Albert Chinualumogu Achebe was born in 1930 in Ogidi (Nigeria), thirty years before the nation declared its independence from British colonial rule. He studied at a missionary school, and although he was educated in the Western culture, he also learned the traditional Igbo culture. During his university years, Achebe renounced his British name (Albert) in favour of his native name: Chinualumogu, Chinua for short.

Achebe´s role in the birth of modern African literature remains clear when analysing the impact of his first book, Things Fall Apart (1958), one of the most read novels of the 20th century. The repercussion of this novel is to such a degree that it´s a basic text in African schools and it´s studied in many English-speaking countries. Highly praised are his colourful prose and bitter description of Europe´s stroll through the African world, with the resulting cultural clashes.

Some of the author´s other books include Arrow of God (1964), A Man of the People (1966) and Anthills of the Savannah (1987), all originally written in English, the language used in his literature.

Until 2009, and since the car accident that immobilised his body into a wheelchair, the author has lived in New York with his wife, with whom he has had four children. There, he works as an English and Literature professor.

Sources:

• Wikipedia

• www.chinuaachebe.net

Consult the availability of publications at the Casa África Media Library