University of Nigeria don, Chinua Achebe passes on
Foremost University of Nigeria Nsukka don and One of the world’s most celebrated writers, Prof. Chinua Achebe is dead. He died after a brief illness in a hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
Achebe, aged 82, was without question, Africa’s foremost writer, celebrated universally as the ‘Father of African Literature’
Things Fall Apart, his first published book, has for years been standard reading in literature classrooms all across Africa.
His other famous titles include No Longer at Ease, Arrow of God and A Man of the People. He also recently published his anticipated Nigerian Civil War memoir, “There Was A Country”.
Eulogizing the legend, President Goodluck Jonathan said Mr Achebe’s admirers had all learnt “indelible lessons of human existence” from his works.
“Achebe’s frank, truthful and fearless interventions in national affairs will be greatly missed at home in Nigeria because while others may have disagreed with his views, most Nigerians never doubted his immense patriotism and sincere commitment to the building of a greater, more united and prosperous nation that all Africans and the entire black race could be proud of,” the president said in a statement.
Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State described the death of Prof. Chinua Achebe as a huge loss to mankind, Africa and Nigeria in particular.
Damian Opata, a former head of the English department at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where Achebe taught, said “we are in sorrow here in the department.”
“He was my teacher, and later my colleague lecturer,” he said. “His humility knew no bounds.”
Former South African president and anti-apartheid fighter, Nelson Mandela who spent 27 years in jail, “referred to Prof Achebe as a writer ”in whose company the prison walls fell down”.
With these and many more accolades, his legacies surely lives on.
May his soul rest in perfect peace…. Amen
Achebe, 82, was a towering African icon. He was, without question, Africa’s foremost writer, celebrated universally as the ‘Father of the African Novel.’ His novels stand tall in Africa’s literary pantheon.
Things Fall Apart, his first published book, has for years been standard reading in literature classrooms all across Africa.
His other famous titles include No Longer at Ease, Arrow of God and A Man of the People.
A LUMINARY HAS GONE.HIS NAME WILL LAST THROUGH THE AGES. STRANGERS WILL HEAR HIS NAME.
May his soul rest in perfect peace.