Contribution of Chinua Achebe in African Literature.

Topic: Contribution of Chinua Achebe in the African Literature.

Name: Solanki Binita M.

Roll No: 04

Subject: The African Literature.

Paper: 14.

Semester: 04

Year: 2014-2015

Submitted to: Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar         

University. (Department of English)

Ø African Literature.

      African Literature is literature of and from Africa and includes oral literature. Oral literature may be in prose or verse. The prose is often mythological or historical and can include tales of the tricksent character. In African literature,  pre-colonial literature examples of pre-colonial African literature  are numerous.

        The African works best knew in the west from the period of colonization and the slave trade are primarily slave narratives, such as Olaudah equiano’s. In the colonial period, Africans exposed to western language began to write in those tongues. Among the first pieces of African literature.

v Short Information about Chinua Achebe:

                  Albert Chinualumogu Achebe born on 16, November 1930, and died on 21, March 2013. He was a Nigerian novelist, Poet, Professor and critic.

                His first novel ‘Thing Fall Apart’ was considered his magnum opus, and is the most widely read book in modern African Literature. He gained world-wide attention for Thing Fall Apart in that late 1950s.

Achebe become a supporter of Biafram independence and acted as ambassador for the people of the new nation. Achebe’s novels focus on the traditions of Igbo society the effect of Christian influences, and traditional African values during and after the colonial era.

        He also published a number of short stories, children’s book, and essay collection. He awarded man booker prize, peace prize of the German. Book trade , St. Louis literary Award. Chinua Achebe most contribution on African literature.

v Work of Chinua Ahebe:

ü Things Fall A part: 1958

ü No Longer at Easy: 1966

ü The African Trilogy:

ü Hope and Impediments: 1988

ü Arrow of God: 1964

ü Chike and the River: 1966

ü A Man of the people:1966

ü Girls at war and other stories: 1972

ü An Image of Africa: 1977

ü Another Africa.   

Here I mentioned only some work by Achebe. He was famous African writer. He gives many works in African literature.

v Contribution of Chinua Achebe in African Literature.   

             Achebe begins his criticism by relating two stories. The first involves meeting a man on the street who was unaware that Africa had literature. The second involves a letter that Achebe received where a student professes interest in learning about the customs of an African tribe in Things Fall Apart. Achebe will try to makes:  western world is largely ignorant. Africa should not exist as a foil to the western world. Here we can say that Achebe begins his true criticism.

            Achebe begins by attacking Conrad’s contrast of Africa and Europe. “Heart of Darkness projects the image of Africa as the other world” the antithesis of Europe and therefor civilization. Achebe takes issue not solely with the fact that Africa is presented as the opposite of Europe, but that it is unknowable. He feels that Conrad is afraid of the lurking hint of kinship, nothing that Conrad fears Africa as a distant place still consumed with the savagery that Europe conquered.

        Achebe finds fault with Conrad for purveying “comforting Myths”, arguing that he played into the Western world’s stereotyping of Africa. Achebe’s next point, after establishing Conrad’s prejudice for the country, is to establishing his prejudice for the people. He once again maintains that the western world enjoys the work because it plays into stereotypes. Achebe claims that Co African held views that dehumanize Africans.

       Another point of Achebe’s is that Conrad rarely deigns to make the Africans in any way intelligent, citing particularly their lack of speech. He notes that they do not speak even amongst themselves. Achebe starts his next section by nothing that Conrad has attempted to create a barrier between him and the characters.

       Though Achebe acknowledges that Conrad and his mouthpieces pity the Africans, he makes it a point to say that they don’t consider them equals. Achebe also discusses the amount of times the “black” comes up. At this point, Achebe argues his case for why Conrad was wrong.

       According to Achebe it was African art that inspired cubism, and led to the reinvigorating of European art. He finally states that racism toward African is inherent the west even today, and that optimism is difficult, given that it is an almost knee-jerk relation.

§  Let’s See Chinua Achebe how present their view in his work: 

Ø Things Fall Apart.

Ø Refugee Mother & Child.

             Things Fall Apart:

              One of the greatest warriors of Nigeria. Okonkwo is a leader of the Umuofia clan. He is a highly respected man in his village; the only problem he has to face is his son, Nwoye who, in his father’s eyes, is an ideal and negligent young man of twelve years old. The novel against colonialism or anti-colonial struggle in the novel. Achebe expresses his views about misrepresentation of Africans by Conrad & Joyce Cary.

       In Things Fall Apart Achebe shows a conflict between Igbo culture (Nigeria-Africa) and western culture. The novel is full with Igbo customary activities, people’s worldview and beliefs, and their material possession.

       In the first part of the novel various ceremonies of the trebles are narrated. From the very beginning of the first part: Okonkwo place in the Igbo society is highlighted.  

       In the second part of novel various part of the novel describe Okonkwo exile. Most people in the village suspected him for his industry and success. But now he was banished for seven years from the village. He had been cast out of his clan life a fish on to a dry, Sandy beach, painting.

       In the third part of novel Okonkwo returned to his fatherland but he disappointed to see the change in the village. Okonkwo was deeply hurt to see the clan breaking up and falling apart. The novel has a tragic end because Okonkwo committed suicide.

       The text is produced by the world and speaks about very specific situation and reflects hegemonic power stricter. The native wear the mask of civilization but the true face will come out at the crucial hour.

       In Things Fall Apart we see that how Achebe present their view about Africa. He talks about past Africa and present Africa. He presents the past Africa how people suffer in the society. He presents the realty of the Africa. The colonialist critic would see violence as a principle African people. Late in the colonial era Things Fall Apart analyzed the effect of colonialism on traditional African society.      

v “Refugee Mother and Child.”

        Achebe’s poem is titled ‘Refugee Mother and Child’. The adjective refugee has different meaning in this context. One, the mother in question may be a refugee. Beside, one who fly from danger and is in secure and protective circle is also called a refugee.    

   In this regard, the baby is a refugee, and his refuge is his mother’s womb till he comes out to this cruel world. Another interpretation would be the mother finding refuge from the reality of make believe world.  Mothers there had long care, as the situation of the point. But this one still held her own. She donned a ghost smile.

         The situation is scary because the new-born is dead and the smile seems ghastly. The term ‘ghost smile’ may also imply that the lady held a ‘ghost’ of a smile that once was real. In an otherwise situation, this act would be of little consequence; another everyday affair before breakfast or school. The flower are used to show the mother’s final gesture of farewell, illustrating a sad and intense imagery as unfortunately this child had to die before her mother actually has, which is not the right things in life, showing how the mother and child, and how the last gesture of combing child’s hair was like say goodbye to him. Achebe is an excellent writers, and has made this poem an intruding, yet plausible read.

          This poem is an example of one of his great work, which uses many different techniques. The contrasting image of life and death, and the contrast between more fortunate mothers and the one mentioned in the poem. The tone in the poem is very depressing and painful as it shows the pain of losing a loved one, and the sorrows that war causes. 

Conclusion:   

     Here we see that how Chinua Achebe give their view about the African literature and also give many work for view about the literature. He talk about the how some other writer misrepresentation of African literature.