ADVERTISEMENT
  • The Membership Club
  • PT Hausa
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
Wednesday, April 14, 2021
Premium Times Nigeria
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
Premium Times Nigeria
BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Three Lessons Achebe Taught Me, Shalewa Ashimi

Three Lessons Achebe Taught Me, Shalewa Ashimi

byPremium Times
April 11, 2013
2 min read
ADVERTISEMENT

Chinua Achebe has been described as “the grandfather of African fiction” who “lit up a path for many others.” I met this extraordinary Nigerian novelist, poet, and professor when I read his debut novel, Things Fall Apart. The book was a compulsory literary text in secondary school and has been translated into more than 50 languages. It has sold over 8 million copies worldwide. According to Wikipedia, the book is the most widely read book in modern African literature.

It is quite fascinating that Things Fall Apart and most of Achebe’s novels rely heavily on the Ibo tradition and the effect of Christian influences on traditional African values during and after the colonial era. He uses lots of Ibo folk stories and proverbs to tell his stories. His success partly arose from his background, culture and environment.

Lesson One

Your culture and background influence your thinking and views. Never despise your culture, instead, use it to your advantage. Let it be what makes you different. Do not be ashamed to be African or Nigerian.

In 1948, Nigeria’s first university opened. It was called University College, (now the University of Ibadan), and was an associate college of the University of London.

Achebe was admitted among the university’s first intakes and given a scholarship to study medicine. After a year of arduous work, he changed his course of study to English, history, and theology. Because he switched his field, however, he lost his scholarship and had to pay tuition fees. His family donated money for him to continue his education.

Lesson Two

Never be afraid to follow your passion, it eventually pays off. Even if the present seems daunting the future is bright. Achebe wrote an African book in English when African literature was barely recognized and English wasn’t a popular language for most of the African writers at that time.

Like they say, follow and work for your dreams to become your reality.

RelatedNews

Achebe’s ‘Things Fall Apart’ makes 12 ‘Greatest Books Ever Written’ list

Challenges Writers Face (1): Sitting as the new cancer

Moss, Olatunde, Sar headline AWF’s Guest Writer Session

INTERVIEW: Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” Is Not the Great African Novel – Onyeka Nwelue

Achebe has twice rejected the Nigerian government’s attempt to name him a Commander of the Federal Republic – a national honour – first in 2004, and second in 2011. Achebe said, “For some time now, I have watched events in Nigeria with alarm and dismay. I have watched particularly the chaos in my own state of Anambra where a small clique of renegades, openly boasting its connections in high places, seems determined to turn my homeland into a bankrupt and lawless fiefdom. I am appalled by the brazenness of this clique and the silence, if not connivance, of the presidency … Nigeria’s condition today under your watch is, however, too dangerous for silence. I must register my disappointment and protest by declining to accept the high honour awarded me in the 2004 honours list.”

Lesson Three

Have values. Let people know you are worth their bet. In a society, like ours, where thieves are celebrated, it is refreshing to know that a few people still set good examples for the Nigerian youth and believe in taking the right route to success.

Dangote adbanner 728x90_2 (1)

Finally, for Nigeria to change I believe we all must imbibe the principles of integrity, love for our nation and a desire to work hard to achieve our individual dreams.

No government or person can stop the drive of a few passionate people who are willing to stand for what they believe in.

Shally is a blogger and writer; you can view her blog, http://shallyashimi.blogspot.com and follow her on twitter, Shally Ashimi (@sharley_babe).

 

  • WhatsApp
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
  • Telegram
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Pocket

Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility

Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.

For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.

By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.

Donate


TEXT AD: To advertise here . Call Willie +2347088095401...


JOIN THE CONVERSATION

  • Disqus (1)
premiumtimes



PT Mag Campaign AD

Previous Post

Thatcher’s demise spur chart buster for song on death of a witch

Next Post

Gunmen kill four police officers in Yobe, police say

Premium Times

Premium Times

More News

Zulumoke Oyibo Inkblot Women In Film

Nigerian women in film discuss challenges, proffer solutions at forum

April 13, 2021
Teni the Entertainer

PTMusic: Again, Teni’s “FOR YOU” ft. Davido is most streamed song in Nigeria

April 13, 2021
Bruno Iwuoha

Veteran Nollywood actor, Bruno Iwuoha, is dead

April 10, 2021
DMX [PHOTO CREDIT: @DMX]

Rapper DMX dies at 50

April 9, 2021
Wisekid and Wizkid

How Wizkid’s impersonator reportedly made N30 million monthly from replica album

April 7, 2021
Kim Kardashian

Kim Kardashian officially a billionaire – Forbes

April 6, 2021
Next Post
Ex-coup plotter, ex-policemen, lawyers to reform police

Gunmen kill four police officers in Yobe, police say

Another explosion in Jos

18 killed in Wase, not 40, Plateau Government says

Discussion about this post

Search

#EndSARS: Latest Updates




Polaris Bank


JAIZ Ad


Access Bank Ad


NITDA Ad





Glo Ad

Subscribe to News via Email

Enter your email address and receive notifications of news by email.

Join 1,651,239 other subscribers.

Advertisement






netherland biz school Advert



Zenith Advert

ADVERTISEMENT

Our Digital Network

  • PT Hausa
  • Election Centre
  • Human Trafficking Investigation
  • Centre for Investigative Journalism
  • National Conference
  • Press Attack Tracker
  • PT Academy
  • Dubawa
  • LeaksNG
  • Campus Reporter

Resources

  • Oil & Gas Facts
  • List of Universities in Nigeria
  • LIST: Federal Unity Colleges in Nigeria
  • NYSC Orientation Camps in Nigeria
  • Nigeria’s Federal/States’ Budgets since 2005
  • Malabu Scandal Thread
  • World Cup 2018
  • Panama Papers Game
  • Our Digital Network
  • About Us
  • Resources
  • Projects
  • Data & Infographics
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • Parliament Watch
    • AGAHRIN
  • Opinion
  • PT Hausa
  • The Membership Club
  • Dubawa
    • Dubawa NG
  • About Us
    • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Store
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

Our website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.