0lumide: I can't seem to be able to find one thing Achebe achieved as one of "African intellectual".

He had the tool and potential to make people listen to him but he didn't use that tool and potential for nothing but his own literary awards and nothing really educating per se. Except you want to call his style of writing educating. I call his style of writing political and not something that people across the board can really read when they seek guidance in anything.

All the "African" forum he attended were all just noise making forums who just sit and analyze what Africa should be without them following through their conclusions and ensuring that they capture the mind of corrupt African government for a change.

But still Achebe was a creative writer. But to put it beyond that to try and mortally immortalize him as a hero of Africans is just really sentimental. Achebe has contributed nothing to African development, people and spirit.

If we allow Achebe be called a hero, we are leaving space for people like baba suwe and other entertainers to be called Heros. King Sunny Ade as talented as he is in his work, is just a beauty of Africa not an African hero or active contributor to African development.

Achebe is just one of many Africa talents that stood above his peers in his work. Let's not get too sentimental and try to give undue hero worship to him, instead, recognize the creativity of his work which is what his fame is still based not contribution to African people's development. Thanks

KenGali:
Well if the Generations of Nigerian students who have had to study his work as part of their curricula, for over twenty years do not constitute Average in Your mind Kindly enlighten me on who is. Almajiri is a feature of northern Nigeria, so is below average. but even they will benefit from his work in the course of education in the almajiri schools.

crossover: I know it will come to this. A great man is gone and some of us that are acutely myopic to the extent of becoming imbeciles are trying to drift our minds away into abyss. The truth is that most of the contributors that are sprouting extreme bitterness and hatred are either Christians or Muslims. Too bad!

bolaino: I know I'm going to get lots of insults thrown on my person after creating this topic, but to me the truth is better, I'm not a tribalist or an ethnic bigot, on the other hand I'm a proud Nigerian, one who believes that there is still hope for our great nation, I grew up reading literary works of chinua achebe, and I enjoyed his master piece (things fall apart) so much that I always re enacted this story whenever I was bored while growing up, the author of the book seemed bigger than life to me then, but growing up I discovered one thing about this man, he was a sadist, a pessimist, and a bad critic, he never saw the country Nigeria amounting to anything, he was always quick to condemn from the high pedestal which the "white man" put him, no doubt he has made Nigeria proud in the aspect of literature, but what has he done to help build this country? This is a man who spent half his life abroad pointing out problems of this country, but never offering sound possible solutions to these problems, this man hated his father land so much that he refused a national award twice, I believe that his refusal to accept the national awards stemmed from his hatred of his fatherland, not solely cos he felt the governments had failed the people, this man was not a man of the people as most people are claiming, rather he was a man against the people, he was a doomsday individual, he was hoping for the collapse of this our great country, he hated the market woman, the taxi driver and even the lawyer, he saw Nigerians as a people who could never change for the better, chinua achebe made us proud with his literary works, but aside from that he did not contribute enough for the over all development of this country, we've heard of great doctors who left the western world to come and practice in bush Africa, these men are the kind of people we should look up to, let me not say more, but I believe I have made my views known, may his soul rest, I hope he is buried in the United states.

Boss13:

I refuse to partake in this argument with you. As an igbo man, the free education and health system policy implemented by Awolowo is highly commendable. That is why there were so many educated yoruba peeps at that time. Though, I do not like awolowo because of his role in the civil war, I secretly admire those policies. Those kind of policies are policies our igbo leaders should explemify and also our national leaders in order to improve the standard of living in this country.

However, our leaders must truly sit down collectively and address this tribalism and move this country to true integration and greater height.

alj harem:

Oh I see, thanks but you and I would agree that what you just said is what I was getting at

My brother, THAT IS NOT AN AVERAGE NIGERIAN. I hope you are getting my point, what impart has he made for the average almajiri or what you people in the east call "Youths"

alj harem:

You see the problem here ? His books have not really taught people on how to govern different set of people and taught people how to relate with people.

I my humble opinion I have read "Things fall apart" and "There was a country" two IMO are the most popular of his books. Both of which are not really thought provoking but personal encounters.

Correct me if I am wrong and I am willing to learn from you with superior knowledge.

mpumalanga: Achebe said when he was alive that "It is only in a folklore that you will see a tortoise pointing hand at an elephant". And he ended it by saying that he do not have the time for such folklore.Niaraland is sort of a modern folklore as you will not see or touch the participating characters.So,the Tortoise of Nairaland are highly welcomed to point fingers at the elephant because this is the only way/place they can do that.Let the tortoise enjoy their fun while the Elephant will continue to be celebrated by fellow achievement oriented elephants all over the world.such as papa Mandela,Zuma and others .RIP to ACHEBE, the man that looked evil in the face and called it EVIL.

KenGali:
I think I understand your problem Mr. Harem. Stems from not having seen the doors of the University.

Let me help you, improving better life of an average Nigeria extends beyond infrastructure. Their is such a thing called intellectual development. Achebe contributed greatly to the intellectual development of the majority of Nigerian students by providing them a world class intellectual fodder. Not just for Nigerians, but to the world actually. same as the likes of Charlse Dickens, whose Oliver Twist you must have read.
For the minority African and Nigerians who have to deal withe the rest of the world, He created a great perspective for that interaction on elevated footing in the work, Things Fall Apart.
Thank you.

vandarsar: The funny thing is you're part and percel of that folklore you see?

Idi.ota, You sidon for Mpumalanga, South Africa dey throw stones of words like your irreplaceable bigot, Asheebee(Asheburuku)

Chanchit: :-XI think Achebe really tried in promoting civil war in Nigeria, even with the last book he authored last year.

Efikman: Chronic Yoruba tribalistic MODS like OAM4J will one day cripple nairaland if Seun Osewa does not do something about it quick. When Yoruba bigots attack Achebe, Ibos and easterners as a whole by using derogatory words such as "ashebe", "Igbos", "yam pottage", "eboes", e.t.c, he will look the other way. But when those attacked reply with same derogatory words
Like Yoruba or Yoruba, he will not hesitate to ban them. Is this right? where then is the justice? Nobody will insult any Yoruba man if the bigots here don't draw the first blood. Make una enjoy. Afterall na una get nairaland. Nonsense!!!!!!!

Mr. Globe:

I refuse to join issues with you as regards Wole Soyinka, the ONLY Yoruba man we respect and adore in Alaigbo. At the end of the day the stories you disparaged are the highest selling African made stories worldwide. You wouldn't know this since you are a victim of the free and fake awolowo education that has turned 80% of Yoruba people (you inclusive) to taxi drivers in all major Nigerian cities.

ypzilanti:

So from the question 'Did Achebe actually do anything to promote development in Nigeria' we are now asking what he did for almajiri and restive youths. You are just laughable. OK, for argument sake, lets all agree that he contributed to intellectual development. That by the way was what writers are supposed to do, and he did it better than you can ever imagine. Apart from that, he left his job and also spoke and wrote against dictatorship and bad governance. What else did you want him to do? Go around distributing keke marwa and sewing machines? If the government improved the country as he advocated, there would be no need for keke marwa and sewing machine distrubution. Get it?

Orblonde: With all this tribal hatred, Nigeria will surely collapse. The Easterners saw the writing on the wall since the 60s, infact the north saw it sooner.

Mr. Globe:

I don't recall having any argument here with you. free education my azz. can you show us the legacies of the free education today. Am sorry for you since you don't know the hype was the handwork of Yoruba media at the time. Nigeria integration will never work. Sorry if you are one of the half igbo, half Yoruba confused folks

aryzgreat:


GBAM! GBAM!! GBAMM!!! That was a powerful punch! The tout will still ask his father wot Achebe did after ur explanation. So much for Awo-ole free education in rascals land.

Orblonde: With all this tribal hatred, Nigeria will surely collapse. The Easterners saw the writing on the wall since the 60s, infact the north saw it sooner.

afroxyz: OP I forever thank you for your post. I had an argument with a friend based on what you discussed not far long. As far as I am concerned Soyinka is the true Nigeria. Even after being imprisoned by the FG for trying to broker peace during the Biafran, he still served by forming the FRSC and accepted the award. He had nothing to lose in that war yet he risked his life. Okigbo fought for what he believed in and died for it. But what did Achebe do? Stay from his foreign base and spew hate and bile. That is why he never won the Nobel award. He was a great man in the literary circle, but he could not transcend his tribal notions. That is why his prodigee Chiamanda could have the audacity to say "I'm Igbo and African". She like her mentor did not believe in Nigeria. We don't need such people in our trying moments like this

afroxyz: OP I forever thank you for your post. I had an argument with a friend based on what you discussed not far long. As far as I am concerned Soyinka is the true Nigeria. Even after being imprisoned by the FG for trying to broker peace during the Biafran, he still served by forming the FRSC and accepted the award. He had nothing to lose in that war yet he risked his life. Okigbo fought for what he believed in and died for it. But what did Achebe do? Stay from his foreign base and spew hate and bile. That is why he never won the Nobel award. He was a great man in the literary circle, but he could not transcend his tribal notions. That is why his prodigee Chiamanda could have the audacity to say "I'm Igbo and African". She like her mentor did not believe in Nigeria. We don't need such people in our trying moments like this

alj harem: Any educated non-baised person would understand the QUESTION HERE AND THE ANSWER I AM GETTING

Question

What did Achebe do to improve/advocate to better the life of an average Nigerian

Answer by Igbos bigots

He was an Icon, He wrote so and so book, he brought African/Nigerian Igbo culture to the international literature world, his book is translated to 1200000 languages etc

Has this answered the question I asked or the OP answered ? If indeed we have sensible people who are defending this man know what a direct question and direct answer is.

Look all, I did not see the doors of a university but if indeed this is what University education entails then it is good as I can see lots of wasted investments

Simple direct question, to answer it is difficult.

Mr. Globe:

What more is there to be said. Nairaland is like a field where retartded individuals have the opportunity to display foolishness and relate with smart and intelligent folks. The Op will have such fraudsters as awolowo, Fashola and Tinubu as a hero and contributor to the development of Nigeria as against people like Achebe and Soyinka

afroxyz: . That is why his prodigee Chiamanda could have the audacity to say "I'm Igbo and African". She like her mentor did not believe in Nigeria. We don't need such people in our trying moments like this

confusion247:
You have murdered the foolish, tribal bigotry OP. His Nigeria is making speedy progress with self destruction.

confusion247:
You have murdered the foolish, tribal bigotry OP. His Nigeria is making speedy progress with self destruction.

alj harem:

You see the problem here ? His books have not really taught people on how to govern different set of people and taught people how to relate with people.

I my humble opinion I have read "Things fall apart" and "There was a country" two IMO are the most popular of his books. Both of which are not really thought provoking but personal encounters.

Correct me if I am wrong and I am willing to learn from you with superior knowledge.