Celebrating Chinua Achebe: A Short Story

This short story was compiled in honour of Prof. Chinualumogu Achebe. #TFADay2020

It was MORNING YET ON CREATION DAY when the ARROW OF GOD fell on the people at HOME AND EXILE. The people were NO LONGER AT EASE because they were aware that whenever THE FLUTE accompanies THE DRUM, THINGS FALL APART.  They asked for renewed CONVERSATIONS WITH CHINUA ACHEBE for they needed him to explain how THE EDUCATION OF A BRITISH-PROTECTED  CHILD  led to AFRICA’s TARNISHED NAME.

When the people could not find him, they crowned the VENGEFUL CREDITOR as a MAN OF THE PEOPLE and set him atop the ANTHILLS OF THE SAVANNAH, all because he sold an IMAGE OF AFRICA,ANOTHER AFRICA to them.

From his obi where he sat in peace with his chi and ancestors, the great Tiger Chinua Achebe looked down and shouted at his people ”BEWARE SOUL BROTHER!  Before I left you i told you THE TROUBLE WITH NIGERIA and I reminded you that HOPES and IMPEDIMENTS are not a good combination for an AFRICAN RHAPSODY.” Unfortunately, the people couldn’t hear him. All eyes were riveted on the GIRLS AT WAR AND OTHER STORIES the media chose to distract them with.

Chinua hoped that they would turn their eyes to CHIKE AND THE RIVER for he is the only one who can remind them HOW THE LEOPARD GOT HIS CLAWS. He would remind them of CHRISTMAS IN BIAFRA AND OTHER POEMS, IGBO ARTS,THE SHORT CENTURY and other COLLECTED POEMS. He would remind them that once in AN AFRICAN POPULAR LITERATURE, THERE WAS A COUNTRY.

Compiled and written by  Adachukwu Onwudiwe