Chinua Achebe

Born in Ogidi, Nigeria, Chinua Achebe studied at University College, Ibadan, where he rejected the colonial label 'primitive' in favor of writing Africa's story from within. His 1958 novel Things Fall Apart reimagines the Igbo experience of British colonialism through the tragic figure of Okonkwo, challenging Western narratives and establishing a new literary tradition. Achebe later taught at universities in Nigeria and the United States, including Brown University. His other major works include No Longer at Ease, Arrow of God, and the essay collection Hopes and Impediments. Achebe's profound influence extends beyond fiction: his 1975 lecture 'An Image of Africa' critiqued Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness as a racist text, sparking enduring debates. He won the Man Booker International Prize in 2007. Achebe died in Boston in 2013, leaving a legacy as a foundational voice in postcolonial literature.