By Anote Ajeluorou
WHILE the debate may
still be ongoing in some quarters on whether late Prof. Chinua Achebe is the
father of African literature or not, what is unmistakable is the iconic nature
of his works in defining and giving shape to modern Africa literature and
politics. This becomes even more evident in the worldwide line-up of events to
mark 50 years of the publication of Achebe’s third novel, Arrow of God in 1964, with Nigeria also blazing the trail with transnational
events in seven major cities.
With an international colloquium titled
‘Literature, Leadership and National Unity’, a constituted local organising
committee comprising of former Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) President,
former member, House of Representatives and chairman, LOC, Dr. Wale Okediran,
Mrs. Chinyere Obi-Obasi, Isaac Ogezi, Ikeogu Oke, ANA Vice President, Denja
Abdullahi and Akintayo Abodunrin, the stage is set for a bouquet of events that
would kick off in April 2014.
In a statement, the committee said, “In 2014, it would be the golden
anniversary of the publication of the novel Arrow of God by Chinua
Achebe. Arrow of God is a
1964 novel by Chinua Achebe, his third novel after Things Fall Apart and No Longer at Ease. These three books are sometimes called The African Trilogy, as
they share similar settings and themes. The novel centres around Ezeulu, the
chief priest of several villages in South Eastern Nigeria, who confronts adversaries to his office, colonial powers and Christian
missionaries in the 1920s.
“Set in Eastern Nigeria in the early 20th, Arrow of God is a political and cultural novel that captures the
clash of two cultures and their inability to contend peaceably with their
differences. Achebe portrays the disrupting effect that externally imposed
power system (the British) has on an internally imposed power system (African
tradition and customs). He portrays the true colour of colonialism as it walked
over existing traditions, destroyed age-long customs and shattered norms and lores
to institute its authority.
“This book succinctly examines conflicts within the Igbo society, which
the external forces capitalized on to invade the traditional society. It also
explored the resultant disaster for the Igbo society, which disintegrates and
fizzles into nothingness as the missionaries took over with their arm of
Christianity. This reorientation will lead not only to the assimilation of
Western values and beliefs, but also to the eventual loss of the Igbo cultural
identity and by extension, the political identity of Nigeria at large.
“However, the main thrust of the book, which many readers and critics
have adjudged the most intricate and most accomplished of Achebe’s novels, is
its exploration of the question of power and leadership as exercised by the
elites of a community, reflected in the character of Ezeulu and his equally
powerful antagonists in the book. The choice the community is left with at the
end of the book which arose out of the power play between Ezeulu and his
adversaries is very instructive to Nigeria of today and Africa with regard to
presence or lack of development as a result of inappropriate exercise of power
and leadership. The book is also relevant in the contemporary Nigerian
discourse on leadership, democracy and national unity.
“It will therefore be very auspicious to use the opportunity of the 50th
Anniversary of the publication of the book to re-examine the concepts of power,
leadership, responsibility and good governance in Nigeria and Africa as
derivable from the vagaries of Ezeulu and his confederating communities in Arrow of God.
“Amidst the seemingly obdurate challenges of globalisation, this
conference presents an appropriate opportunity to use the story in Arrow of God for an inward search and
necessary projections on the past, present and the future of our shared
community experiences, especially in the areas of leadership, democracy and
nation building.
“The conference, also in line with the spirit
of the proposed national conference in the country, will also negotiate the
ever-deepening social divides and increased alienation among sub-sections of
the Nigerian society by unraveling the democratic fabric on which future
stability and legitimacy depends. It will pursue the argument that citizens in shared communities must forge the path,
and exemplify strong, vibrant partnership to meet up with the demands of national
unity and globalization.
“Recasting the experience Achebe presented in Arrow of God could help forge a new path for formalizing and
expanding our existing democratic and leadership apparatus and creating new
ones throughout the country. It will also re-invigorate our cultural
activities, including cultural events, sports, learning opportunities and
shared celebrations, as well as social activism in response to political
disillusionment and dictatorship in the nation’s body polity”.
TENTATIVELY, dates for the celebrations of Arrow of God follow thus: Lagos –
Monday, April 21, 2014; a symposium and stage play, Ezeulu written by Isaac Ogezi; Ibadan – Wednesday, April 23, 2014;
a symposium and stage play, Harvest of
Ants by Kalu Uka; Abuja – Saturday, April 26, 2014; Children’s Carnival and
stage play by secondary school students; Sokoto – Monday, April 28, 2014; a
symposium and Martinee of the stage adaptation; Awka – Wednesday, April
30, 2014; a symposium and stage play, When
the Arrow Rebounds by Emeka Nwabueze; Ogidi – Thursday, May 1, 2014; A Day with
the Master; visits to Achebe’s birthplace, primary school and mausoleum by
secondary school students. Activities for the celebration will be brought to a
close at President Goodluck Jonathan’s hometown, Otuoke – Saturday, May 3,
2014; a symposium and Night of Tributes/Dinner.
Another unique feature of this celebration of the
literary competition that will be held among selected secondary school students
across the country. Copies of Arrow of
God will be given to these students to read for one month before the day of
the literary competition. The competition will involve a quiz, reading
comprehension and one-act dramatic enactment by participating schools of any
part of the book that exemplifies the main conflicts of the narrative world of
the book.
The proposed date for the colloquium is April 23 to May 3
2014. Collaborations will be done with the Association of Nigerian Authors at
the National Level and through its local branches where the events are billed
to hold as well as tertiary institutions such as University of Lagos,
University of Ibadan, University of Abuja, Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nnamdi
Azikiwe University, Awka as well as the Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa
State.
Executive Director
of TheNews magazine, Mr. Kunle Ajibade, had said Achebe had
confessed in the second edition of Arrow
of God, “It is one of his books he’d be caught reading again and that it
was why he reversed it to correct some structural errors he noticed. If it’s (Arrow of God) turning 50, we must do
everything in our capacity to amplify it. We’ll not just be celebrating
excellence but celebrating ourselves. If we (Nigerians) don’t celebrate way
others will and it will diminish us. We should up the standard we set in
celebrating Things Fall Apart in 2008”.
On her part,
university don and novelist, Prof. Akachi Ezeigbo, said, “We’re celebrating a
book regarded as the most intellectually and aesthetically satisfying. In spite
of the popularity of Things Fall Apart,
Arrow of God is more important as a
text in the study of leadership and power and its use or abuse. I believe so
much in it. Achebe is an icon; we’re lucky to have him; he remained a patriot
all through his lifetime in spite of his challenges. He contributed so much to
global leadership at Brown University, Rhodes, U.S. celebrating Arrow of God will give us so much
pleasure. His legacy will not die; his works will continue to live after him”.
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