Fifty years of Chinua Achebe’s celebrated novel Things Fall Apart, formed the kernel of the interactive session held at the National Theatre, Lagos, recently to flag-off the month-long golden jubilee anniversary of the novel. The session which came under the chairmanship of Chief Segun Olusola, also had as discussants, Professor Ahmed Yerima, Dr Shambhadi Gopal Krishma and Ms Kaine Agary, an award-winning author. The session was moderated by Mr Chike Ofili, chairman, Association of Nigerian Authors Lagos Chapter, and attracted writers, scholars, literary journalists and fans of the Eagle on Iroko.

The event was actually built around the theme of the celebration 50 years of Things Fall Apart; Telling the world the African story. First instance, there was a consensus among the three discussants that TFA is a classic, and a veritable gift to the post-colonial Africa in terms of its cultural content. If a great leader, nationalist and freedom fighter, Nelason Mandela could acknowledge the inspirational strength of the novel with the quote “reading Things Fall Apart broke down my prison walls,” then the nationalistic drive in the author at 28 when he wrote the book was equally novel.

As a cultural material, Agary noted that her first encounter with the book drew her closer to African culture. Yerima went further by citing how the South Africans estimation of TFA as a paradigm of a traditional African society, in their search for a new identity in the post-apartheid years. According to the playwright, Achebe’s language (almost a transliteration of Igbo into English) brought the story closer home. Moreover, the fact that the novel has been successfully translated into more than 200 languages across the globe, according to the dramatist underscores the universality of its theme, and the major character Okonkwo as an archetype of society’s resistance against political and cultural domination.
Also, Yerima drew the audience’s attention to Achebe’s prowess, not only as a master storyteller, but the dramatist in Achebe.

Although, he may not have chosen the drama genre, Achebe strikes like a playwright based on his characterization, and the dominance of captivating dialogue rather that prose narrations in his novels. He explained that from TFA, to Arrow of God, the writer offered the literary world, drama-in-prose performed with rounded characters. The discussant noted that these qualities mentioned above may have aided the adaptation of TFA by two Nigerians, London-based, Biyi Bandele, and Bassey Effiong.
TFA, Yerima concluded, epitomized a true African story, rich in culture and aesthetics, the dances, songs, and the setting.

As a chronicler of history, via fiction, Agary explained that TFA transcends the Igbo setting. Whoever experienced colonialism, be it cultural or political would appreciate the book. While, journalist cum literary critic, Chuks Ohai, described TFA as Achebe’s response to Joseph Conrad’s pessimist’s view of the continent in his book, Heart of Darkness (1902), his peer Kalu Uduma, of The Vanguard, questioned the relevance of Okonkwo, the tragic hero, in TFA, to contemporary Nigeria. Responding, Yerima argued that the Okonkwos are here as human rights and political activists and other heroes of democracy here with us. On this, Layiwola Adeniyi, journalist and critic differed. He lampooned the youths of today and accused them of incapable of rising up to the challenges of leadership in present day Nigeria.

The forums also gave room for an appraisal of TFA as a veritable story for African filmmakers. The moderator, for instance capped the novel published by Heinemann under the African Writers Series, as a veritable local content for African filmmakers. It would be recalled that, TFA has been performed on stage, it is yet to be made into film. Against that background, Ofili charged African filmmakers to start looking in the direction of African novelists, which sourcing for true African stories. Corroborating Ofili’s stance, Yerima who had earlier reviewed how Achebe succeeded in re-writing the pre-colonial and post-colonial Nigeria in his novels, agreed that TFA remains a classic, in its political relevance and a masterpiece in terms of craftmanship. His language and rich dialogue, make the characters real, Yerima explained.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the chairman, Ambassador Segun Olusola lauded the ANA initiative in ensuring that a structure is named after later Chief Cyprian Ekwesi in Abuja. He however urged the writers’ body not to relent in celebrating the contributions of fellow writers. Finally, he urged the association to facilitate the return of Achebe to the country so that many young Nigerians can tap from his wealth of knowledge.

Also in his welcome address, ANA President, Dr Wale Okediran reiterated the significance of Nigeria to the global celebration. He noted that it was in the light of that recognition that prompted the BBC to invited him to a recording at its London studio on March 31, 2007. The last leg of TFA at 50 celebration kicks-off in Awka, the Anambra State capital today and culminates in an international colloquium on the theme of the celebration at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, on Friday and Saturday.