HOW I MET PROF. CHINUA ACHEBE

By Matthew Ujah-peter

I first heard the name Chinua Achebe while I was in primary school. My cousins who were in secondary schools then had his name on their lips. Obviously his works made deep impression on them. It was from them too that I  first saw the book ''Chike and the River''. Chike and the River was part of the books  that my late elder brother had among his school text books. I had opened its pages and read a few lines. I had just began to learn how to read then. But the first book I really read written by Chinua Achebe was ''The Arrow of God".  Later on while in junior secondary school (JSS 3) I would be part of some of the students (mostly senior students from Art class) from my school to be 'selected' to go see a live performance of Professor Chinua Achebe's Arrow Of God at the National Art Theater, Iganmu Lagos. The whole experience was unforgettable. Around that time too, about a year or so later, the T.V. series of Things Fall Apart was on NTA. At this time I was already in Science class - SSS 1(i.e  Senior Secondary School 1). My love for science subject had overridden my passion for the art for the time being. But the T.V series professionally shot and produced by the British Broadcasting Corporation fed my interest  in Achebe's works and indeed, in literally piece generally.

In ''Things Fall Apart and ''Arrow of God'' Prof. Achebe didn't only portray the glaring clash between African culture and western values. He unequivocally demonstrated his views on how the European arrogance and affronts towards the African ways were shown openly and unhindered as the western ways gradually but surely became entrenched in the African society.

Over the years Chinua Achebe had proved himself a man with deep conviction and solidarity for the African culture and values. He stood for probity and against the crooked paths that most leaders in this great nation had chosen to thread. His mettle was demonstrated over and over as he time and again proved his resolve by action in support of his beliefs. His courage to turn down such prestigious and high honor as the award of the Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (COFR), the second highest honor of the land under President Goodluck Jonathan, was an everlasting testimony to the character and spirit of the man.


This was the second time he turned down such He turn down the award in protest against the rot in the government of Nigeria. Such honorable stance is in dearth in Africa. Few men would dare what this man dared. Most persons of his standing would grab such award without giving a hoot to the pains and plights of the citizenry. Many personalities who had received similar national awards and honors never even use the occasion to challenge the 'generous government' under whose nose the country bleeds in misery about doing something drastic about the poor let alone turning down an award. Achebe was non of these.Thus his action places him, in my opinion, on a per with such gallant fighters like Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and a host of others who fought for Nigerian independent from the British imperial powers. He was on the same pedestals with the saintly Nelson Mandela who sacrificed 27 years of his life for his own people.


In response to why he turned down the national honor award by the then President of the federal republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Professor Chinua Achebe wrote:
''I write this letter with a very heavy heart. for some time now I have watch events in Negeria with alarm and dismay. I have watched particularly the chaos in my own state Anambra where a small clique of renegades, openly boasting its connections in high places seems determined to turn my homeland into a bankrupt and lawless fiefdom.  I am appalled by the brazenness of this clique and the silence, if not connivance, of the Presidency.
''Forty three years ago, at the first anniversary of Nigeria's Independence I was given the first Nigeria National  Trophy for Literature. In 1979, I received two further honors - the Nigeria National Order of Merit and Order of Federal Republic - and 1999 the First National Creativity Award.
''I accepted all these honors fully aware that Nigeria is not perfect; but I had a strong belief that we would out grow our short comings under leaders committed to uniting our diverse people. Nigeria's condition today under your watch is, however, too dangerous for silence. I must register my disappointment and protest by declining to accept the high honor awarded me in the 2004 honor list''.

I never met Prof. Chinua Achebe in flesh but I MET the man in spirit and in his writings and beliefs.
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