"Sometimes things fall apart so that better things can fall together." Unfortunately, this adage was not the case for the burial of the late Nigerian esteemed author, Chinua Achebe. Overall, there’s a lot to be said about the paradigm surrounding the late literary icon’s funeral from the caliber of political figures to the political insignias that characterized the five- star funeral burial memorial service, in his Ikenga Ogidi ancestral home in Idemili North local government area of Anambra State.
Adding to that, the burial memorial service did, at the very least, provide a couple of truly moving encomiums. For instance, President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan along with his politician counterpart, President of Ghana John Dramani Mahama, showered high praises on the late Achebe who, they said “gave Africans confidence in the world community through his stories on African culture and tradition.”
Furthermore, to honor the late literary icon, President Goodluck Jonathan went as far as to pledge that the Federal Government and the Government of Ghana will work together in rebuilding the St. Philip’s Central School, where the late Professor Chinua Achebe had his primary education. Chinua Achebe's burial also drew members of the clergy, the diplomatic corps from the United States, Canada, and Germany.
On the flipside of the eulogy, it is also reported that Professor Wole Soyinka and Prof John Pepper Clark – high-profile educators highly sought after by many who attended the memorial – did not attend. Furthermore, the absence of modern African authors such as Clark and Chris Okigbo, for many was also hard to swallow.
It is notorious, all through his very eventful life; Chinua Achebe lived the life of a writer and scholar. Thus, it would have been noteworthy to hear from our students of Africa, from our younger generations, or present prominent authors such as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, on how his works has impacted on them.
