Author : Chinua Achebe

Chinua Achebe, born Albert Chinụalụmọgụ Achebe on November 16, 1930, in Ogidi, Nigeria, is heralded as one of the most influential African writers of his generation. His pioneering work, "Things Fall Apart," published in 1958, profoundly reshaped the landscape of modern African literature by offering an authentic narrative that diverged sharply from the colonial perspective prevalent in literature depicting Africa up until that time. Educated at the University of Ibadan, Achebe masterfully weaves together the rich oral traditions of the Igbo people with the conventions of Western storytelling, creating compelling tales anchored in African settings and philosophies. Throughout his career, he garnered numerous accolades, including the Man Booker International Prize in 2007 for his lasting contribution to literature, using his voice both in his works and public life to discuss and critique post-colonial identity, the complexities of cultural collision, and the socio-political intricacies facing contemporary African societies.