Novelists, poets toast to Late Chinua Achebe in Lagos

Prof Chinua Achebe's books

Prof. Chinua Achebe

It was indeed a memorable evening when distinguished members of the literary world gathered to pay tributes and observe readings on the life and works of literary icon, poet, novelist and critic, Late Prof. Chinua Achebe.

Tagged: A Toast to an Extraordinary Life, Chinua Achebe, a Literary Maverick, a Humanitarian, National Treasure and Global Voice, the event took place on Thursday, July 18, 2013, at the Gallery at Freedom Park, Old Prison Ground, Broad Street, Lagos.

Powered by Moet & Chandon Champagne, the event was curated by Tolu Ogunlesi, who, during his opening speech said the day of the event was a symbolic one as it was Dr. Nelson Mandela’s birthday. “We are here to discuss what Achebe means to Nigerians and the world,” Ogunlesi said.

The event  which also featured reminisces of Achebe’s life and works kicked off around 6.pm. Other highlights of the event include music and tributes from writers, friends and family.

In his speech, Mr. Toyin Akinosho presented a book by James Collins, “Africa Writes Back,” which deals with the emergence of African Literature. The book was an expose of the important role Achebe played through his works and position to popularise African literature. He read some pages of the book which revealed how Things Fall Apart came to be and eulogised the novelists. Toyin also said that Achebe’s meeting with Ngugi wa Thong’o in United Kingdom propelled Ngugi to write a novel called Weep Not Child.

Poet Uzor Maxim Uzoatu

Also speaking, renowned poet, Mr. Uzor Maxim Uzoatu told the audience about his encounter with Late Achebe including when he went to interview him and his observation when he travelled to pay his last respect to the great author.

According to him, inside the bus he boarded to Ogidi, Late Achebe’s hometown, some commuters did not know who was being buried. Seeing people from all walks of life converged in Achebe’s compound, they argued among themselves that a popular Nollywood actor or a footballer might have died. “Eventually, I disembarked at a park near Achebe’s house. Incidentally, Achebe told me that there was a time people asked him whether he was a footballer,” Uzoatu said.

He described Achebe as “a simple person who proved that we have a right to tell our own story. He was an organised person. If you meet him and told him about an idea you conceived about writing a book, he would advise you to go and write it instead of talking about it.

“In United Kingdom and the United States of America, they only want to read what they like and believe that only books from their countries make sense. So, Achebe challenged that belief and showed the need for us to tell our own stories. Some of us lack courage to defend our rights unlike Achebe. There was a time he travelled to Zimbabwe and sat in a bus, and people wondered why a black could sit in front. When they told him that blacks are not supposed to sit there, he told them: “No, in my country I sit where I like.”

“Achebe used proverbs and idioms in his books which are common to people but he applied them in his works to spice the books and make them interesting for readers. “

Other speakers included Deji Toye, Eghosa Imasuen and Ralph Eghator, among others.

An anonymous speaker sent the audience reeling with laughter when he said Achebe was a romantic person who in his novel wrote, “If you are talking to a lady and begins to shake her legs, it means she wants to have sex.”

Guests at an Evening of tributes and reading for Chinua Achebe

Someone also shared how principled the late father of African literature was and recalled how he rejected 50 cent’s offer of $1 million for him to use his book title, Things Fall Apart in his movie. He also described him as a freedom fighter that used his pen as a weapon and also took his nativity and made it superlative.

The social critic and foremost novel writer died on March 21, 2013, at the age of 82 years at a hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America. The author of the widely read novel, Things Fall Apart, until his death, was the David and Mariana Fisher University Professor of Africana Studies and Literary Arts at Brown University, an American Ivy-league institution located in Providence, Rhode Island. He was buried on May 23, 3013, in his hometown, Ogidi, Anambra State.

Some of his novels include: No Longer at Ease, Arrow of God, A Man of The People, There Was a Country and a number of short stories, children's books and essay collections.

Everyone that attended the event went home with a determination to strive and be successful in their vocations like Achebe whose works would stay forever and impact the lives of many unborn generations.

Nigerian writer, poet, playwright, winner of Nobel Prize in Literature, 1986, Wole Soyinka, was the special guest of honour at the event.

Other personalities that graced the occasion include Kemi Adetiba, Steve Ayorinde, Wana Udobang, OfiliSpeaks, Ebi Atawodi, Bisi Silva, Segun Adefila, Temi Dollface, Ayeni Adekunle and Chris
Ihidero.

From_L-R_Toyin_Akinosho,_Ebi_Atawodi,_Tolu_Ogunlesi  , Ann Ogunsulire, Jahman Anikulapo