The lizard that jumped from a high Iroko tree to the ground said he would praise himself if no-one else did.
Chinua AchebeThere are things the story must have or else look incomplete. And these will almost automatically present themselves. When they don't, you are in trouble and then the novel stops.
Chinua AchebeMy position is that serious and good art has always existed to help, to serve, humanity. Not to indict. I donโt see how art can be called art if its purpose is to frustrate humanity. To make humanity uncomfortable, yes. But intrinsically to be against humanity, that I donโt take.
Chinua AchebeThere is something about important stories that is not just the message, but also the way that message is conveyed, the arrangement of the words, the felicity of the language. So it's really a balance between your commitment, whether it's political or economic or whatever, and your craft as an artist.
Chinua Achebe