Chinua Achebe, born Albert Chinualumogu Achebe on November 16, 1930, was a renowned Nigerian poet, novelist, and critic. He is best known for his groundbreaking novel, "Things Fall Apart," which is the most widely read book in all of modern Africa. Achebe was born and raised in Ogidi, a small town in southeastern Nigeria, where he was reared by Christian parents. From a young age, Achebe excelled academically and went on to win a scholarship for undergraduate studies.
Achebe's writing is known for its exploration of traditional African life in conflict with colonial rule and westernization. His works draw from his deep fascination with world religions and traditional African cultures, which began during his time as a university student. After graduation, Achebe worked for the Nigerian broadcasting service and quickly moved to the metropolis of Lagos. He gained worldwide attention in the late 1950s with the publication of "Things Fall Apart," and went on to publish several other novels, including "No Longer at Ease" (1960), "Arrow of God" (1964), "A Man of the People" (1966), and "Anthills of the Savannah" (1987).
Achebe was a strong defender of the use of English in African literature, a language he referred to as a "language of colonizers." In 1975, he sparked controversy with his lecture "An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness,'" in which he criticized Joseph Conrad as a "bloody racist." When the region of Biafra broke away from Nigeria in 1967, Achebe became a devoted supporter of Biafran independence and served as ambassador for the people of the new nation. The war had a profound impact on Achebe, and he appealed to the international community for aid as starvation and violence took their toll.
In the aftermath of the war, Achebe became involved in Nigerian politics, but quickly became disillusioned with the corruption and elitism he witnessed. He spent several years living in the United States in the 1970s, and returned to the U.S. in 1990 after a car accident left him partially disabled. Achebe's novels focus on the traditions of Igbo society, the effect of Christian influences, and the clash of values during and after the colonial era. His style is heavily influenced by the Igbo oral tradition and combines straightforward narration with representations of folk stories, proverbs, and oratory. He also published a number of short stories, children's books, and essay collections. From 2009 until his death, Achebe served as the David and Marianna Fisher university professor of Africana studies at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, United States.