DISSATISFIED WITH HIS COUNTRY TO THE EXTENT THAT HE REJECTED A NATIONAL AWARD SAME WAY SOME TEENS AND ADULTS BORN SOME 10,15,17,20..YEARS AGO HAVE NEVER KNOWN WHAT REGULAR, NOT TO TALK OF CONSTANT, POWER MEANS IN THIS MILENIUM!
MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PERFECT PEACE. AND MAY THOSE WHO SO MUCH SUBJECT MILLIONS OF NIGERIANS TO UNTOLD HARDSHIP,WHO DENY PEOPLE OF THEIR GOD GIVEN NATURAL RESOURCES,WHO MAKE THIS SUPPOSED BLESSED LAND UNPALATABLE SO MUCH THAT THE INTERNATIONAL ICON KEPT REJECTING THE NATIONAL AWARD NEVER HAVE PEACE.

OAM4J why are you banning only Igbo people but leave the Yoruba bigots like Bluetooth e.t.c who insult our Legend Chinua Achebe? It is highly unprofessional and shows you as an unrepentant TRIBALIST. Continue.

Dis Ibo man's death aint natural
The okonkwos in his village killed him
U know, black magical thingz

naptu2: Why would people introduce bigotry into this discussion? Professor Achebe was not perfect, but he achieved a lot and is recognised all over the world. Every Nigerian, nay, every black man shares in the glory of what he achieved. Why would some want to denigrate him at this time when we should be honouring his memory?

Well, Awolowo achieved a lot too and many of his achievements remains first in Nigerian and Africa, but they have no problem insulting and denegrating him at will and ashebe himself lead the charge via his utterances and lack of respect for the dead, he even wrote a mean and vindictive book to highlight his point and hatred for the dead/Awo.

Did ashebe honor Awolowos memory? No, he trashed and insulted him and his people too.

Respect is earned, not demanded.

RIP the great prof We feel very sad tht we have lost a truly great son of our land who thru your dedication and hard work you put our nation on the world map on the positive side of history.You were an epitome of intellectuallism,with highly reverred artistical prowess.You were a world apart from those who have ended up being our leaders.You were a man of integrity and utmost inpeckable personae.All what you stood for and represented is still very absent among our leaders today.THINGS ARE OBVIOUSLY STILL FALLING APART!
Your life and your achivements has brought hope to many of us who are hitherto left at the mercy of a hopeless govt that is leading us to destruction by the day. You stood up to fight for good governance but the people you stood up against stiil hold sway and are still wining and dining over there own shame.
You have left us in the cold hands of the govt tht does not bother about making life better for us.You are mightier than the entire govt of nigeria put together and you are more valuable to us than a billion GEJs.We however refuse to be deterred and the struggle continues to transform nigeria to the naija of your dreams.

I will always have respect for Professor Achebe, not simply because of his novel, Things Fall Apart, but for his criticism of Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness.

I had to read that humiliating book, "Heart of Darkness," in my freshman year of college and I must say that I felt degraded as someone being of African descent. To make matters worse, I was the only black person in the class!

That is why I was happy to read Chinua Achebe's An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's "Heart of Darkness." It restored the dignity of Africans and people of African descent that Joseph Conrad took away in his novel.

r.i.p

Eko Ile:

Well, Awolowo achieved a lot too and many of his achievements remains first in Nigerian and Africa, but they have no problem insulting and denegrating him at will and ashebe himself lead the charge via his utterances and lack of respect for the dead, he even wrote a mean and vindictive book to highlight his point and hatred for the dead/Awo.

Did ashebe honor Awolowos memory? No, he trashed and insulted him and his people too.

Respect is earned, not demanded.

Truth remains the truth, he never denigrated Awo, he only restated what Awo did.
You can only say Achebe was wrong or right!

Classicalman: Which respect? By drinking rat poison?

Hahahahah you attacked someone's own yet you want your own to be spared.Ibos and hypocrisy.

Obiagu1:

Truth remains the truth, he never denigrated Awo, he only restated what Awo did.
You can only say Achebe was wrong or right!

What you call truth is what other people including me call lies.



Go ahead and worship your hero, just don't expect others to.

[size=18pt]Ding dong the witch is dead. [/size]

Eko Ile:

Well, Awolowo achieved a lot too and many of his achievements remains first in Nigerian and Africa, but they have no problem insulting and denegrating him at will and ashebe himself lead the charge via his utterances and lack of respect for the dead, he even wrote a mean and vindictive book to highlight his point and hatred for the dead/Awo.

Did ashebe honor Awolowos memory? No, he trashed and insulted him and his people too.

Respect is earned, not demanded.

have you read the book? lol...' respect is earned not demanded' as if you know jack about respect.the man is getting tributes left right and centre from international publications worth their salt and you say we are ' demanding'respect for him...*shakes head* most folks here think you are incapable of rational thinking.pls disappoint them for once, i beg of you.

~Bluetooth:


Hahahahah you attacked someone's own yet you want your own to be spared.Ibos and hypocrisy.

They obviously think with their anusss..

[size=20pt]The whole world mourns a Legend , The most Influential African , The Father of African Literature
[/size]

While a few Bigots from an obscure section of Nigeria in their Chronic and acute inferiority Igbo complex are obliterating the Personality of this Great African.


Below are some of the accolades poured on this great African by Great authors ,Journals, journalist , publishers, publishing houses, writers, countries all over the world, while a few frustrated bigots are busy venting their frustrated spleen .

Please note that the accolades are so much that i only have to post this few.

http://www.internazionale.it/news/nigeria/2013/03/22/morto-lo-scrittore-chinua-achebe/

NIGERIA
Morto lo scrittore Chinua Achebe



http://g1.globo.com/pop-arte/noticia/2013/03/escritor-nigeriano-chinua-acehbe-morre-aos-82-anos.html

Escritor nigeriano Chinua Achebe morre aos 82 anos




http://www.svd.se/kultur/forfattaren-chinua-achebe-dod_8022804.svd

Författaren Chinua Achebe död

Den nigerianske författaren Chinua Achebe har avlidit 82 år gammal. Achebe, ofta kallad "den moderna afrikanska litteraturens fader", var en ständig Nobelpriskandidat
Chinua Achebe, sedan 1990 bosatt i USA, avled under en sjukhusvistelse i Boston uppger såväl afrikanska som brittiska medier.

LÄS OCKSÅ Achebe ger ut efterlängtad memoarbok

Nelson Mandela beskriver honom som en författare vars böcker fick fängelsemurarna att rämna. Även om Nobelpriset gick till landsmannen Wole Soyinka är det Chinua Achebe som påverkat den samtida afrikanska litteraturen mest, menar Stefan Helgesson, professor i engelska vid Stockholms universitet och specialist på afrikansk litteratur.



Mort du grand écrivain nigérian Chinua Achebe
http://www.lepoint.fr/fil-info-reuters/mort-du-grand-ecrivain-nigerian-chinua-achebe-22-03-2013-1644358_240.php

Afrikaanse schrijver Chinua Achebe (82) overleden
http://www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/3352/boeken/article/detail/3413717/2013/03/22/Afrikaanse-schrijver-Chinua-Achebe-82-overleden.dhtml

De beroemde Nigeriaanse schrijver en dichter Chinua Achebe, door velen gezien als de vader van de moderne Afrikaanse roman, is overleden op 82-jarige leeftijd. Dat heeft zijn uitgeverij Penguin vrijdag bekend gemaakt.


Zemřel otec moderní africké literatury Chinua Achebe
http://kultura.idnes.cz/zemrel-chinua-achebe-0lg-/literatura.aspx?c=A130322_153708_literatura_vha

http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2013/03/22/cultura/1363956424.html
LITERATURA | Nigeria
El escritor Chinua Achebe muere a los 82 años

Schriftsteller aus Nigeria
Chinua Achebe im Alter von 82 Jahren gestorben
http://www.tagesspiegel.de/weltspiegel/schriftsteller-aus-nigeria-chinua-achebe-im-alter-von-82-jahren-gestorben/7972950.html

May his soul rest in perfect peace.....*sob*

phantom: have you read the book? lol...' respect is earned not demanded' as if you know jack about respect.the man is getting tributes left right and centre from international publications worth their salt and you say we are ' demanding'respect for him...*shakes head* most folks here think you are incapable of rational thinking.pls disappoint them for once, i beg of you.

Please keep quiet. I can't deal with overly sensitive and vibrating pregnant woman . Go sell that rubbish to your kind.

[size=18pt]Please, how old is Soyinka?

Seems like Soyinka will outlive the tribalistic warlords of Nigeria; Ojukwu, Achubi, OBJ, etc [/size]