Tribute to a Literary Icon: Chinua Achebe (1930-2013)

Unlike many, I was late to discover the legend that was Chinua Achebe. Being Nigerian I had heard many people talk about his great works, but I had never read anything he wrote. I finally read his first novel Things Fall Apart in the beginning of January 2012. It was then I realised why he was so acclaimed - he rewrote the story of Africa and Africans that was perpetuated during colonialism.

I was in class about to teach when I heard the news that he had passed away. I took a few moments of silence to mourn the loss of a great writer. At the end of the class, a student of mine read the news and asked 'Who was Chinua Achebe?' To which I replied, 'One of the greatest writers of our time'. And he truly was. I may have fallen in love with his writing at a very late stage in my life, but I am grateful that I discovered it when I did. So thank you sir for great literature. Rest in Peace!!!

This is not an exhaustive list, but to celebrate a literary icon, here's a look at some his novels, memoirs, short story collections, essays and more.