Chinua Achebe (1930–2013) was a celebrated Nigerian author, essayist, and critic known for postcolonial literature, particularly the iconic novel Things Fall Apart. Born in Ogidi, Nigeria, he studied at the University of Ibadan and worked in broadcasting before publishing Things Fall Apart in 1958, which broke stereotypes of African cultures. He also taught at universities in Nigeria and the U.S., and founded publishing companies to promote African writers. A car accident in 1990 left him partially paralyzed, and he spent his final years as a professor at Brown University.
Early Life & Education
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Born:November 16, 1930, in Ogidi, a village in eastern Nigeria, to Igbo parents.
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Upbringing:His upbringing was influenced by both Igbo traditions and Christian teachings, as his father worked for the Church Missionary Society.
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Education:He attended the government college at Umuahia and later the University College at Ibadan, where he studied English after initially intending to study medicine.
Career
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Broadcasting:After graduating, Achebe worked for the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, becoming the director of external broadcasting from 1961 to 1966.
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Writing:His goal was to tell African stories and correct stereotypes in Western literature. His debut novel, Things Fall Apart (1958), gained international acclaim.
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Publishing & Academia:He founded publishing companies, including Heinemann Educational Books, to support African authors and later held professorships at universities in Nigeria and the United States.
Later Life & Legacy
- Car Accident: In 1990, a car accident resulted in partial paralysis, leading him to move to the U.S. for treatment and a new teaching position at Bard College.
- Brown University: He joined Brown University in 2009 and remained there until his death, making history.
- Awards: In 2007, he was awarded the Man Booker International Prize.
- Death: Chinua Achebe passed away in 2013.
Key Themes in His Work
- Culture and colonialism
- The Igbo people and their civilization
- Politics, masculinity, and history
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