The golden anniversary celebration of Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe’s famous novel kicks off

By Sylvester Asoya

Dr. Wale Okediran, President, Association of Nigeria Authors, ANA was in high spirit on Saturday 12 April at a symposium to mark 50 years of Things Fall Apart in Lagos. Okediran had every reason to be elated. Only recently, he returned from The Bush House, London studio of The British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC where he was invited to speak on Things Fall Apart and the 50th Anniversary celebration of this great novel.

But while in Bush House, something quite significant happened. The British interviewer, apparently conversant with Nigeria’s ethnic conflagration and in a bid to be mischievous, played the ethnic card by asking why Nigerian authors from various tribes are passionate about Things Fall Apart which he described as an Igbo novel. But Okediran was quick to remind the BBC journalist that Things Fall Apart is neither an Igbo novel nor a Nigerian novel. “Things Fall Apart is an African story,” he stated.

Such is the passion that has trailed the golden anniversary of the famous novel both from within and outside Nigeria, since last year when ANA decided to honour Achebe and his ground-breaking work. At the last count, seven Nigerian cities and towns like Lagos, Abuja, Ibadan, Abeokuta, Ogidi, Awka and Nsukka are already in a festival mood, waiting for the celebration train which kicked off with a symposium on Saturday 12 April in Lagos.

Although the symposium brought together, writers and scholars from different areas of human endeavour, the gathering also provided an opportunity for reflection and re-examination of the issues that inspired Things Fall Apart 50 years ago. And it was agreed that by writing the book, Achebe offered an alternative pathway towards understanding and appreciating not just African literature, but the African personality and essence.

In his opening remarks, the chairman of the occasion, Ambassador Segun Olusola told participants that he was happy to be in their midst. “If I had not been invited to chair this occasion, I probably would have invited myself,” he confessed.

Olusola, however, commended ANA and its leadership for their initiative, adding that he is now fulfilled knowing full well that authors, script writers and people in the creative business are beginning to see the need to immortalise their forebears in their life time. He urged ANA to try and bring Achebe to Nigeria during these weeks of celebration. “Please pass my message to Chinua that we would like to see him in this country. Tell him that things are going to get better”, he said.

The symposium also featured other scholars like Professor Ahmed Yerima of the National Theatre and National Troupe of Nigeria; Dr. Shambhadi Gopal Krishina of the University of Lagos and many others who spoke glowingly on Things Fall Apart and its global impact.

Yerima, a playwright, said he is particularly interested in Things Fall Apart because of its excellent characterisation and dialogue which surpass most strictly drama texts. He confessed that the first time he read the novel, he started walking with a spring like Okonkwo, the central character in the book. He added that Achebe actually shows his superlative power as a storyteller in the work. “It is a very captivating piece and it will continue to influence both young and old writers,” he said.

In the same vein, Krishna praised Achebe, wondering how the author who was barely 28 at the time of publishing the book came out with such a remarkable work that has remained a reference point many years after.

Uzor Maxim Uzoatu, a poet, equally added his voice to the discussion. For him, Things Fall Apart is not only timeless but also accessible because of its lucid language and style which makes it possible to be read and understood by people of all ages.

Last Thursday, the celebration moved to Abuja with a Children’s carnival and a Night of Tributes at Cyprian Ekwensi cultural centre. On Saturday, the train came to Ibadan where a symposium held at the Faculty of Arts, University of Ibadan.

This was followed with Biyi Bandele’s adaptation of Things Fall Apart which was staged by the Jos Repertory Theatre at Cultural Centre, Mokola, Ibadan.

On Wednesday 23 April, writers and tourists will be conducted round some key historical sites in Anambra State which inspired the novel. These include the Idemili River, the hills and valleys of Idemili, Ogbunike cave, Achebe’s family compound and the old office of the colonial district commissioner. The evening will also witness a night of griots with reminiscences, tributes and performances by people like Gabriel Okara, Jimi Solanke, Elechi Amadi, Chukwuemeka Ike, Mabel Segun, Demas Nwoko, J.P. Clark, Femi Osofisan and Okey Ndibe. The following day, that is Thursday 24 April, the train will return to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka which was Achebe’s last place of work in Nigeria.

At Nsukka, an international colloquium will hold for three days. Issues for discussion include, among others, Chinua Achebe, A re-assessment, from the Margin to the centre; subordinate figures in Things Fall Apart; Things Fall Apart: The making of a Modern Classic and The Critic’s Burden; Glimpses and Voice of Children in Things Fall Apart, Dance, Society and Change in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart: A Choreographer’s Perspective.

Okonkwo’s Messianic Fixation as a Parody of Colonial-Induced Hybridisation; Things Fall Apart in Tiv Language and Culture: A translator’s Remarks and Bridge Building between Literacy and Environmental values in Africa.

There will also be various adaptations of Things Fall Apart and drama competitions among secondary and tertiary school students. Aside the invitation of international scholars who will be presenting papers, ANA is also expecting Ngugi Wa Thiongo, another great African novelist, who will present the keynote speech and Nelson Mandela who once said that “Reading Things Fall Apart broke down my prison walls.”

Even Nadine Gordimer described Achebe as gloriously gifted with the magic of an ebullient, generous talent.

In Lagos, the state chapter of ANA will also be celebrating Achebe. According to Chike Ofili, Lagos ANA chairman, a collection of letters to be titled: Thank You, Chinua Achebe will be published as a sign of appreciation to the famous author.

“We are doing this to celebrate the novel book that redeemed the smeared and dismembered image of Africa,” he disclosed.

Those spoken to hope that as the celebrations continue, ANA and its partners would spare some thoughts on the poor state of literature today.