About Things Fall Apart

Things Fall Apart is considered an important read for many reasons which include, the African perspective it presents regarding how colonialization played out and how that perspective humanizes Africans.

Written in 1956, Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is a novel that explores African life in precolonial times. Divided into three parts, the book is used to humanize Africa as readers are introduced to the Umuofia village, its people, traditions and customs depicting  African civilization. For this reason, amongst others, is why Things Fall Apart will always be one of the greatest novel in my books (get it? haha)

When Africans Write for Africa

Chinua Achebe said “At the university, I read some appalling novels about Africa…and decided that the story we had to tell could not be told for us by anyone else no matter how gifted or talented” This statement was him referring to the books he read in university and many like Achebe have read and are taught a history about Africa that does not reflect their reality as Africans living in Africa. These writings are based on racist intentions meant to justify the cruelty that colonialism, enslavement of black people, exploitation of Africa etc, was and not only are teachings regarding this history found in schools but also, as Steve Biko puts it, “The media has settled on a common negative narrative about Africa. Somehow, history portrays us as a stagnated collection of foraging and hunter-gathering societies civilized by contact with the outside world.” These stereotypes only work in the favor of the imperialists because if Africans are such savages, then colonizing their land was not so bad because they deserve it, right?. Stereotypes such as “Africa is a Dark Continent” found in such writings were enforced “to legitimize the enslavement of black people and exploitation of African resources”

When They Decide to Write about Africa

As a continent treated as if its people have no voice, Africa has been spoken for throughout history and that has only resulted in damage to Africa’s image. Whether it is stereotypes, misconception or clichés, these have all been to the detriment of Africa. In his satirical essay, Wainaina gives ironic instructions to western writers when writing about Africa.  Binyavanga Wainaina’s ‘How to Write About Africa’ is considered to be one of the most important pieces of literature pointing out what has been a huge problem when it comes to western writers writing about Africa. This essay does not only point out the obvious but it also serves to decolonise literature, giving “greater representation to African voices and perspectives,” sensing a movement for change  [Read full Article at https://aboutafricas.online/2024/07/31/things-fall-apart-writing-for-africa/