Achebe does not overly romanticize the Ibo people or uncompromisingly vilify the British colonial rulers. He leaves it up to the reader to assess the overall impact of colonialism and white rule in Africa. This balancing act—the recognition of the vitality of African traditions alongside the acknowledgment of some of the benefits of the British presence—is particularly significant in the context of a Nigeria emerging slowly and often painfully into self-rule in the 1950s. Things Fall Apart is not only a premier example of African literature, but one of the first contributions to what became known as postcolonial literature among formerly colonized peoples of Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean.
Biography - Chinua Achebe
Chinua Achebe was born in Nigeria in 1930. As a member of the Ibo ethnic group, he became familiar with the traditions and knowledge that he would employ in his writings about Africa. As the son of a father who converted to Christianity, Achebe was also exposed to Western ideas and influences. He spoke Ibo as a young child but learned English beginning at age eight. His ability to approach matters from different cultural perspectives became an important feature of his writing, and is particularly evident in Things Fall Apart.
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