Chinua Achebe
Chinua Achebe (1930–2013) was a Nigerian novelist whose *Things Fall Apart* (1958) became the most widely read African novel, translated into over fifty languages.
The book depicts Igbo society before and during British colonization, challenging Western literary portrayals of Africa.
Achebe's accessible prose and moral seriousness influenced generations of African writers.
He also wrote essays criticizing Joseph Conrad's *Heart of Darkness* for its dehumanizing depiction of Africans.
West African federal republic
- LagosWest African megacity
- BiafraShort-lived secessionist republic
- HeinemannPublishing company name
- independenceFreedom from external control
Greek letter or energy
- kola nutCaffeine-bearing tropical seed
- masqueradesPretends to be something else
- palm wineFermented tree sap beverage
- yamStarchy tropical root vegetable
harmattan · compound · clan · oracle · ancestors · proverbs · wrestling · village council
Three linked creative works
- protagonistStory's central figure
- tragedyDisastrous or sorrowful event
- ironyMeaning opposite to words
- proverbsTraditional wisdom capsules
oral tradition · narrative · storytelling · fiction · prose · characters · dialogue · symbolism
Domination through foreign settlement
- imperialismExtending dominion over others
- decolonizationEnding imperial control
- resistanceCapacity to withstand force
- identityWho someone is
cultural clash · missionaries · British Empire · Heart of Darkness · Joseph Conrad · racism · Eurocentrism · African literature
Senior university teacher
- lecturerOne who teaches formally
- HarvardPrestigious Cambridge university
- Brown UniversityProvidence's Ivy League institution
- essaysShort nonfiction prose pieces
criticism · literary theory · intellectual · mentor · legacy · Booker Prize
Nigeria
West African federal republic
chi
Greek letter or energy
- kola nutCaffeine-bearing tropical seed
- masqueradesPretends to be something else
- palm wineFermented tree sap beverage
yam · harmattan · compound · clan · oracle · ancestors · proverbs · wrestling · village council
trilogy
Three linked creative works
- protagonistStory's central figure
- tragedyDisastrous or sorrowful event
- ironyMeaning opposite to words
proverbs · oral tradition · narrative · storytelling · fiction · prose · characters · dialogue · symbolism
colonialism
Domination through foreign settlement
- imperialismExtending dominion over others
- decolonizationEnding imperial control
- resistanceCapacity to withstand force
identity · cultural clash · missionaries · British Empire · Heart of Darkness · Joseph Conrad · racism · Eurocentrism · African literature · authenticity
professor
Senior university teacher
- lecturerOne who teaches formally
- HarvardPrestigious Cambridge university
- Brown UniversityProvidence's Ivy League institution
essays · criticism · literary theory · intellectual · mentor · legacy · Booker Prize
Chinua AchebeJoseph Conrad