HEAR ACHEBE SPEAKING TO US

HEAR ACHEBE SPEAKING TO US

In his art of story telling, Chinua Achebe in "THINGS FALL APART  presents to the reader conflict between illusion and reality. Unoka, Okonkwo's father, represents reality while Okonkwo simply passes for those in the world of illusion. Achebe showcases Unoka as an unsuccessful man in Umuofia. The oracle even identifies his undoing as laziness. 

Okonkwo, on the other hand, hates  and opposes anything his father stands for; he feels ashamed of his father and does not hide it. In order not to be accused of taking after his father, Okonkwo lives a life of 'self illusion' which is characterised by fear and arrogance to create a 'false image' of himself. He also sees signs of laziness in his son Nwoye and to purge himself of the reminder of his father, he nags and beats Nwoye daily.

Okonkwo's hatred for his father, continues till death. He dishonours Unoka even in death. Okonkwo refuses to expiate his dead father when he accidentally kills Ezeudu's son at his burial. According to Okonkwo, 'the demand on the living to satisfy the dead is fundamentally wrong'. 

Achebe uses the scenario that plays out between Unoka and his son Okonkwo to teach Africans morality. The fact remains that, it is absolutely wrong in our clime to dishonour one's parents and elders generally. The consequences of such behaviour are no doubt, devastating. Okonkwo lives a very successful life unlike his father. He is wealthy, famous, the strongest of all men in Umuofia and has three wives as well as many children. Unfortunately, despite all the success, he remains unstable and unhappy with his entire life ruled by fear. Okonkwo is equally not celebrated by his kinsmen but feared. He is also not honoured in Umuofia obviously in return for despising his late father. In the end, he does not have a title and as well could pass for, an 'agbala' just like his father Unoka.

The import of this analogy is to remind us, especially young people today, that there are elders in every society who, oftentimes, are in the position to decide the order things should take for the good of the society. It should be noted that the success of every young person, to a large extent, depends on wise counsel from parents or elders. It takes respect for old age for a younger person to receive the baton  of leadership from his elders.  The Bible is therefore, right to admonish us to honour our parents so that we too might live long. 

A scenario played out in Makurdi recently where a renowned literary critic, academic and politician, Professor David Ker, told a group of members of the Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, who went to his Makurdi residence to pay him homage the story of Okonkwo and his father Unoka with respect to the way and means the literary body is being torn apart along factional interests. The don was particularly surprised with the way some emerging writers were insulting every  notable ANA member in the name of the Association's politics. He went further to commend those who realise that if ANA members were in disarray, they should first seek their elders' counsel before contemplating a legal action. 

Professor Ker said he appreciates the ANA members led by Camilus Uka who paid him homage in Makurdi. He admonished the Camilus Uka led ANA national executives not to join issues with anyone but remain focused on the things that could advance the cause of the literary body in Nigeria. The former Vice Chancellor of Benue State University, Makurdi wished Mr. Uka and other members of his exco well.

What Professor Ker did as a renowned literary critic was to remind ANA members that Achebe is speaking to his fellow writers in his novel THINGS FALL APART using Okonkwo and his father Unoka. It, therefore, behoves ANA members to listen carefully so as to discern and benefit from this valuable message.

Charles Iornumbe PhD

25/07/2020