Things Fall Apart An introduction

Chinua Achebe (pronounced Chin-ew-ah A-chay-bay) born in Eastern Nigeria, West Africa, in 1930. father Isiah converted willingly to Christianity in his youth and became church teacher in Ibo village of Ogidi raised by uncle Udo; retained Ibo religious beliefs (tolerated new Christian religion)

Wrote Things Fall Apart to show that Africans had a political system and means of communication A voice for Africa Chinua Achebe Interview

Educated at University of Ibadan, Nigeria Worked in Nigeria for many years Traveled to U.S. universities to lecture before returning to Nigeria to teach Starting in the 1970s, Achebe joined universities in Nigeria, Connecticut, New York, and Rhode Island. He died on March 21, 2013 at age 82.

Nigeria

1800s British white guys created this (look at the evolution of language/titles); negative/derrogatory descriptions (Mohammedans take offense because they don’t PRAY to Mohammad; also, no one wants to be called a “heathen.”)

Setting for Things Fall Apart Nigeria, 1890 Village: Iguedo, part of Umuofia (consists of 9 villages) Clash of cultures: Tribal culture of Igbo (also Ibo) Tribal with British

Indigenous African (Ibo) values: Storytelling Polytheistic; nature-based; lots of ceremonies Polygamist families Hunter/Gatherers Emphasis on music and dance

Proverbs a short, traditional saying that expresses some obvious truth or familiar experience "Give a man a fish, and he eats for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he eats for a lifetime.” **What does this mean?