CHINUA ACHEBE’S LITERARY ODYSSEY: IGBO HEARTLAND TO THE FRONTLINES OF WORLDWIDE RESISTANCE AND DECOLONIZATION NARRATIVES

Authors

  • P. Praseeba Ph.D. Research Scholar, Department of English and Research Centre, Seethalakshmi Achi College for Women, Pallathur, Sivagangai
  • R. C. Sheila Royappa Associate Professor, Department of English and Research Centre, Seethalakshmi Achi College for Women, Pallathur, Sivagangai

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29121/shodhkosh.v5.i4.2024.4469

Keywords:

Cultural Identity, Decolonization, Colonial Disruption, Global Influence

Abstract [English]

This article sightsees the profound influence of Chinua Achebe, a revolutionary voice in African literature, on the worldwide literature of liberation. Chinua Achebe’s literary contributions have played a pivotal role in shaping global narratives of resistance, decolonization, and cultural identity. Emerging from the Igbo heartland of Nigeria, Achebe’s works, particularly Things Fall Apart, challenge colonial stereotypes and provide an authentic representation of African history, traditions, and struggles. His storytelling not only reclaims African voices but also inspires broader discussions on postcolonial identity, liberation, and resistance against cultural erasure. This paper examines Achebe’s influence on worldwide resistance and decolonization literature, analysing his role in redefining African narratives and fostering a global movement toward literary and cultural emancipation. By situating Achebe’s work within the broader context of postcolonial discourse, this study highlights his enduring legacy as a champion of intellectual and artistic resistance.

References

Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. London: Heinemann, 1958.

Achebe, Chinua. No Longer at Ease. London: Heinemann, 1960.

Achebe, Chinua. Arrow of God. London: Heinemann, 1964.

Achebe, Chinua. Hopes and Impediments: Selected Essays, 1965–1987. New York: Anchor Books, 1988.

Achebe, Chinua. An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness”. Massachusetts Review, 1977.

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o. Decolonising the Mind: The Politics of Language in African Literature. London: James Currey, 1986.

Said, Edward. Orientalism. New York: Pantheon Books, 1978.

Bhabha, Homi K. The Location of Culture. London: Routledge, 1994.

Fanon, Frantz. The Wretched of the Earth. Translated by Richard Philcox. New York: Grove Press, 1961.

Gikandi, Simon. Chinua Achebe and the Invention of African Culture. Research in African Literatures, Vol. 32, No. 3, 2001, pp. 3-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1353/ral.2001.0065

Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi. The Danger of a Single Story. TED Talk, 2009.

Emenyonu, Ernest N. The Art of Chinua Achebe. Trenton, NJ: Africa World Press, 2004.

Lamming, George. In the Castle of My Skin. London: Longman, 1953.

Rushdie, Salman. Midnight’s Children. London: Jonathan Cape, 1981.

Downloads

Published

2024-04-30

How to Cite

P., P., & R. C., S. R. (2024). CHINUA ACHEBE’S LITERARY ODYSSEY: IGBO HEARTLAND TO THE FRONTLINES OF WORLDWIDE RESISTANCE AND DECOLONIZATION NARRATIVES. ShodhKosh: Journal of Visual and Performing Arts, 5(4), 1460–1464. https://doi.org/10.29121/shodhkosh.v5.i4.2024.4469