Discover the World of Chinua Achebe: Top 13 Fun Facts and Insights into the Acclaimed Author's Life

1. Bookworm Breaks Free

Feeding the intellectual beast within: Chinua Achebe conquered the literary jungle of his school library, racing through classics like Gulliver's Travels and Treasure Island. However, this bookworm was temporarily colonized by the mindset of the era, initially siding with white characters over Africans until he broke free from the chains of ignorance and recognized the impact of colonialism.
Source => litlovers.com

2. Bestselling African Classic

When life gives you Achebes, you make literary classics: "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe is not just your average book, but the most widely read work in modern African literature, boasting over 20 million copies sold and translations into a staggering 50 plus languages since its 1958 release.
Source => www1.cuny.edu

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=> Fun Facts about Zora-Neale-Hurston

3. God's Own Blessing

Who needs a name tag when you've got divine intervention on your side?: Chinua Achebe adopted the nickname "Chinua" – essentially meaning "God's own blessing" in Igbo – as a tribute to his original name, "Albert Chinụalụmọgụ Achebe," which translates to "May God fight on my behalf."
Source => en.wikipedia.org

4. Palm Oil Proverb Snacks

If you thought your mom's proverbs were old school, wait until you hear about Chinua Achebe's "palm oil" snack to go along with them: In his novel, Things Fall Apart, Achebe incorporated Igbo proverbs into his writing, famously stating that "proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten," a clever nod to his cultural influences that helped elevate the book to become a milestone in African literature.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

5. Literary Linguistic Whisperer

Move over, Dr. Dolittle, there's a new linguistic whisperer in town: Chinua Achebe's writing has been translated into at least forty-five languages and has sold several million copies, securing his status as one of the most widely read African authors on the planet.
Source => cliffsnotes.com

6. Chit-Chat to Gold

Who said talk is cheap? Chinua Achebe turned his chit-chat into literary gold: Before becoming a literary icon, Achebe honed his skills in the Talks Department of Nigerian Broadcasting Service (NBS), where he mastered the art of dialogue, all thanks to his experience preparing oral scripts.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

7. Wordsmith's School for the Ignorant

While Chinua Achebe never officially opened a "Wordsmith's School for the Politically and Socially Ignorant," he might as well have, given his passion for literary pedagogy and pride restoration: Achebe's mission as a writer was to emphasize the significance of literature in social and political spheres, introduce African and European readers to the richness of African cultures, and to help his society shake off years of self-doubt and degradation.
Source => web.cocc.edu

8. Africa's Shakespeare

If you've ever wondered who Africa's answer to Shakespeare might be, look no further than Nigeria's own literary heavyweight: Chinua Achebe is the esteemed author of over 20 works, including the wildly popular novel Things Fall Apart, which has been translated into more than 50 languages and boasts over 10 million copies sold. Alongside his biting critiques of Nigerian politicians, Achebe finally addresses the harrowing Biafran War and the government's ruthless response in his memoir, There Was a Country.
Source => bbc.com

9. Buffet of Knowledge

Growing up, Chinua Achebe dined at the buffet of knowledge called Igbo folklore, much like Simba feasting on the Circle of Life wisdom from his Prideland ancestors. Little did he know, his literary appetite was building a legacy with every bite: Achebe's incorporation of oral tradition and folk stories in his writing became one of his most defining and celebrated characteristics in the literary world.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

10. Assembling Extraordinary Authors

Like a literary superhero assembling a league of extraordinary authors: Chinua Achebe served as the editor of the African Writers Series, a collection that showcased talents like Elechi Amadi and Ngugi wa Thiong'o, and established it as the go-to platform for African literary panache.
Source => aifce.wordpress.com

11. Literary G.O.A.T. of Africa

If walls could talk, Chinua Achebe would be the architect of their conversation: The Nigerian literary titan bagged the inaugural Nigerian National Merit Award in 1979 and the esteemed Man Booker International Prize for Fiction in 2007, with his words being powerful enough to crumble prison walls, as per Nelson Mandela's reverence. Sharing a literary shelf with the likes of Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Toni Morrison, Achebe remains the literary G.O.A.T. of Africa.
Source => aljazeera.com

12. Double National Honor Decline

Chinua Achebe: a man who knows when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em when it comes to national honors! This literary poker master and author extraordinaire has declined Nigeria's national honors not once, but twice due to their government's inability to adequately address corruption and political instability.
Source => theguardian.com

13. Yam-tastic Festival

Talk about a "yam-tastic" time: Chinua Achebe was born in Ogidi, Nigeria, where each year they host the Nwafor Festival – an 11-day, yam-centric celebration featuring a dazzling array of masquerades after the yam cultivation season.
Source => en.wikipedia.org