₦airaland Forum

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.

There was a country was just released so we cannot judge on its popularity. However, the irony of this is that people want to read from chinua achebe. It can also be compared to the urge from people wanting to hear another track from fela (foes and friend alike).

Please add man of the people to your list. 6 weeks after the book was released, the first coup in the country took place. Also add his essay attacking Joseph Conrad. That essay is still been studied. The essay resulted to a lot of provocation from the western world, a time when Conrad was celebrated as a literary icon. I also believe, the essay was behind the reason achebe was never honoured with the noble prize for literature even when there was an outcry for him to be recognized.

[quote author=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.[/quote]I refuse to partake in this argument with you. As an igbo man, the free education and health system policies implemented by Awolowo are 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 during 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.

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

Blueboy0402: There was a country: a land of the rising sun. There was a country: a land of great intellectuals. There was a country: the home of Azikiwe, Chinua Achebe, Ojukwu, Emegwali, Chimamanda, king Jaja, Oludah Equino etc. There was a country: her citizens sacrificed their lives for freedom. There was a country: betrayed by her neighbours. There was a country: hated by many, loved by few.
RIP Chinua Achebe. Your book "There was a country" is indeed a parting gift to the world.

Did you deliberately decided to ignore soyinka, fela, ahmadu bello, sanusi, femi kuti Or were you referring to biafra?

Can we for once appreciate our country. Let stop the spread of tribalism. Let us correct the errors of our fathers. I still believe in Nigeria

I see some yoruba peeps crying tribalism, though it was introduced by them. I see igbo peeps shouting tribalism. It shows we all hate tribalism. So what can we do about it? I pray we can truly integrate to develop this great country of ours

I apologize for disrespecting Awolowo publicly. He was a great man and will be remembered. I am just not happy with the way he handled the civil war. True people make mistakes but some mistakes can cause an unbearable scar.

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inufele2: pile of gabbage

like yourself right?

django1: You're too misinformed or just being obtuse!
What don't you know about the 20pounds policy? Is it that its an ex gratia that is given to all ibos (who came out of the civl war) across board not some remittances of their bank account! Those who had proven bank statments got their money, abi you want make fed govt dey dole out money to evey ibo man?
Your reasons for calling awo wicked is all borne out of ignorance and hatred fed you by your predecessors.

Awolowo committed suicide. He could not realize his ambitions, his people failed him. He regretted his actions and the decisions he made. Only a bitter man commits suicide (FACT). Imagine how Nigerians neglected him and try to move on. When I read about him, I am not always happy. He fought for his people, not a bad thing, but the way he went about it was wrong. I feel pity for him. Only God knows what he went through those lonely days of his life. I say this without any form of tribalism. If he was so much adored and his legacy loved, why ain't they replicated?

django1: Read my later post and you'll understand the angle from where it affects the whole race.
And let's get something straight, if you attack the head you attack the whole body. Maybe it doesn't work that way in iboland, but it does in yoruba land.

If the head is wicked, what makes the whole body. Yes the Igbo race is never like that, they do not carry a stupid head. Many igbos will never forgive Ojukwu on the role he played in the war. It was a war fueled by personal ambition and instigated by power drunks. It could have been avoided. I don't hate Awolowo because he was Yoruba, I hate him because of what he did - killing innocent people. I don't care about the N20 policy. I will never allow tribalism becloud my judgement and turn me to a stupid fellow. If you feel happy about what Awolowo did, then that makes you too a wicked tribal fellow.

aryzgreat: When u write read b4 u post, is Awolowo = yoruba race? Do u know dat OBJ called Ojukwu "Rebel" in his book, "My command" so i should say Obj called igbos Rebel? Awolowo was power hungry and did all he did to win d war against d biafrans bc of his personal gain but Karma dissapointed him, He didnt get d power till he died. Call black clack

God sees the heart of men and never allowed Awolowo to become president. I wonder what would have happened. Thank you God.

I SEE THE WICKEDNESS OF THE HEART OF MEN. I FEEL THE INSECURITY BEING PROTRAYED ON THIS THREAD. I SMELL THE FEAR IN THE BONES OF TRIBALISTS HERE ON NAIRALAND. FINALLY, I SEE FOOLISHNESS BEING DISPLAYED ON THIS THREAD AND A DELEBRATE REFUSAL TO HONOUR A MAN THE WHOLE WORLD IS HONORING. THE WORLD HAS SAID - YES, ACHEBE WAS A GREAT MAN. WHO ARE YOU THEN TO SAY OTHERWISE.

PA CHINUA ACHEBE, IN HUMILITY YOU CONQUERED. WITH THE PEN, YOUR RIP OPEN THE HEART OF WICKED MEN. YOU ARE SIMPLY GREATNESS THAT WORE HUMAN FORM. REST IN PEACE PAPA.

alj harem: Lets be realistic here and not think using sentiment and petty tribalism. Soyinka is not the discussion here. The question is simple and it is not about Achebe's book/s

What did Achebe achieve for others before passing on ? I mean, what positive impact did he make ?

He wrote about the African culture. The white men for the first time were made to believe that Africans were disorganized barbarians without any culture nor heritage. Now, his book is a MUST READ in WESTERN SCHOOLS. Even Oprah said its a book you must read even if you choose to read it once. He also wrote a book Man of the people, 6 weeks later there was a coup. His essay on Joseph Conrad book, knocked down this acclaim book - heart of darkness. Finally, his last book, there was a country is exposing the wickedness of our heart of how some group of wicked men, out of selfishness and overridden ambition for power attempted to wipe off an entire race of people. A cold bitter truth of tribalism existing in our country is now brought up in the open for the world to see. The same tribalism being portrayed on this thread by your humble self. That cold wickedness in your heart that is getting you so upset that billions across the world is mourning and for the first time in a long while something good about Nigeria is been said by international press.

bittyend: The same Achebe also write this under a header titled: A History of Ethnic Tension and Resentment.

He observed that the Igbo culture’s emphasis on change, individualism and competitiveness gave his ethnic group an edge over the Hausa/Fulani man who was hindered by a “wary religion” and the Yoruba man who was hampered by” traditional hierarchies.”

http://www.informationng.com/2012/10/there-was-a-country-why-hausa-fulanis-yorubas-hate-igbos-achebe.html

From your post I observe you don't reside in Nigeria - I hope I am correct. If I am not pardon me. Okay back to your comment, that is the fact on ground, if you reside in Nigeria you will know. I am not a tribalist. I will never be. I learn a lot from the diversity of people. I have to be honest I have been treated unfairly by Yoruba people, just basically I am not Yoruba. I have also been treated same by other ethnic groups too but more from Yorubas. That sucks. To me it is only a coward and a demon that preaches and encourages tribalism. Please also note that I have also been treated equally well by some lovely Yoruba people (educated ones mostly). So sometimes I blame it on exposure.

bittyend: Achebe in his own words:

“It is my impression that Awolowo was driven by an overriding ambition for power, for himself and for his Yoruba people. There is, on the surface at least, nothing wrong with those aspirations. However, Awolowo saw the dominant Igbos at the time as the obstacles to that goal, and when the opportunity arose – the Nigeria-Biafra war – his ambition drove him into a frenzy to go to every length to achieve his dreams. In the Biafran case it meant hatching up a diabolical policy to reduce the numbers of his enemies significantly through starvation — eliminating over two million people, mainly members of future generations.”

An act of pure wickedness and yet I should celebrate him, Ojukwu and Gowon - NEVER

thelastPope: After reading the book, There was a country, I couldnt find anywhere Chinua Achebe insulted the Yorubas as alleged. So please can anyone explain where he insulted the Yorubas?

His account of Awo's involvement in the civil war did not contain anything like insult or ridicule of the Yorubas. It didnt also contain any thing that could make one call Achebe a bigot. Awo made both good and bad decisions in his time as minister. Anyone can comment on those decisions. how does that translate into insulting the Yorubas? It was simply his account of the war which can be debated and someone could come out to fault with better argument. He had a right to his opinions. But I am concerned that after so much shout on this forum, one would have thought he actually insulted the Yorubas, but he didnt.

Or maybe there is another version of the book that I am not aware of.

Abi oh like the iconic man has said, if you don't like a story, write your own. Please abeg for someone like me that never saw nor experienced the war, it is a fantastic book to show my children of how barbaric Nigeria was previously.

pheyikemi: whr is d article? Frm wc source did u read it ? I'm interested pls

Google it.

ckkris: Please Sir,
Was TRIBALISM ever dead in Nigeria since Awolowo introduced it in the 1950's, when Awolowo prevented Azikiwe from becoming Premier of Western Nigeria, after a free and fair election that returned a majority of NCNC, over Awo's minority AG?
Since 1965, when Awolowo's Action Group insisted that a Yoruba must be the Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, instead of Prof Eni Njoku who was next in line of succession to the retiring European VC , have subsequent VC's not always been chosen on TRIBAL considerations?
Now its indigene vs non-indigene; indigenes vs settlers.
Awo's Legacy Rules!

TRIBALISM CONTINUA !

OMO bros na truth you talk so

Nothing but the honest truth.

I just finished reading the article and I am shocked to the bone. We need to address this ethnic/tribal issue. I am afraid because I see a Rwanda genocide

Billyonaire: Nigeria needs a Hero, yet, we find no role models for the younger generations. The few ones with lofty legacies adored by the greatest minds world-wide are being ridiculed by tribalists of Nairaland.

A serious concern for our country Nigeria.

[quote author=Area-Fada]What an elder can see from his chair, a youngster cannot see from the top of Mount Kilimanjaro!

Achebe saw the real problem with Nigeria and preached tirelessly that we should correct it. Op claims Achebe never believed in Nigeria and was too pessimistic.

Was his pessimism justified? He was 30 years old at independence. He saw the great promise that Nigeria held. Have we lived up up to expection?
For people like Achebe, it must be heart-wrenching to see Nigeria as it is. For those born and bred in a mediocre Naija, it may not seem to matter as they have never seen any better.

Achebe once veered into politics but he documented clearly that those in Nigeriann politics are only there for the pockets and advancement, not to serve the people.
Achebe had too much decency and conscience to remain in Naija politics.

He has finished his own battle. The battle to rescue Naija is now ours to lose.[/quote]Oh God if I know how to say a million thank you to you I would. This is extremely the truth and I also love the way you concluded it. God bless you and i pray our only country, Nigeria see the light.

[quote author=~Bluetooth]Exactly by writing a book in his senile age to plant the seed of hatred into the minds of you and your kinsmen.Why did the I'd'I'o'T have wait for over 40 years before writing "there was a country " ? 40 years of accumulated lies ![/quote]To be honest, I think you are the one with the hatred. Without mincing word, the country needs to apologize to the Igbo community. They were murdered and are still being murdered. The Igbo ethnic group are marginalized in the scheme of things. If any group needs to leave, they have every right to. If any group needs to be bitter they have every right to. However, we need them, we need everybody to make this country great for once, because it had never been great. You need to stop this hating and begin to appreciate our diversity. Please let's stop this.

Where is the article? Is it truly sad if he wrote it. I just hope it is not true.

all4naija: No! Bluetooth,please! There are others like Things Fall Apart, etc. There are facts Things Fall Apart was translated into several languages and sold very well around the world.

Give it up, man! No human being is perfect!

I humbly wish to differ from this opinion. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the book "there was a country". Achebe told the truth. Must we hide the truth from our children? With no tribal sentiment, I cannot yet come to reason why would someone deliberately mastermind the killing of innocent civilians using food as his weapon. While I truly admire the great works and contributions of awolowo, I do not respect the man because such act is babaric. The same reason I do not like nor respect Ojukwu. The civil war is a huge scar to our country, it was egocentric and could have been avoided.

gboss4sure: Mr OP, what have you yourself contributed to make Nigeria better. Don't tell me that you own a cyber cafe and employed 4 people or else you will get a slap.

2. Achebe was not a saddist rather just like ojukwu he saw that nothing good will come out of this unholy marriage called Nigeria and the events of these days has proven him right. What on earth makes you think that Nigeria will ever get better? The major problem of Nigeria is tribalism. Take away tribalism from every Nigerian and we will checkmate corruption and lots of others without sentiments.

Tribalsim has been planted into our midst and we can never agree on one thing again that is one of the many reasons achebe said Things fall apart, the center cannot hold again.

For you to call achebe a saddist and someone who never believe Nigeria will get better makes me continue wondering if Nigeria has gotten any better

God bless you my true Nigerian brother.

This is bad.

Achebe contributed to Nigerian development and will continue to contribute. Foreigners are using his book as reference to study African culture. And when the West is saying Africa is a dead place, we can stand tall and tell them we have great minds like the likes of Mandela, Achebe and Soyinka who came out of the so called dead place and has made impact to the world.

[quote author=~Bluetooth]Because some fathers are worthless and responsible for spreading tribalism eg Ashebe[/quote]I previously considered you to be a beautiful mind with the way you analyze political issues. However, i am shocked you would stoop this low and incline yourself to tribal backwardness.

all4naija: Why can't Nigerians co-operate to move the country forward? Why would Nigerian young generation dwell on the past mistakes our fathers made?

Not until we do some soul-searching and come to term as youths of Nigeria who have place in the scheme of things in the world we will remain another backward people who failured to use the power of knowledge nature offered to us freely, yet we are destroying it with hate and tribalism.

Please can you save this comment and when next there is an e-tribal fight, copy and paste it. I am ashamed from what I read on nairaland these days. We will destroy ourselves with this. Why can't we correct the mistakes of our fathers.

The comments on this thread brings nothing but tears to my eyes. I am yet to see a man with some much integrity like Achebe. He told the truth to the world and he never minced his words. He is nothing like us, who fight the government and yet dine with them. We have lost a true gem, a great man, a true world class citizen and an African hero. I RESPECT YOU SIR. REST IN PERFECT PEACE.

Can we stop the blaming game. This is a difficult situation for the president. Terrorism is not an easy task to resolve. I feel for the president (for once I do). The many headaches he must be having. God save Nigeria

I hope the amnesty would be simply pardon and not a means to transfer funds to criminals and murderers for the grievous crime they have committed to humanity.