Chinua Achebe: A writer whose works enlighten the generations
ESSAY - Today, the world lost a champion in Achebe, born November 16, 1930. But through his works, his spirit lives on...
From PostScript’d:
I read my first Chinua Achebe book in high school. The first thing I remember was the ritualistic practices, the brutal treatment of women in this village in Nigeria. But when I reread the classic as an adult, I understood the genius of Achebe, as I was brought face-to-face with an Africa I didn’t even know existed. What I discovered was that Achebe used his words to change a perspective and shed quite a different light on “the dark continent” written about by the likes of Phillis Wheatley. I gained an understanding and appreciation of Africa and its people—and understood the connection I had to it all.
Today, the world lost a champion in Achebe, born November 16, 1930. But through his works, his spirit lives on.
Achebe, a native Nigerian, was the child of a Protestant missionary and as a result learned English as a part of his early education. He excelled at school and he received a full scholarship to attended Ibadan University College, majoring in history and theology. It was in college that his passion for writing was sparked.
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