December 22, 2007
From KAYLIE NELSON
CONNECTIONS STAFF WRITER, Princeton
Additional Information from US AFRICA, University of London, Indian Council for Cultural Relations and Agency reporting
Several international events in about fifteen countries are planned to mark the 50th Anniversary of Achebe’s seminal novel, Things Fall Apart in 2008.
The University of London’s School of Advanced Study, Institute of English Studies will host a two day conference entitled Things Fall Apart, 1958-2008 from October 11-12, 2008. The Institute’s web site reports this synopsis:
“The publication of Chinua Achebe's first novel, Things Fall Apart in 1958 marked the beginning of a new era in African writing in English. It was an inspiration for writers and readers not only on the African continent but throughout the world. Fifty years later, this conference seeks to revisit that novel and assess its significance then and now.” Elsewhere in Europe, major conferences are planned for Portugal, France and Sweden. European radio stations, book clubs and literary organizations are also planning events to span the new year.
Asia is geared up for the celebrations as well with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations’ recent announcement that a “seminar to mark the world wide celebrations, in 2008 of the 50th year of the publication of the noted Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe’s first novel Things fall apart is being organized by Department of English, Osmania University, Hyderabad, during 2008.” Other significant events are also planned for Singapore and China in the course of the New Year.
In the Americas, several events are planned for Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, New York City, Houston, Texas, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Annandale, New York, USA. Bard College, in Annandale, New York, Achebe’s current base, is planning a major international conference and a series of other events throughout the year. Not to be outdone, the Canadians also have a conference and literary events scheduled for later in the New Year.
Princeton University, one of America’s oldest and most distinguished citadels of higher learning will be reading Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart in the third installment of Princeton Reads, the biannual one-book, and one community event. The Ivy League institution selected Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe’s portrait of the effects of British colonialism and Christianity in turn of the century Nigeria, “to unite the community through this extraordinary work of literature,” said Readers Services Librarian Kristin Pehnke, the coordinator of Princeton Reads. The event is co-sponsored by Labyrinth Books and the Center for African American Studies at Princeton University. Dorothea von Moltke of Labyrinth initiated contact with Achebe.
“When I heard that Chinua Achebe would be in New York and in Philadelphia, for celebrations of the 50th anniversary of Things Fall Apart, I approached him with high hopes and low expectations that he might be willing to make an in-between stop in Princeton,” von Moltke said. “We are delighted and very much honored that he did in fact agree to come.”
While encouraging everyone in Princeton to read the book during March, 2008, the library will present a variety of programs to keep the community listening, watching and discussing, culminating with a visit from the author on March 26. “The library and our co-sponsors at Labyrinth Books and the Princeton University Center for African Studies have an assortment of programs in the works from lectures to film screenings to poetry readings. There will also be several arts programs, some of which will pay homage to the African oral tradition.”
“The plan is to work with community merchants and organizations to sponsor book groups, both here at the library and at off-site locations so that there is ample opportunity for discussion,” Pehnke said. Local schools, teachers and librarians are encouraged to participate in the program. Along with the co-sponsors, there is also an outreach to get surrounding communities involved. Pehnke says she also plans to inspire participation by leaving books around town and to target the avid reader-discussers found in the many independent book groups around town. “We are going to invite, urge and implore every one of them to read Things Fall Apart as their March selection,” Pehnke said. “How wonderful would it be if there was this commonality throughout all of Princeton?” Princeton Reads will close with an appearance by the author at the end of the month.
Africa will not be left out in the festivities. The Association of Nigerian Authors (of which Achebe serves as founding president) is planning a two-day affair of a number of activities featuring plenary sessions on the theme of the celebration by foreign and local scholars, book exhibitions, visit to historical places like where Achebe stayed when he wrote Things Fall Apart, special auction of early copies of the book, screening of NTA adaptation of Things Fall Apart, and dramatic enactments of Achebe’s novels on stage etc. The colloquium proper will involve the invitation of the foreign writers and scholars such as Nurrudin Farah of Somalia, Ngugi Wa Thingo of Kenya, Ayi Kwei Armah of Ghana, Lewis Nkosi of South Africa, Professor Charles Larson in the USA, etc, who will all be asked to present papers and talks at the colloquium. Scholars on Achebe in Nigerian Universities would also be invited to present papers. In addition, several events are also planned to occur in South Africa, Kenya, Ghana and the Gambia.
Africans in the Diaspora have a number of events planned as well. Obiwu Iwuanyanwu, of the Writing Center, Central State University Wilberforce, Ohio, USA, is organizing a major critical appraisal of Achebe’s ground breaking novel. In an announcement from his base in Ohio, Iwuanyanwu reports:
“To mark the half a century milestone of the literary path-breaker in 2008, scholars, researchers, teachers, students, professionals, and general readers are invited to submit articles for a multiple volume critical anthology on Things Fall Apart. Contributors are encouraged to be innovative and adventurous in their exploration, with the singular aim of eliciting the novel’s uniqueness, impact, influence, and continuity. Among others, submissions may consider Things Fall Apart in relation to any one of the following: Discourse and theory, Diaspora and alienation, race and globalization, gender and sexuality, and minority, Environment and the animal, Language and linguistics, Influences and historicism, Art and visual culture, Culture and hospitality, Communication and Comparison, Space and Science.”
Editors of this major enterprise will include Victor O. Aire, Languages & Linguistics, University of Jos, Nigeria; S. O. O. Amali, Vice Chancellor/President, University of Ilorin, Nigeria; Glen P. Bush, English, Heartland Community College, Normal, IL, US; Augustine-Ufua Enahoro, Theater Arts & Communication, Univ. of Jos, Nigeria; Okey Ndibe, English, Trinity College, Hartford, CT, US Obiwu, Writing Center, Central State University, Wilberforce, OH, US; Olu Oguibe, Art & African American Studies, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, US; Kanchana Ugbabe, English, University of Jos, Nigeria.
Chido Nwangwu, a multimedia executive, writer and television broadcaster and owner of USAFRICA as well as publisher of Class Magazine, is organizing a symposia and harvest of Achebe events from August 8 and 9, 2008, in Houston, Texas, USA. The aim of the events will be to “reflect upon and critically review 50 years of Achebe’s epic work, Things Fall Apart.”
Achebe is often referred to as the father of African literature and has received numerous awards for his work, including the Commonwealth Poetry Prize; the New Statesman Jock Campbell Prize; the Margaret Wrong Prize; the Nigerian National Trophy in 1961; and the Nigerian National Merit Award, Nigeria's highest recognition of intellectual achievement, in 1979. Achebe is an Honorary Fellow of the Modem Language Association of America (1975); a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature of London (1981); and a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Letters (1982). In 2002 he was awarded the prestigious Peace Prize of the German Book Trade. In June, 2007, he received the Man Booker International Prize and recently, in November this year, the prestigious National Medal of honor for literature from America’s National Arts Club in honor of his literary career. Professor Achebe is the recipient of forty honorary degrees from universities in England, Scotland, Canada, South Africa, Nigeria and the United States, including Dartmouth (1972), Harvard (1996), Brown (1998), Southampton, Guelph (Canada), Cape Town (2002) and the University of Ife (Nigeria). He is a noted activist who in 2004 refused to accept one of Nigeria’s highest honors - Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) - in protest against his country’s conditions.
Things Fall Apart was first published in 1958. It has been translated into 50 languages making its author the most translated African author of all time. Things Fall Apart has appeared on numerous lists of the 100 greatest novels of all time, including ones published in Norway (Norwegian Book Club), England (Guardian and Observer), America (Radcliffe Publishing Course list of top 100 novels of the 20th century; Time Magazine) and Africa (Africa's Best Books of the 20th Century). More than 12 million copies have been purchased since it first appeared half a century ago. It remains required reading in schools and universities around the world and is one of the most widely read and influential books ever written.
CONNECTIONS STAFF WRITER, Princeton
Additional Information from US AFRICA, University of London, Indian Council for Cultural Relations and Agency reporting
Several international events in about fifteen countries are planned to mark the 50th Anniversary of Achebe’s seminal novel, Things Fall Apart in 2008.
The University of London’s School of Advanced Study, Institute of English Studies will host a two day conference entitled Things Fall Apart, 1958-2008 from October 11-12, 2008. The Institute’s web site reports this synopsis:
“The publication of Chinua Achebe's first novel, Things Fall Apart in 1958 marked the beginning of a new era in African writing in English. It was an inspiration for writers and readers not only on the African continent but throughout the world. Fifty years later, this conference seeks to revisit that novel and assess its significance then and now.” Elsewhere in Europe, major conferences are planned for Portugal, France and Sweden. European radio stations, book clubs and literary organizations are also planning events to span the new year.
Asia is geared up for the celebrations as well with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations’ recent announcement that a “seminar to mark the world wide celebrations, in 2008 of the 50th year of the publication of the noted Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe’s first novel Things fall apart is being organized by Department of English, Osmania University, Hyderabad, during 2008.” Other significant events are also planned for Singapore and China in the course of the New Year.
In the Americas, several events are planned for Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, New York City, Houston, Texas, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Annandale, New York, USA. Bard College, in Annandale, New York, Achebe’s current base, is planning a major international conference and a series of other events throughout the year. Not to be outdone, the Canadians also have a conference and literary events scheduled for later in the New Year.
Princeton University, one of America’s oldest and most distinguished citadels of higher learning will be reading Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart in the third installment of Princeton Reads, the biannual one-book, and one community event. The Ivy League institution selected Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe’s portrait of the effects of British colonialism and Christianity in turn of the century Nigeria, “to unite the community through this extraordinary work of literature,” said Readers Services Librarian Kristin Pehnke, the coordinator of Princeton Reads. The event is co-sponsored by Labyrinth Books and the Center for African American Studies at Princeton University. Dorothea von Moltke of Labyrinth initiated contact with Achebe.
“When I heard that Chinua Achebe would be in New York and in Philadelphia, for celebrations of the 50th anniversary of Things Fall Apart, I approached him with high hopes and low expectations that he might be willing to make an in-between stop in Princeton,” von Moltke said. “We are delighted and very much honored that he did in fact agree to come.”
While encouraging everyone in Princeton to read the book during March, 2008, the library will present a variety of programs to keep the community listening, watching and discussing, culminating with a visit from the author on March 26. “The library and our co-sponsors at Labyrinth Books and the Princeton University Center for African Studies have an assortment of programs in the works from lectures to film screenings to poetry readings. There will also be several arts programs, some of which will pay homage to the African oral tradition.”
“The plan is to work with community merchants and organizations to sponsor book groups, both here at the library and at off-site locations so that there is ample opportunity for discussion,” Pehnke said. Local schools, teachers and librarians are encouraged to participate in the program. Along with the co-sponsors, there is also an outreach to get surrounding communities involved. Pehnke says she also plans to inspire participation by leaving books around town and to target the avid reader-discussers found in the many independent book groups around town. “We are going to invite, urge and implore every one of them to read Things Fall Apart as their March selection,” Pehnke said. “How wonderful would it be if there was this commonality throughout all of Princeton?” Princeton Reads will close with an appearance by the author at the end of the month.
Africa will not be left out in the festivities. The Association of Nigerian Authors (of which Achebe serves as founding president) is planning a two-day affair of a number of activities featuring plenary sessions on the theme of the celebration by foreign and local scholars, book exhibitions, visit to historical places like where Achebe stayed when he wrote Things Fall Apart, special auction of early copies of the book, screening of NTA adaptation of Things Fall Apart, and dramatic enactments of Achebe’s novels on stage etc. The colloquium proper will involve the invitation of the foreign writers and scholars such as Nurrudin Farah of Somalia, Ngugi Wa Thingo of Kenya, Ayi Kwei Armah of Ghana, Lewis Nkosi of South Africa, Professor Charles Larson in the USA, etc, who will all be asked to present papers and talks at the colloquium. Scholars on Achebe in Nigerian Universities would also be invited to present papers. In addition, several events are also planned to occur in South Africa, Kenya, Ghana and the Gambia.
Africans in the Diaspora have a number of events planned as well. Obiwu Iwuanyanwu, of the Writing Center, Central State University Wilberforce, Ohio, USA, is organizing a major critical appraisal of Achebe’s ground breaking novel. In an announcement from his base in Ohio, Iwuanyanwu reports:
“To mark the half a century milestone of the literary path-breaker in 2008, scholars, researchers, teachers, students, professionals, and general readers are invited to submit articles for a multiple volume critical anthology on Things Fall Apart. Contributors are encouraged to be innovative and adventurous in their exploration, with the singular aim of eliciting the novel’s uniqueness, impact, influence, and continuity. Among others, submissions may consider Things Fall Apart in relation to any one of the following: Discourse and theory, Diaspora and alienation, race and globalization, gender and sexuality, and minority, Environment and the animal, Language and linguistics, Influences and historicism, Art and visual culture, Culture and hospitality, Communication and Comparison, Space and Science.”
Editors of this major enterprise will include Victor O. Aire, Languages & Linguistics, University of Jos, Nigeria; S. O. O. Amali, Vice Chancellor/President, University of Ilorin, Nigeria; Glen P. Bush, English, Heartland Community College, Normal, IL, US; Augustine-Ufua Enahoro, Theater Arts & Communication, Univ. of Jos, Nigeria; Okey Ndibe, English, Trinity College, Hartford, CT, US Obiwu, Writing Center, Central State University, Wilberforce, OH, US; Olu Oguibe, Art & African American Studies, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, US; Kanchana Ugbabe, English, University of Jos, Nigeria.
Chido Nwangwu, a multimedia executive, writer and television broadcaster and owner of USAFRICA as well as publisher of Class Magazine, is organizing a symposia and harvest of Achebe events from August 8 and 9, 2008, in Houston, Texas, USA. The aim of the events will be to “reflect upon and critically review 50 years of Achebe’s epic work, Things Fall Apart.”
Achebe is often referred to as the father of African literature and has received numerous awards for his work, including the Commonwealth Poetry Prize; the New Statesman Jock Campbell Prize; the Margaret Wrong Prize; the Nigerian National Trophy in 1961; and the Nigerian National Merit Award, Nigeria's highest recognition of intellectual achievement, in 1979. Achebe is an Honorary Fellow of the Modem Language Association of America (1975); a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature of London (1981); and a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Letters (1982). In 2002 he was awarded the prestigious Peace Prize of the German Book Trade. In June, 2007, he received the Man Booker International Prize and recently, in November this year, the prestigious National Medal of honor for literature from America’s National Arts Club in honor of his literary career. Professor Achebe is the recipient of forty honorary degrees from universities in England, Scotland, Canada, South Africa, Nigeria and the United States, including Dartmouth (1972), Harvard (1996), Brown (1998), Southampton, Guelph (Canada), Cape Town (2002) and the University of Ife (Nigeria). He is a noted activist who in 2004 refused to accept one of Nigeria’s highest honors - Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) - in protest against his country’s conditions.
Things Fall Apart was first published in 1958. It has been translated into 50 languages making its author the most translated African author of all time. Things Fall Apart has appeared on numerous lists of the 100 greatest novels of all time, including ones published in Norway (Norwegian Book Club), England (Guardian and Observer), America (Radcliffe Publishing Course list of top 100 novels of the 20th century; Time Magazine) and Africa (Africa's Best Books of the 20th Century). More than 12 million copies have been purchased since it first appeared half a century ago. It remains required reading in schools and universities around the world and is one of the most widely read and influential books ever written.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('comments'); });
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('content1'); });
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('content2'); });