We live in a society that is in transition from oral to written. There are oral stories that are still there, not exactly in their full magnificence, but still strong in their differentness from written stories. Each mode has its ways and methods and rules. They can reinforce each other; this is the advantage my generation has - we can bring to the written story something of that energy of the story told by word of mouth.
Chinua AchebeI find Nigeria very frustrating. I am not alone in this. There are many Nigerians abroad. As you know, the brain drain is just incredible. And when we talk to one another and there is a certain sense of frustration and but I struggle not to let the frustration degenerate into dispair.
Chinua AchebeIf I hold her hand she says, โDonโt touch!โ If I hold her foot she says โDonโt touch!โ But when I hold her waist-beads she pretends not to know.
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 AchebeYou cannot plant greatness as you plant yams or maize. Who ever planted an iroko tree โ the greatest tree in the forest? You may collect all the iroko seeds in the world, open the soil and put them there. It will be in vain. The great tree chooses where to grow and we find it there, so it is with the greatness in men.
Chinua Achebe