Albert Chinụalụmọgụ Achebe, widely known as Chinua Achebe, was born on November 16, 1930, in Ogidi, a quiet town in Anambra State.
Influenced deeply by Igbo traditions and the growing presence of postcolonial Christianity, Achebe’s early life was shaped by both cultural pride and religious change.
He began his education at a local Church Missionary Society school before moving on to Government College, Umuahia. He then earned a degree in English literature and history from University College, Ibadan.
At the age of 28, while working at the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, Achebe published his first novel, Things Fall Apart, through Heinemann in London on June 17, 1958.
Since its release, the book has sold over 20 million copies worldwide and has been translated into more than 50 languages. Things Fall Apart tells the story of Okonkwo, an Igbo leader in the fictional village of Umuofia, and the cultural and personal upheavals he experiences following the arrival of British missionaries in the 1890s. Through Okonkwo’s downfall and the disruption of his community, Achebe captured the struggles of identity, tradition, and change in colonial Africa.
What made the novel remarkable was its structure. Achebe wove Igbo proverbs, oral traditions, and worldviews into a narrative that confronted colonial stereotypes. In doing so, he pioneered a literary voice that spoke from Africa, not just about it.
Achebe followed up with No Longer at Ease (1960) and Arrow of God (1964), completing a trilogy that continues to shape African literature.
Nigerians who read Things Fall Apart continue to reflect on its message. Nubi Achebo, director of academic planning at the Nigerian University of Technology and Management (NUTM), said the book was relatable and impactful.
“I read Things Fall Apart in secondary school, and the story resonated. I saw firsthand the arrival of Western civilisation and how it shook rural life. Traditional systems crumbled under colonial law, and like Okonkwo, many locals were crushed under unfamiliar rules,” he said.
Achebo also praised the book for challenging the narrative that Africa was a dark continent.
“Chinua Achebe’s work is a masterpiece. He showed our culture in a good light, and he did it intelligently,” he said.
Jessica Osuere, CEO of RubbiesHub Educational Services, recalled reading the book in school.
“It’s a powerful story about culture, identity, and tragedy. Okonkwo’s downfall was a mix of pride, rigidity, and fate. The book showed how colonialism tore our communities apart,” she said.
She admired how Achebe embedded African oral traditions in the story.
“He wasn’t just writing about Africa. He wrote from Africa. His use of proverbs made the story deeply authentic. Achebe had a wise, courageous voice and refused national awards because of his principles. His legacy lives on,” Osuere added.
Another reader described Okonkwo as a character blinded by pride and obsessed with masculinity.
“He didn’t want to end up like his father, so he took everything to the extreme. In the end, it led to his downfall,” she said.
Paul, another Nigerian reader, appreciated Achebe’s storytelling.
“He captured how Christianity entered Igbo land and the tensions it caused. Okonkwo was too headstrong. The novel teaches us to think carefully before taking action. Okonkwo didn’t do that before killing Ikemefuna,” he said.
Chinua Achebe died in Boston, USA, on March 21, 2013, at the age of 82. But his voice continues to echo through Things Fall Apart, reminding the world of Africa’s stories, struggles, and strength.
