I first read Things Fall Apart in class 2, my
formative years, after my tail has been cut and I became a full student. Not
possessing the qualities of Okonkwo as at that time, I dreamed of a day I
will be a hero and have women abandon their water pot and marry me for my
exploits. But the romantic attitude of Unoka (generic name for most
“happy” Nigerians) and not thinking of tomorrow as tomorrow will bring its
jolly gourd of palm wine, made me restrict the lessons of Things Fall Apart
to the pages of the book and a rote repetition to pass exam.
Another author, whose books arrested my fancy
and escapism from the harsh realities of Nigeria in the 80s and early 90s,
is Ngugi Wa Thiong’o. Trial of Dedan Kimathi co-authored with Micere Mugo,
Weep Not Child. These books highlight the Mau Mau struggle for the
liberation of Kenya. Typically, I longed to lead a movement that will
liberate Nigerians from poverty and like General Dedan Kimathi of no fixed
address, deliver a moving speech that will remain forever in the annals of
liberation movement. But Nigeria is a country where things are no longer at
ease, where oppressors without a democratic antecedent, commitment to the
people, turn over night saints and lure the trench tested comrades into
governance only to corrupt them absolutely.
By no means are the books that ruined my life
restricted to these three. The Holy Bible (no matter the version plus the
Apocrypha), Tai Solarin’s A Message for Young Nigerians, Marie
Corelli’s The Sorrows of Satan, are ever green in the ruin of my
life. But being the golden jubilee of Things Fall Apart and Nguig, I
shall painfully refuse to elaborate on these other books that ruined my
life.
This year 2008, the author and the book are
fifty years. It is 50 years since Things Fall Apart was written. It is also
Ngugi’s 50th year birthday.
A lot has been written about this best book
(Things Fall Apart) and the author to have come out of Africa and the only
impediment is that the author and the book have not been deemed fit to wear
the crown of a Nobel Laureate. Of all the explanations I have heard, the one
that aliens with my psychic is the one that holds that because Achebe and
Nguig are afro centric writers, exposing the structural corruption and fraud
planted by the colonialist that made it impossible for the young independent
African Nations to survive, even if their nationalist pre-colonial warriors
wanted to. The education (interpreter) was merely to aid the white man to
under develop Africa and further the spiritual bondage. (Catechists)
Ngugi took his afro centrism to a cultural
dimension and refused to use English as his primary language of creative
writing, rather Gikuyu his native language became his instrument. Achebe is
found wanting in this regard.
Despite the acclaimed reception of Things
Fall Apart in other cultures and her translation to their languages, there
is no Igbo translation of Things Fall Apart. Achebe is an Igbo man. We are
still awaiting the promised version by Achebe as stated in an interview
anchored by Okey Ndibe, published in The Sundaysun of April 13, 2008 page
47.
I congratulate The Association of Nigerian
Authors for the elaborate celebration of Things Fall Apart at 50, but they
should go a step further to encourage budding authors to write in indigenous
languages. Furthermore, elders should be at home to explain the taboos and
acceptable practises to the younger generation.
I first made this call published in the Punch
Newspaper as Achebe and the dearth of Opposition, when Achebe
rejected the national award in the “hit” of the macabre dance of shame in
Anambra.(when a sitting governor Dr. Chris Ngigi was kidnapped by Andy Uba’s
brother with the active participation of Aso Rock.) I will repeat it here.
Achebe should come home, tour Nigerian universities and lecture. I wonder
what became of The Chinua Achebe Foundation Interview Series
published in Vanguard Newspaper. He is too old to be outside the fatherland.
Young Nguig is back from exile after the exit of Arap Moi, feeding the
literary class of Kenya with a rich cuisine. What is keeping our mother in
the market? I hope she won’t be back when the falcon will rather hear a
hunter’s shot than a falconer’s call.
The children are forced to eat from the pot of
their step mother. No matter how good a young writer is, he only get
acknowledged if he writes what onyibos think should be African style
and content. And such published and promoted by a foreign company.
