::: Inspiring Faces... Chinua Achebe :::

The man Achebe, Chinua.

The term ‘Great men’ to me refers to individuals whose lives and lifetime positively and in a fulfilling manner have shed light in the lives of other men and women. Whose works and/or personality have, or still serve as examples to be emulated by others. 

Yes, it is not unusual to observe their lives and reflect on the meaningfulness of the path you are pursuing.

These people who define the way we should look at certain aspects of our lives. It is no overstatement to call our man Achebe a great one. Man of good wit.

Chinua Achebe, the Nigerian author and professor who died last year ,March 2013, inspired generations of African writers and readers. He wrote among other works, Things Fall Apart, No Longer at Ease, Arrow of God and A Man of the People. The great thing about this man is not just the international fame through his work but also his unique style of telling his stories. Telling them in the African way and not trying to imitate the European or American. Characteristic of his novels are the African sayings and proverbs that paint vivid pictures in the eyes of the readers, especially the African reader who is conversant with the imagery used in Achebe’s stories.

With Achebe, many African writers realized that Africa has got much from its rich culture to share with the rest of the world and not just copy from great European and American writers. The name Chamamanda Adichie is a name to reckon with in our continent Africa today and also the world in general, she is a splendid writer and is inspired by Chinua Achebe.

 

Apart from encouraging the learners to take up the role of teachers, reading Achebe’s novel arouses great ecstasy evoked by the atmosphere created and the African readers identifies with the actions of the plot.

I often ask myself if the Nigerian and African film industry would have gone this far today without the background set up by Achebe and his contemporaries. Well, what an excitement going through some of the proverbs that feature in his work:

“When an old woman hears the dance she knows her old age deserts her.”

“Every lizard lies prostrate, so we cannot tell which has a belly-ache”

“Wisdom is like a goat skin bag; every man carries his own”

“When brothers fight to death a stranger inherit their father’s estate”

“It is the fear of offense that makes men swallow poison”

I am actually not a good praise singer but the man Achebe has left a legacy worth seeking. He has made Africa proud and I therefore encourage you to throw a look at some of his works.

Wish you all a nice read and look forward to reading your comments and critic.

Jeremiah Muda