2. CONTEXTS
PERSONAL - ACHEBE’S LIFE
POLITICAL - AFRICA COLONIALISM
THEORETICAL - POST-COLONIAL
THEORY
LITERARY - THE NOVEL FORM
3. CHINUA ACHEBE
Born in Nigeria in 1930 in Ogidi,
one of the first centres of Anglican
activity in the country.
Parents taught him about Igbo
culture, whilst he was educated in
English. Wide experience of
hearing African and Western tales.
Published Things Fall Apart, his
first novel, in 1958
4. AFRICAn
COLONIALISM
All of Africa colonised
during 19th century in th
so-called ;Scramble for
Africa’
European countries divided
Africa into countries,
imposing new boundaries
Britain eventually
controlled about 30% of
Africa’s population; about
15 million in Nigeria
5. END OF
COLONIALISM
WW2 saw the beginning
of the end of colonial
empires
Nigeria won
independence in 1960
(two years after
publication of Things Fall
Apart)
6. POST COLONIAL
THEORY
Many countries are in a post-colonial cultural,
political, economic state of flux or
dependence.
Post colonial theory attempts to explain and
describe the effects of having been ruled from
outside.
These effects can be both beneficial and
harmful.
7. Post Colonial
Theory
Indigenous decolonisation
Cultural imperialism
Hegemonic power structures
Anti-conquest narrative
Subaltern perspectives
8. Literary Context
Novel is primarily a Western Form (though it
takes influences from elsewhere)
African narrative primarily oral
Western narratives often focus on an
individual’s transformation and redemption
(Biblical Influence)
Things Fall Apart one of the first texts to
incorporate indigenous tales, language,
cultural contexts
9. LITERARY CONTEXT
Decision to write in English was a
controversial one. Seems to imply an
awareness of a wider audience; a
determination to broaden awareness of issues
around colonialism.
