Chinua Achebe Literary Festival is an annual literary event held in honour of Nigerian writer and literary critic —
Chinua Achebe, the author of ''
Things Fall Apart
''Things Fall Apart'' is the debut novel by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe, first published in 1958. It depicts pre-colonial life in the southeastern part of Nigeria and the invasion by Europeans during the late 19th century. It is seen as the ...
'' (1958), in commemoration and celebration of his works and immense contributions in the literary field.
Chinua Achebe lived between 16 November 1930 to 21 March 2013, when he died in
, United States.
The literary festival was initiated in 2016, three years after Achebe's death, by award-winning Nigerian writer, journalist, and Igbo-language activist, Izunna Okafor, who is also Anambra State's Coordinator of Society of Young Nigerian Writers, the literary body that organizes the event.
Since its inception, the event has been held annually on Chinua Achebe's date of birth (16 November) at the Prof.
Kenneth Dike
Kenneth Onwuka Dike (17 December 1917 – 26 October 1983) was a Nigerian educationist, historian and the first Nigerian Vice-Chancellor of the nation's premier college, the University of Ibadan. During the Nigerian civil war, he moved to Harva ...
Central E-Library in
Awka, the capital city of
Anambra State
Anambra State is a Nigerian state, located in the southeastern region of the country. The state was created on August 27, 1991. Anambra state is bounded by Delta State to the west, Imo State to the south, Enugu State to the east and Kogi State ...
, Achebe's home state.
Prior to the event each year, the organizers would open and publicize a "Call For Submissions" on various online literary platforms and magazines, for writers to write and submit poems and essays in honour of Achebe, which they thereafter publish as an anthology, known as the "
Chinua Achebe Poetry/Essay Anthology".
The annual anthology is usually published and unveiled on day of the literary festival, and has attracted and featured works of writers from different countries of the world, including Zimbabwe's
Mbizo Chirasha
For the first three years of the literary event in 2016, 2017, and 2018, the organizers consecutively called for submissions and consequently published three anthologies.
However, for the 2019 edition of the event, there was no call for submissions; rather, the three previously published anthologies were collated and published together as a single anthology, entitled ''Arrows of Words''
In 2020, during the fifth edition and fifth year anniversary of the event, the organizers added Chinua Achebe Memorial Lecture to the festival, hence it is now known as the Chinua Achebe Literary Festival and Memorial Lecture. The maiden Chinua Achebe Memorial Lecture, which was the first of its kind, was delivered by Oseloka Obaze, a prolific Nigerian literary figure and Diplomat.
The 2020 edition of the event also featured the unveiling and official presentation of the Fifth Chinua Achebe Poetry/Essay Anthology, entitled ''Achebe: A Man of the People'', edited by Izunna Okafor
Over the years, Chinua Achebe Literary Festival has attracted the participation of many literary enthusiasts and dignitaries, including the Executive
Governor
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
of
Anambra State
Anambra State is a Nigerian state, located in the southeastern region of the country. The state was created on August 27, 1991. Anambra state is bounded by Delta State to the west, Imo State to the south, Enugu State to the east and Kogi State ...
Willie Obiano
Willie Obiano (born August 8, 1955) is a Nigerian politician, banker and technocrat. He served as the fourth democratically elected Governor of Anambra State from 17 March 2014 to 17 March 2022.
Early life
Governor Obiano was born at Aguleri, a ...
; former SSG, Anambra State,
Oseloka Obaze; Nigerian legendary actor,
Bob-Manuel Udokwu
Bob-Manuel Obidimma Udokwu (born 18 April 1968) is a Nigerian actor, director, producer and politician. In 2014, he received the ''Lifetime Achievement'' award at the 10th Africa Movie Academy Awards. He was nominated for Best Actor in a suppo ...
; former Chief Judge, Anambra State, Prof. Peter Umeadi; MD/CEO of ''National Light'' newspaper, Chuka Nnabuife; Odili Ujubuońu (author of ''Pregnancy of the Gods''); Maxim Uzor Uzoatu (author of ''God of Poetry''); Ositadimma Amakeze (author of The Last Carver); Okeke Chika Jerry (author of ''The Gods Are Hungry''); Mr. Isidore Emeka Uzoatu (author of ''Vision Impossible'').
References
{{Chinua Achebe
Literary festivals in Nigeria
Anambra State