Chinua Achebe Nigeria's Legendary Novelist Ayo Elebute Published by: Learning Solutions Specialty Publications Ltd, (a division of Rombic Concepts Ltd) Plot 7, Block P, Lagelu Industrial Estate (Behind Gasland) Off Lagos/Ibadan Expressway, Mapo P.O. Box 25256, Ibadan, Nigeria. Tel: 08033280593, 08186116871, 08099113004 e-mail: [email protected] © Ayo Elebute Cover design © Learning Solutions 2020 All rights reserved; no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owners. First published 2020 ISBN: 978-978-8549-34-5 Every attempt has been made to contact copyright holders. Where the publishers have not heard from them at the time of going to press or where, in the absence of complete information, it has not been possible to identify the sources of materials used, the publishers would be grateful for any information that would enable them to make appropriate acknowledgments in future editions. ii CONTENTS Chapter 1 Chinua Achebe's Parentage 1 2 Chinua's Birth 5 3 His Childhood 8 4 His Mother's folktales 13 5 His Elementary Education 17 6 His Secondary Education 21 7 At the University College, Ibadan 27 8 A Career man 31 9 Playing the Husband 34 10 A Political Crusader for Biafra 39 11 His Later Years 48 12 Chinua Achebe's Literary Works 53 Questions 56 Glossary 64 Appendix 68 References 72 iii CHAPTER 1 CHINUA ACHEBE'S PARENTAGE Okafor Achebe was the father of Nigeria's renowned novelist, Chinua Achebe. Okafor's father was an Igbo man from the Eastern part of Nigeria. His father came from a village called Ogidi in which family compounds were arranged in buildings that are close together, but have separate household. The Achebe's family occupied a compound by origin from the male parent. In Igbo land such family compound is called Umunna. The traditional Igbo religion includes belief in a creator god called Chukwu or Chineke. The people also worship an earth goddess called Ala. The Igbo people also have a belief in ancestors that protect the living descendants. Okafor's father was a lover of Igbo tradition. He was, truthful, brave and generous. He developed strong religious culture as a result of his frequent visits to the religious shrines and listening to religious conversations by traditional priests. 1 Okafor' father was a farmer. He cultivated yams, cassava, and taro like other male adults in the village. He had no formal education, but had personal life experience. His rich knowledge of Igbo tradition put him in a better position to solve most difficult questions and to manage problems that were related to farming. Okafor's mother always prepared and used lands for the raising of crops like corn and okra. She too was deeply religious. Going to the shrine of Ala was one of her daily duties. Okafor's mother would take the religious vows with pains and discomforts as she kept them close to her heart without withdrawing from the pains and grief. She had strong common sense and she was well informed about all things regarding the females in the village. Okafor’s mother died when she was trying to give birth to her second child. Okafor was unable to know her mother very well as he grew up. What he would have loved in his young age was to accompany her, exercising the privilege of childhood and listening to discussions she had with the other mothers in the village. Okafor's father did not survive his wife. So, Okafor was brought up by the brother of his mother, Uncle Udoh Osinyi. Okafor was put in primary school and had reached Standard Five. To be at school at the right hour 2 and to run back home as soon as the school closed was his daily habit. By 1904, Okafor had received education at St. Paul's Teachers College in Awka. He was later employed as a teacher and an evangelist in the Anglican mission. Okafor was a brilliant man, who loved to study. He read many religious books from the Church Missionary Society (CMS). It was during his student days in Awka that he met a beautiful lady who later became his wife. When Okafor became old enough to be on his own, he went to his uncle to tell him that he was planning to get married. “My boy, you are now old enough to be a man, bring a girl of your choice,” his uncle urged. Osinyi was very happy that his nephew would finally be a family man. He had been looking forward to visiting his 'in-law to be' in order to pay the traditional bride price for his sister's son before his death. In order to make his uncle proud, Okafor decided to woo one of the most beautiful girls in Awka. He was able to do this through one of his friends. Her name was Ileogbunam. She was a student of Miss Edith Warner, a white missionary. She received a primary education, which was a great achievement for a woman at the time. He finally met her at a comfortable location that was arranged by his friend. It was somewhere around the village square. Okafor told Ileogbunam that he would like to marry her. 3 No girl was as beautiful as Ileogbunam in the whole village then. She was a woman that could be admired by any man of marriage age in Awka. She was elegant and very attractive. She always positioned her body well when she was moving or standing. Ileogbunam agreed to Okafor's marriage proposal on a note that “the marriage ceremony should come up on time.” Okafor had finally found the girl he wanted to marry. He was very happy throughout his journey back to Ogidi. When Okafor got home, he told his uncle about the good news. His uncle was happy the way the event was going and he said: “Well done my boy, I will gladly support your marriage to the lady of your choice.” 4 CHAPTER 2 CHINUA ACHEBE'SBIRTH The traditional marriage between Okafor and Ileogbunam was immediately arranged by Okafor's uncle and Ileogbunam's parents after careful investigations into the background of both families. As it is the custom in Igbo land, parents of the couple, their extended families, villagers and towns' people must play active roles in traditional wedding ceremonies. This custom made Okafor's marriage very festive and colourful. Some of the guests got drunk that day! After their marriage, an official of the British government in Ogidi village (a white man) convinced Okafor and Ileogbunam to abandon their traditional religion and follow Christianity. The couple accepted the new religion. They were both baptised at a ceremony in which a small amount of water was put on their heads. Their baptismal certificates carried their new names: Isaiah and Janet Achebe. The baptism officially made them members of CMS Church in 5 Nigeria. Later, Isaiah Achebe was appointed instructor in the Christian Catechism Department of the Church Missionary Society (CMS) in Ogidi, his home village. Soon, he became a devout Christian who engaged in preaching to convince other villagers to follow Christian religion. Within a short period, Janet became pregnant and had her first child. In no time, their six children follow each other according to the time they came out of their mother. The family members were always present for their births. On November, 15 1930, the family witnessed the birth of a special bouncing baby boy, the fifth child of the six children by Mr Isaiah Okafor and Mrs Janet Ileogbunam Achebe. It was a day of joy and happiness. Isaiah was proud and fulfilled. He told his wife that he was happy because of the safe delivery. "Congratulations my dear wife for this special gift from God," Isaiah said. For many days, well-wishers came to rejoice with them. They were welcomed by the family. Isaiah provided foods that were eaten between meals and special drinks for the entertainment of guests. The naming ceremony, which was the event that was part of a social or religious occasion in African traditional system, was fixed. During the ceremony, the child was named Albert, after Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria of England. 6 Albert had three brothers and two sisters. They were Frank, Zinobia, John, Augustine and Grace. 7 CHAPTER 3 HIS CHILDHOOD Although Albert Achebe was brought up as a Christian, he tried to know more about traditional Igbo cultures and faiths. His parents had by now stopped practising traditional religion, but as a young boy, he always wanted to experience both the traditional and western ways of life. His home encouraged his understanding of only western cultures. Albert was encouraged to learn the ABC of English tradition by reading kiddies literature written in English language, for English children, in his father's library. He, however, spent hours at nights listening to how his mother, sisters and other members of the family tell traditional Igbo stories. Albert grew up in the village during British rule in Nigeria among the so called educated English- speaking family unlike most children that were living in communal houses. So, he somehow had social and cultural advantages that most children of his age did not have. He must have been about five years old when 8 he followed a boy of about eight year-old to an open space in the village where people met to watch masquerades' dance.