Does Achebe really hate the Yoruba?
NaijaRock
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Posted by Felix Okoli on October 10, 2012 at 02:42:38:
Ever since Professor Chinua Achebe released his latest book titled "There was a country", it has generated a lot of controversy in the news media from both sides. While some who saw good in what he did supported his reflection in Nigeria's dark history, some others are claiming he doesn't like Yoruba people. Now isn't that a deceptive statement?Why would Chinua Achebe want to write a book that promotes racism or hatred for a particular tribe? Why would he want to do so at a grand age of 81 years? Why would an old man write a book that may bring him disrespect? China Achebe has made a good name for himself in the world of literature that he is now the most respected African write after his famous book titled "Things fall apart".
On the contrary I just think that some of these statements by certain Yoruba leaders are just political statements meant to give them a good public image in the eyes of the Yoruba race. Perhaps they just want to be seen to be defending the Yoruba race.In Achebe's latest book, he wrote about the fact that the late Obafemi Awolowo who was the only civilian Vice president Nigeria ever had during a military regime was responsible for the starvation of Igbo people during the Biafran war since he advised Gowon to block food supplies to Biafra. Even historical news reports have said that Awo did not deny it for he even acknowledged that he did so in order to win the war. So I guess Achebe doesn't have any reason to hate Yoruba or his new book meant to disrespect them but rather to tell the truth about the war and those responsible for Nigeria's genocide against Ndigbo. What Achebe wrote is simply a remembrance of history, a history that is not meant to be forgotten. I think the problem with some Nigerians is that they don't like keeping historical records of even bad experiences we've been having in our country and this is one of the reasons why we are hardly moving forward. Even the most developed nations of the world have their own dark shadows of history. A good example is the slave trade which took Africans to new nations like the USA. When nations like America look backwards, they would be able to learn from their mistakes.When a prominent and renown writer like Chinua Achebe writes about historical events in Nigeria and even noted that this was also his personal history, it should rather be seen as a national treasure which should be placed in all libraries across Nigeria.Nigeria now more than ever needs books about Biafra, the Niger Delta struggle, Boko haram insurgency in northern Nigeria and even Corruption in government. These are dark parts of Nigeria's history and the best way we can move forward is simply to look backward and recognize our mistakes in order not to make them again.Get the book on Amazon
Comments:
Ever since Professor Chinua Achebe released his latest book titled "There was a country", it has generated a lot of controversy in the news media from both sides. While some who saw good in what he did supported his reflection in Nigeria's dark history, some others are claiming he doesn't like Yoruba people. Now isn't that a deceptive statement?Why would Chinua Achebe want to write a book that promotes racism or hatred for a particular tribe? Why would he want to do so at a grand age of 81 years? Why would an old man write a book that may bring him disrespect? China Achebe has made a good name for himself in the world of literature that he is now the most respected African write after his famous book titled "Things fall apart".
On the contrary I just think that some of these statements by certain Yoruba leaders are just political statements meant to give them a good public image in the eyes of the Yoruba race. Perhaps they just want to be seen to be defending the Yoruba race.In Achebe's latest book, he wrote about the fact that the late Obafemi Awolowo who was the only civilian Vice president Nigeria ever had during a military regime was responsible for the starvation of Igbo people during the Biafran war since he advised Gowon to block food supplies to Biafra. Even historical news reports have said that Awo did not deny it for he even acknowledged that he did so in order to win the war. So I guess Achebe doesn't have any reason to hate Yoruba or his new book meant to disrespect them but rather to tell the truth about the war and those responsible for Nigeria's genocide against Ndigbo. What Achebe wrote is simply a remembrance of history, a history that is not meant to be forgotten. I think the problem with some Nigerians is that they don't like keeping historical records of even bad experiences we've been having in our country and this is one of the reasons why we are hardly moving forward. Even the most developed nations of the world have their own dark shadows of history. A good example is the slave trade which took Africans to new nations like the USA. When nations like America look backwards, they would be able to learn from their mistakes.When a prominent and renown writer like Chinua Achebe writes about historical events in Nigeria and even noted that this was also his personal history, it should rather be seen as a national treasure which should be placed in all libraries across Nigeria.Nigeria now more than ever needs books about Biafra, the Niger Delta struggle, Boko haram insurgency in northern Nigeria and even Corruption in government. These are dark parts of Nigeria's history and the best way we can move forward is simply to look backward and recognize our mistakes in order not to make them again.Get the book on Amazon
Comments:
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Re: Does Achebe really hate the Yoruba?
Posted by ADEBISI OPEYEMI
on October 12, 2012 at 04:52:34:
To me ACHEBE does not hate the Yoruba but he hates the way yoruba runs their polictics.