Literature
- Achebe Has Made The Biggest Blunder Of His Life ? Maiwada
Chinua Achebe, the acclaimed father of modern African literature, recently released a memoir based on the Nigerian civil war. Titled There was a Country, the book touches on several sensitive issues including the roles of individuals, institutions...
- I Will Stop Writing If I Don?t Win Nobel Prize ? Ebhodaghe
On the social media the London-based Nigerian writer, Omohan Ebhodaghe, is dubbed ?self-praise singer? because he is never shy of posting about the qualities of his work, what is supposed to be done by a critic. He also believes his yet to be published...
- 52 Glorious Years Of Nigerian Literature
As Nigeria marks its 52th Independence anniversary, SUMAILA UMAISHA highlights the literary landmarks Before 1960 The effective date of Nigerian?s attainment of independence from the British colonial rule is October 1st, 1960. But the same could...
- Writers Mourn The Fallen Iroko
In this vox pop conducted by SUMAILA UMAISHA, the literary community in Nigeria, particularly members of the Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, which he founded in 1981 alongside other first generation Nigerian writers, pay glowing tributes to the...
- Developing Indegenous Language (interview)
Moses Tsenongo, a graduate of the University of Jos, currently lecturing in the Department of English, Benue State University, is a multi-talented writer; a short story writer, a poet and translator. His numerous works, including five poetry collections...
Literature
Achebe was a master storyteller ? Mawada
Ahmed Maiwada author of the acclaimed novel, Musdoki, and poetry collection, Fossils, is an Abuja-based novelist, poet, lawyer and literary critic. He is such a versatile personality that any time he is approached for a press interview on any issue, he is always ready to squeeze out time to provide educative and informative answers. Hence, as soon as the news of Chinua Achebe?s death broke on Friday, he was the first to be contacted by our Deputy Editor (Arts), SUMAILA UMAISHA, for a brief comment to be included in our special vox pop. But the brief comment turned out to be a full page interview, in which he expressed his grief over the monumental loss, and extolled the virtues of the master story teller who ?lived a beautiful and enviable life?.
How did the news about Chinua Achebe?s death get to you?
Well, I have to say it; Facebook scored another first this one more time! I got the hint of it from the Facebook update of Abdulaziz Ahmad Abdulaziz, who posted an inquiry on the rumour of the death. Then, I confirmed the news online, from the website of BBC. You know that the death of such a man must be confirmed first, before one settles into whatever mood it deems fit to put one into.
How does it feel?
Believe you me I felt like a brand new orphan, viewing the event, first of all, from the point of view of the Association of Nigerian Authors, the umbrella body of Nigerian Authors, which he had pioneered. We will greatly miss him as our trustee and leader. But then, knowing the much Chinua Achebe had achieved in his long life, one can only be ungrateful to remain downcast, for he had lived one life as though a hundred. As as novelist, who had really struggled to write my only novel, and is still struggling to sell a couple of thousand copies, I ought to have a fine idea of what Achebe?s achievements were, after writing several novels, one of which is grossly under-exaggerated as having sold over 10million copies worldwide. Such a life must never be mourned; it should be celebrated for several days on end.
What are your views of him as a person and as a writer?
I never met Chinua Achebe in person. But, from reading about him over these past several years, I think I can say he was a man of high taste and principles; he spoke little, and only when very necessary. He was a charismatic leader, one who could come to the level of his followers and still be himself, which he had once exhibited recently, when he co-signed a letter to the Nigerian President with 37 other younger writers, on the issue of removal of fuel subsidy by the Jonathan government. As a writer, he was a fine novelist, whose works exhibit the finest specimens of all aspects of the modern novel written in English: characterization, setting, plot/story and dialogue. The story is the backbone of the novel, and Chinua Achebe was a master storyteller. One could ask for just a little more; that can rather too late (in parts of Anthill of the Savannah). Now that should be the only regret, that his unfortunate paralysis in 1990 may have robbed the world of a fully matured novelist whose language was as original and good as it ever got. Still, we thank him for being the vehicle through whom Arrow of God and the others arrived in our bookshelves.
What would you say are his major achievements?
I think pioneering the Association of Nigerian Authors must make the list of his achievements. He grew to become a professor in his chosen field of endeavour. But, most importantly, he was able to write his novels, get them published by one of world?s leading publishing houses of his time. There is no greater achievement for a writer than publishing his works and selling them. Remember, Achebe?s individual works had hardly won book prizes, yet his Things Fall Apart has made a number of world?s top 5 best novels of all times. I know no writer who will consider that as a mean feat. Achebe rose from an obscure novelists to sit with the likes of Leo Tolstoy, E. M. Forster, Mark Twain and James Joyce! Your star must be made with solid diamond to get that close; but he surpassed even that!
Would you say the world rewarded him for pioneering the African Literature?
Chinua Achebe did not pioneer the African Literature; he pioneered the African novel in English. He didn?t start drama, or poetry, or even the novel written in other languages, such as the Hausa and Yoruba languages. Yes, the world did reward Chinua Achebe for his labour; the world bought and read his works, translated into several of the world?s languages. He did not sell the works directly to the world, and so the world?s appreciation for the good works if Achebe, in monetary terms, may not have really got to him, which is very sad. But, the world did the best the world could to the writer the world was pleased with. Achebe was revered worldwide, and much loved. What more can an author ask for? Prizes? Well, Achebe did bag some prizes of his own; he stooped only short of the Nobel Prize. But then, that is another story all together!
How would you want him immortalized by Nigerian government?
Well, a wicked thought just glazed my mind, that the Jonathan administration should provide funds for the development of the land of Achebe?s baby, the Association of Nigerian Authors. Then, I remember that there would scarcely be room for contract inflation, by which individuals and the party would be further unjustly enriched. So, case closed. Seriously though, Achebe should be allowed to rest in peace, because I know, as one who has co-signed his protest letter to Jonathan over the last fuel subsidy scams, he wouldn?t want this present government to touch the hem of his garment with its stinking corrupt hands. To suggest any form of gesture, by the government he wouldn?t deal with when alive, is to risk being haunted by the ghost of the already immortal icon. He would say, No, thank you, for you are unworthy to honour me, to this government. Therefore, I think we should not bother to ask in his behalf.
What else would you want to say about him?
I think Chinua Achebe had fought many battles, in many fronts; colonialism, colonial mentality, the civil war, corrupt governments - civil and military, a near-fatal motor accident, etc: he has fought us never to give up fighting on what we know is good and right. He had fought his demons, surely, by braving to publish his ?personal history? book, There Was a Country, where, in my view, he finally buried Biafra. That was the nunc dimittis which, I can boldly say, has secured for the icon a peaceful passage. He lived a beautiful and enviable life. May his values challenge us towards living lives of courage and truth, even if only personal truths.
- Achebe Has Made The Biggest Blunder Of His Life ? Maiwada
Chinua Achebe, the acclaimed father of modern African literature, recently released a memoir based on the Nigerian civil war. Titled There was a Country, the book touches on several sensitive issues including the roles of individuals, institutions...
- I Will Stop Writing If I Don?t Win Nobel Prize ? Ebhodaghe
On the social media the London-based Nigerian writer, Omohan Ebhodaghe, is dubbed ?self-praise singer? because he is never shy of posting about the qualities of his work, what is supposed to be done by a critic. He also believes his yet to be published...
- 52 Glorious Years Of Nigerian Literature
As Nigeria marks its 52th Independence anniversary, SUMAILA UMAISHA highlights the literary landmarks Before 1960 The effective date of Nigerian?s attainment of independence from the British colonial rule is October 1st, 1960. But the same could...
- Writers Mourn The Fallen Iroko
In this vox pop conducted by SUMAILA UMAISHA, the literary community in Nigeria, particularly members of the Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, which he founded in 1981 alongside other first generation Nigerian writers, pay glowing tributes to the...
- Developing Indegenous Language (interview)
Moses Tsenongo, a graduate of the University of Jos, currently lecturing in the Department of English, Benue State University, is a multi-talented writer; a short story writer, a poet and translator. His numerous works, including five poetry collections...