Friday 22 March 2013

RIP Chinua Achebe


Today, we lost a great Nigerian visionary. Chinua Achebe has influenced so many great writers all over the world and has touched the lives of many young people in and out of the literary scene. I grew up reading his books and i personally felt i knew him. He was someone i respected dearly mostly because he stood for something, had values and integrity. I particularly loved the fact that he refused a National Honour TWICE. It showed that there were more important things to him than recieving an honour from leaders who have been unimpressive and dubious. He did not compromise his integrity and i respect him for that. He made African literature what it is now and was never afraid to express his opinions or serve his country. He was a man of the people, loved by many. To think he wrote 'things fall apart' at the age of 27 is nothing short of  inspiring.

Here is my best quote:

'One of the truest tests of intergrity is its blunt refusal to be compromised' -Chinua Achebe

And he lived by every word of it. Africa has lost a great man. More importantly, the Igbos have lost a father, a great leader and a visionary.

 RIP Chinualumogu Achebe.

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