Chinua Achebe Biography

“The only thing we have learnt from experience is that we learn nothing from experience.” – Chinua Achebe

Albert Chinualumogo Achebe known as Chinua Achebe is widely known as an African writer. Born in November 15, 1930, with Christian parents and raised in Ogidi, Nigeria.

He got his education in English, but also with Irgo traditions; he assisted to the University of Ibadan where he studied medicine and literature. After graduated he began teaching and he joined the Nigerian Broadcasting Company in Lagos.

He became fascinated with African culture, and began writing stories.  In 1950, Achebe gained the world attention with his book “ Things Fall Apart”; he expressed all his books, novels, poems and publications with honesty and in a way criticizing, for instance in 1975,  his lecture " An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad´s " Heart of Darkness", in this lecture Achebe expressed and criticized all the racism that suffer the African people, in which caused a lot of worldwide controversy.

In 1967, the region of Biafra was independent from Nigeria, Achebe became one of their supporters of Independence and become there Embassador. The war of violence and starvation took power in the new nation, so Achebe ask Europe and the America for aid, but no one answer.

In 1970 , the Nigerian government retook the region and Achebe sooner or later got frustrated because of all the corruption that was going on, in which no one helped him.

Achebe began to travel a lot and started to write novels focus in his old roots, the Igbo society and the influences of the Christianity, also their traditions, proverbs and beliefs.

He was known as the “ Voice of Nigeria and African writers series” and called “ the Father of Modern African writing”. All of his achievements has been awarded in 1982, the American Academy of Arts and Letter, 2002 in the American Academy of Arts and Science, the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, and the Man Booker International Prize in 2007.

His recent work has been in 2012 with his publication called “ There was a country”, in which cause a commotion and discussion about the Nigerian Civil War.

Now at days, Chinua Achebe has 83 years old and he is still a very influential man. The world needs people like him, people that they are not afraid of being different, of being leader, of telling the truth not matter what and the most important thing of all is to make the difference.
Written by: Sandra Castañeda Mota

Reference: Grade Saver ( 2003) Grade Saver.com ( online) Available at:
 http://www.gradesaver.com/author/chinua-achebe/
[ Accessed on January 21, 2012]