Achebe’s ‘Christmas in Biafra and Other Poems’ (1973) feels more “like an American version” (E.C. Ukwu) of ‘Beware Soul Brother’ (1971). 7 new poems appear with the 23 of the earlier text, re-written or revised. “The odd thing about these poems written by the Nigerian novelist of note is that there is so little of Africa in them. The author has apparently assimilated an alien literary tradition as much as is possible: the central referents and symbols are those of western culture (Christianity, World War II); even the poems about the tragedies of war have more the detached tones of an restrained observer than the passionate bitterness one might expect from someone who worked in the Ministry of Information of ill-fated Biafra.” - Kirkus Review.
“The only thing we have learnt from experience is that we learn nothing from experience.” Let sleeping dogs lie, let us turn our attention to the matter at hand, Nigeria is a cesspool of corruption. How do we bridge art, literature, social-media into active social-political discourse, rather than nail our differences to the cross over and again because of a White Man’s Prize
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March 10, 1974. Visiting professor in English and Afro-American studies Achebe Chinua laces his fingers while speaking as he sits behind a desk in an office or classroom. He is at the University of Mass. for the Chancellor's lecture series, Alumnus V/2 : A/M '74 feature". Courtesy of the Univ. of Mass. Archives. All Rights Reserved.
![“A basic element of [Nigeria’s leadership] misfortune is the absence of political thought of our founding fathers — a tendency to pious materialistic woolliness and self-centred pedestrianism.” #ChinuaAchebe #TheTroubleWithNigeria](https://scontent-bru2-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/d2154cfcf227aef3ef0641626e303de7/5D5FE4F0/t51.2885-15/e35/c81.0.401.401a/51800013_294698217859624_3761028338488139818_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-bru2-1.cdninstagram.com)
