As part of the grand move to celebrate the golden age of Nigerian literature, the English Department of the University of Ibadan has set aside April 17 to reminisce on Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. Notable scholars and writers are expected at the ceremony, which is in continuation of the global recognition of Things Fall Apart to world literature.

According to Dr Sola Olorunyomi, convener of the programme and lecturer in the English Department, Things Fall Apart at 50 shall feature readings, performances, book exhibitions as well as a symposium featuring eminent scholars like Professor Dan Izebaye, Professor Femi Osofisan, Professor Lekan Oyeleye, among others.

Olorunyomi, who equally announced plans by the institution to honour Professor Harry Garuba who turns 50 this month, hinted that the English Department decided to team up with the Institute of African Studies, Kenneth Dike Library and Theatre Arts Department of the university to organize the commemorative event.
‘We are hopeful that the 50th anniversary of Things Fall Apart will reinvigorate interest in literature in general and to re-examine development in African contemporary literature. So in a way, it’s more or less an assessment of what has happened to our literature since 1958 and now’ explained Olorunyomi.
On what spurred the university’s interest, Olorunyomi recalled how Professor Chinua Achebe started his literary career at Ibadan and how the idea of the novel itself germinated at the Tedder Hall of the university where Achebe resided as a student. Said Olorunyomi “We’re taking advantage of the fact that Chinua Achebe was our own student in the English Department of this university and we also have the information that somewhere in the library, we still have the early drafts of Things Fall Apart…this is why we have organized a three-part programme for same day. It is our own way of contributing to the celebrations going on in Portugal, United States and other parts of the globe to celebrate the great novel.’’

But beyond this year’s celebration, Olorunyomi hinted that efforts are being made to make UI adopt a book each year for people to read and advance the course of literature. “We hope to evolve a particular habit of taking literature beyond disciplinary concern…literature is life and not just about writers…so we hope to come out with a book each year just for people to read and the book to be selected each year would be by a panel and not necessarily by a Nigerian author.’’

On the 50th birthday anniversary of Professor Harry Garuba, Olorunyomi who also doubles as convener and friend of the celebrant disclosed that the idea to honour Garuba became auspicious owing to his role as a poet and scholar of repute produced by Ibadan.

Garuba left UI a few years back to teach at the University of CapeTown in South Africa, but he was at home recently to deliver the maiden lecture of the Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting organized by Steve Aborishade.

Said Olorunyomi“I think Things Fall Apart threw Harry out of the womb as this year marks his birthday as well as the golden anniversary of the novel by Achebe. This is really significant for us all. Coincidentally, Harry is a child of literature since he shared his year of birth with the arrival of one of the greatest works of art today.’’