Wole soyinka, have made the guardian of londons list of the 100 greatest nonfiction writers. Achebe and soyinka are great talented writers in african literature. May 19, 20 soyinka, who won the 1986 nobel prize for literature, also spoke on his personal relationship with achebe and other nigerian writers. This is a controversial new study on africas two most widely read and, arguably, her finest writers. Achebe or soyinka a study in contrasts new perspectives. Focused and powerful, and suffused with wisdom and compassion, collected poems is further evidence of this great writers sublime gifts and it is an essential part of the oeuvre of a giant of. Without much embellishment, he narrates with clarity of objective, unlike soyinkas use of complex diction and strong poetical elements. Fifty years ago, the igbo people of southeast nigeria seceded, declaring an independent republic of biafra. Apr 19, 20 both books are tragedies because of the horrors that happen to their main characters as a result of their own flaws. Yet achebes style and soyinkas are siblings of the same parents bearing their uniqueness. Aug 04, 2017 soyinkas invariably virtuoso performance in drama and historical reportage and achebes vintage accomplishments in prose and fiction easily measure up to each other. About collected poems the father of african literature in the english language and undoubtedly one of the most important writers of the second half of the twentieth century. Anyone who reads achebes books has to do so for their own literary values not whether it deserved the nobel prize.
Chinua achebe has 88 books on goodreads with 583728 ratings. His first novel things fall apart 1958, often considered his masterpiece, is the most widely r ead boo k in modern african literature raised by his parents in the igbo town of ogidi in southeastern nigeria. Of course, calling achebe the father of african literature is not as ridiculous as soyinka claims, if at all. Reno omokri took to twitter on wednesday to question the organisers of nobel laureate for awarding professor wole soyinka the award in 1986 and not recognising the work of chinua achebe, who he believes is more superior to soyinka. Wole soyinka replies reno omokri for comparing him with. The award of nobel prize doesnt make soyinka s works necessarily superior. I still dont understand how soyinka got it and achebe did not.
Based on the criticism of chinua achebe and wole soyinka, some critical essays and analysis published in the shapes of different books and in many literary journals are very useful as the supporting materials for further study. Achebe or soyinka a study in contrasts new perspectives on. Achebes works are by far the more superior works of literature. These two are up there in the world wole soyinka vs chinua achebe whose books would you rather read or who writes better. Soyinka and achebes idiosyncrasies shine through in how each text plays with this genre. Heavily influenced by igbo traditions, these works drew on folk tales and proverbs, and questioned western ideas of africa.
Books by achebe, soyinka make 100 greatest nonfiction. Both chinua achebe and wole soyinkas books were used in african schools as literature books, but achebes things fall apart stole the literature world, not soyinkas the lion and the jewel. To some, without prejudices,achebe is the greatest writer,while others would dub it on soyinka. Wole soyinka books list of books by author wole soyinka. Chinua achebe is most famous for his novel things fall apart, published in 1958, which tells the story of an igbo village s reaction to british missionaries and colonial authorities.
Jun 17, 2011 two of nigerias most prominent writers, prof. Buy a cheap copy of home and exile book by chinua achebe. Journal articles and book chapters literacy and social status in achebes arrow of god and soyinkas isara. More personally revealing than anything achebe has written, home and exilethe great nigerian novelists first book in more than ten yearsis a major statement on. Jan 06, 2017 however, achebe wrote 78 books while soyinka has written 106 books. Jun 02, 2017 there are statements in that work that i wish he had never made, nigerias literature nobel laureate wole soyinka, himself a yoruba, said in an interview following achebes death in march 20. See more ideas about wole soyinka, african literature and chinua achebe. You scrolled down and estimated that the entire poem was about 300line long, plus you spied the word catafalque in. Jun 11, 2019 when it comes to the art of literary writing and story telling, two names stand out, wole soyinka and chinua achebe. Chinua achebes works of literature are far more superior. Achebe was the recipient of dozens of honorary degrees from universities. Wole soyinka s most popular book is death and the kings horseman. The second novel in chinua achebes masterful african trilogy, following things fall apart and preceding no longer at ease when things fall apart ends, colonial rule has been introduced to umuofia, and the character of the nation, its values, freedoms, religious and sociopolitical foundations have substantially and irrevocably been altered. Through his fiction and nonfiction works, nigerian author chinua achebe has sought to repair the damage done to the continent of africa and its.
Chinua achebes awardwinning poems are marked by a subtle richness and the political acuity and moral vision that are a signature of all of his work. On the one hand, there s soyinka, the playful imagist steeped in the myth and magic of his native yoruba culture. His first novel things fall apart 1958, often considered his masterpiece, is the most widely read book in modern african literature. May 20, 20 both chinua achebe and wole soyinkas books were used in african schools as literature books, but achebes things fall apart stole the literature world, not soyinkas the lion and the jewel. The book that soyinka wishes chinua achebe had never written lieutenantcolonel odumegwu emeka ojukwu declares the independence of biafra on may 30, 1967. Mar 17, 2017 of course, calling achebe the father of african literature is not as ridiculous as soyinka claims, if at all. In death and the kings horseman, the conflict builds up to. Chinua achebe vs wole soyinka who is the best novelist in. I hope i would not be sounding needlessly overweening on behalf of both of these men if i said they are the two literary greats nigeria has produced in its short existence. Those of us who will not ever see the inside of a jail owe to ourselves and others in the world to read of africa and other books on the topic like dambisa moyos dead aid, this is easily the best book on africa that ive read.
Sen, cliffs and coles etc remain helpful for the part of the study on the two literary. In death and the kings horseman, the conflict builds up to the climax and only then do all the dominoes fall. Soyinka devastated by chinua achebes death the standard. Also, the wole soyinka prize for literature in africa a pan african writing prize for books of any type or genre has been established by the lumina foundation in honour of africas first nobel laureate in literature. However, achebe wrote 78 books while soyinka has written 106 books. Chinua achebe is africas most prominent writer, the author of things fall apart, the best knownand best sellingnovel ever to come out of africa. Chinua achebes works are far more superior than wole. It may well be true there exists a hell of a novel or drama or poetry written by the. In 1990, following a serious car accident, achebe moved to the united states. Following achebes death, wole soyinka winner of africas first nobel prize in literature and john pepper clark two of the pioneer quartet of contemporary nigerian literature.
In 1960 achebe published a sequel called no longer at ease. Of course, achebes works deserve the nobel prize even posthumously. Born on the 16th of november 1930 in the igbo town of ogidi, nigeria, achebe was widely known for his novels, essays and poems. Calls for chinua achebe nobel prize obscene, says wole. Following school, he joined the staff of the nigerian broadcasting corporation in lagos. As celebrated author, chinua achebes final burial rites hold this week, nobel laureate wole soyinka in this exclusive interview with sahara reporters paid tribute to. Mar 20, 2014 following achebes death, wole soyinka winner of africas first nobel prize in literature and john pepper clark two of the pioneer quartet of contemporary nigerian literature. The revolutionary drama and theatre of femi osofisan. He attended the university of ibadan where he studied english. Wole soyinka has 126 books on goodreads with 2614546 ratings.
Mar 17, 2020 achebes books of essays include morning yet on creation day 1975, hopes and impediments 1988, home and exile 2000, the education of a britishprotected child 2009, and the autobiographical there was a country. Kole omotoso himself a prolific writer and prizewinning nigerian novelist explores and defines the differences in style, background, and vision. Chinua achebes works of literature are far more superior to. Kole omotoso himself a prolific writer and prizewinning nigerian novelist explores and defines the differences in style, background, and vision between the two men. During the war, soldiers raided achebes house in lagos and narrowly missed him. Some people are intimidated by the way soyinkas books make you think and become more intelligent. These two are up there in the world as one of the best nigerian writers and are also respected and recognized. Both achebe and soyinka are great nigerian authors with unique talents. It is awarded every year and the winner receives some monetary encouragement.
Despite their shared levels of prestige, each represents a distinct pole of nigerian writing. Caryl phillips, the observer chinua achebes awardwinning poems are marked by a subtle richness and the political acuity and moral vision that are a signature of all of his work. While one must be careful about undercutting the talents of those who did not gain the heights soyinka and achebe gained, there is no denying the superb gifts of the latter duo. The assertion depicts the comparative existential attitude of chinua achebe and wole soyinka with reference to their major literary work things fall apart and the lion and the jewel respectively. Omokri stirs fresh controversy, says achebes works are far more superior than soyinkas lifes blog omokri stirs fresh controversy, says achebes works are far more. Chinua achebe, who has died aged 82, was africas bestknown novelist and the founding father of african fiction. The chances are that you attempted to read elegy for a nation, the poem soyinka published in the nigerian guardian in honor of achebe on the day of his funeral. Soyinka devastated by chinua achebes death march 24, 20 in international nigerian professor wole soyinka says he is devastated by the death of his fellow countryman and literary icon, chinua achebe who died on friday at the age of 82.
The nobel award judges must have had certain criteria they used to judge entries and nominations. The book that soyinka wishes chinua achebe had never written. Omokri stirs fresh controversy, says achebes works are. May 11, 2009 through his fiction and nonfiction works, nigerian author chinua achebe has sought to repair the damage done to the continent of africa and its people as a result of european colonization. Books by wole soyinka author of death and the kings. On the one hand, theres soyinka, the playful imagist steeped in the myth and magic of his native yoruba culture. He also served as a director for two nigerian publishers. Wole soyinka vs chinua achebe whose books would you rather. The lack of nobel prize doesnt take away from achebes legendary attainments. Chinua achebe is a nigerian novelist and author of things fall apart, a work that in part led to his being called the patriarch of the african novel. Acclaimed writer chinua achebe, whose full name was albert chinualumogu achebe, was born in 1930 in ogidi, nigeria and died in 20 in boston, massachusetts. Chinua achebe books list of books by author chinua achebe.
He also published several other novels, short stories, childrens books, and essays. The publication of his first novel, things fall apart, in 1958 not only contested. When it comes to the art of literary writing and story telling, two names stand out, wole soyinka and chinua achebe. Achebes most widely read book, his debut novel things fall apart, was first published in 1958 and explores the clash between traditional. Mar 22, 20 calls for chinua achebe nobel prize obscene, says wole soyinka soyinka, a nobel laureate himself, also dismisses claims that achebe was father of african literature published. The lack of nobel prize doesnt take away from achebe s legendary attainments.
Some people are intimidated by the way soyinka s books make you think and become more intelligent. Achebe, 16 november 1930 21 march 20 was a nigerian novelist, poet, professor, and critic. The works of achebe and soyinka are considered against three main agendas. Chinua achebes work grappled with the reality of british imperialisms effect on nigerian traditions and customs. Wole soyinka vs chinua achebe whose books would you. His death saw an outpouring of tributes from those in the arts and politics, including nelson mandela, nobel prize winner wole soyinka and hiphop artist and actor tariq trotter. Oct 06, 2010 the second novel in chinua achebes masterful african trilogy, following things fall apart and preceding no longer at ease when things fall apart ends, colonial rule has been introduced to umuofia, and the character of the nation, its values, freedoms, religious and sociopolitical foundations have substantially and irrevocably been altered. Who deserves nobel prize for literature more, soyinka or. In addition to his novels, achebe wrote poetry, short stories, and a childrens book. None the less,its literary injustice to make such juxaposition as literary aesthetics is subjective. Calls for chinua achebe nobel prize obscene, says wole soyinka. Soyinka, achebe and the irreverent generation moonchild. Achebe and wole soyinka with reference to achebes worldwinning novel things fall apart and soyinkas fabulous play the lion and the jewel.
In 1967, chinua achebe and poet christopher okigbo cofounded the citadel press, intended to serve as an outlet for a new kind of africanoriented children s books. Soyinkas invariably virtuoso performance in drama and historical reportage and achebes vintage accomplishments in prose and fiction easily measure up to each other. I praised the literary genius of achebe and soyinka but stated that nigerians and africans produce few literary works compared to other writers on other continents. May 20, 20 calls for chinua achebe nobel prize obscene, says wole soyinka this article is more than 6 years old soyinka, a nobel laureate himself, also dismisses claims that achebe was father of african. A dummys guide to soyinkas poem for achebe brittle paper. The award of nobel prize doesnt make soyinkas works necessarily superior. Chinua achebes works are far more superior than wole soyinka. Achebe, no father of african literature soyinka vanguard news. Calls for chinua achebe nobel prize obscene, says wole soyinka this article is more than 6 years old soyinka, a nobel laureate himself, also dismisses claims that achebe was father of african. He discussed in frank terms the destructive and often violent effect that external impositions have on indigenous people, challenging the prevailing narrative of his time that westernization was a positive, necessary process.
Wole soyinka won the 1986 nobel prize for literature becoming the first african to do so. Soyinka, achebe and the irreverent generation moonchilds. Despite soyinkas fame, many still dont know who he is or was as a writer but the whole world knows who chinua achebe was. Both books are tragedies because of the horrors that happen to their main characters as a result of their own flaws. His fiction and poetry burn with a passionate commitment to political justice, bringing to life not only africas troubled encounters with europe but also the dark side of contemporary african political life. Dec 27, 2016 none the less,its literary injustice to make such juxaposition as literary aesthetics is subjective. Reno pointed out that, he will give achebes works 100 awards out of 100 nominations.
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