Ways of Telling: (Re)Writing the Nation in the Novels and Memoir of Chinua Achebe

Abstract

Perhaps the most recognisable thematic feature of Chinua Achebe's celebrated fictional and critical praxis is his keen interest in the social and political transformation of African societies following colonisation and independence. This article focuses on his engagement with African/Nigerian nationhood in his five novels and memoir, There Was a Country: A Personal History of Biafra (2012). The objective is to make evident significant trajectories and changes in Achebe's portrayal of political leadership and history in his thematisation of postcolonial and post-independence nationalism. While using the older novels as a form of background, I concentrate on Anthills of the Savannah and There Was a Country, and argue that these two works demonstrate a significant - even if not total - narrowing of interest from Nigeria/Africa, to his ethnic group, the lgbo, in a way that radicalises some of his previously well-known positions on postcolonial nationhood. The article demonstrates how changes in Achebe's narration of nation may represent ideological shifts and different "ways of telling".

Opsomming
Waarskynlik die mees herkenbare tematiese kenmerk van Chinua Achebe se veelbesproke fiksionele en kritiese praxis is sy lewendige belangstelling in die sosiale en politieke transformasie van Afrika-gemeenskappe na kolonialisasie en onafhanklikheid. Hierdie artikel fokus op sy betrokkenheid by die Afrika-/Nigeriese nasieskap in sy vyf romans en sy memoir, There Was a Country. A Personal History of Biafra (2012). Die doelwit is om beduidende trajeksies en veranderinge in Achebe se uitbeelding van politieke leierskap en geskiedenis in sy tematisering van postkoloniale en post-onafhanklikheidsnasionalisme duidelik te maak. Deur die vroeere romans as 'n soort agtergrond te gebruik, konsentreer ek op Anthills of the Savannah en There Was a Country, en voer aan dat hierdie twee werke 'n beduidende - indien nie totale - verskuiwing van Achebe se verbintenis met Nigerie/Afrika na sy etniese groep, die lgbo, demonstreer, op 'n manier wat sommige van sy voorheen welbekende standpunte oor postkoloniale nasionaliteit radikaliseer. Die artikel toon aan hoe veranderinge in Achebe se voorstelling van nasieskap ideologiese verskuiwings en ander "vertelwyses" kan verteenwoordig.