“Conversations with Achebe”

1. What was his main purpose in writing this novel?

Achebe felt the stories he had read did not give justice to his African culture and customs. He

says, “I was only conscious of the fact that my story had not been told.”

2. Does Achebe believe his novel is still relevant in the 21st century? Why?

Achebe sees his novel as relevant today because it deals with the universal issue of leaders not

caring for their citizens.

3. Major events in life:

a. Exposed to both Native and Christian culture

b. Grows up in a British structured school…reads British literature

i. Stereotypical—white master and slavishly devoted, stupid slave…slaves often

depicted as treacherous

c. Conscious decision to tell the right story about Africans

d. March 22, 1990—car accident paralyzes him

4. Why does Achebe write in English?

He writes in English primarily because English is the dominant language in Nigeria. While he

regrets the language has been imposed on his society, he understands that changing the

language back to Ibo would be impossible now. He embraces his native Ibo language when

writing poetry and children’s books.