People from different parts of the world can respond to the same story if it says something to them about their own history and their own experience.

There was a saying in Umuofia that as a man danced so the drums were beaten for him.

In America there is really very little knowledge of the literature of the rest of the world. Of the literature of Latin America, yes, But that's not all that different in inspiration from that of America, or of Europe. One must go further. You don't even have to go too far in terms of geography - you can start with the Native Americans and listen to their poetry.

If you have leaders who are prepared to incite group against group it is very easy to manufacture reasons and excuses.

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.

If one finger brings oil it soils the others.

Women and music should not be dated.