Afterwords: Chinua Achebe

The life and ideas of the Nigerian novelist, poet and critic, Chinua Achebe, in his own words, and in the words of those who knew, loved, and were inspired by him.

Celebrated as “the Father of Modern African literature,” Achebe blazed a trail for African people centring themselves and their culture in their own stories. This began with the release of his debut novel, Things Fall Apart, in 1958. He believed fiercely in the power of stories to obscure or reveal identities, depending on who does the telling, and with that, came a duty to speak out about the failings and corruption of post-colonial Nigeria, and its suppression of stories around Biafra.

With contributions from Achebe’s close friend, the Somali novelist and poet Nuruddin Farah, the author Caryl Phillips, who began a friendship with Achebe after interviewing him in 2003, the young Nigerian writer Esther Ifesanichi Okonkwo who has taken inspiration from Achebe’s essays, and the Igbo historian (and Achebe’s youngest child) Dr Nwando Achebe.

Produced by Redzi Bernard.
A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio Three

First broadcast 19th June 2022