Chinua Achebe – Brief biography

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Albert Chinụalụmọgụ Achebe, widely regarded as the father of modern African literature, was born on November 16, 1930, in Ogidi, Nigeria, and died on March 21, 2013, in Boston, United States.

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Achebe rose to global prominence with his debut novel, “Things Fall Apart” (1958), a landmark in African literature that explores the clash between traditional Igbo society and British colonialism. The book has been translated into more than 50 languages and remains a staple in classrooms worldwide.

Educated at the University of Ibadan, Achebe initially studied medicine before switching to literature. He worked as a civil servant, broadcaster, editor, and later as a professor in Nigeria, the UK, and the United States.

His body of work spans novels, essays, short stories, and children’s books, often addressing themes of colonialism, identity, corruption, and the post-colonial African condition.

A fierce critic of Western portrayals of Africa—particularly Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness—Achebe challenged literary norms and gave voice to African narratives told from an African perspective.

Among his many honors, Achebe received the Man Booker International Prize in 2007 for his contribution to world literature. His legacy endures as a cornerstone of African literary history and a guiding light for generations of writers across the continent and the diaspora.

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