Maku: Why Achebe Did Not Win Nobel Prize

Chinua Achebe

But for his  preference for African motif in his books, especially the Igbo tradition, the  late Prof. Chinua Achebe would have received the Nobel Prize like other international authors, Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, said  Sunday. The minister, who said Achebe lived and died for his strong belief in exposing Africa’s rich culture to the world,  added that he failed to win the coveted prize because he refused to pander to the literary taste of the international community.

Maku, speaking at the commendation service organised by the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), in Abuja, praised the late author for his ingenuity and doggedness in promoting African culture.

He said: ”I’m not totally surprise that late Chinua Achebe did not win the Nobel Prize in his lifetime. Rather than dancing to the tune, I mean the style of the Western world, he concentrated on our tradition here in Africa, especially that of the Igbo extraction, thereby projecting our culture in a good light to the whole world. We will miss him.”

Asked if he would be immortalised as proposed by the National Assembly, the minister decline comment.

He however said the late author had done a lot for the upliftment of the African culture in his books to the rest of the world.

He therefore urged Nigerians, especially the youth, to emulate Achebe.
In her message, Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who read the only Bible passage at the service, said it would be difficult to get a replacement for the late author.

Okonjo-Iweala described Achebe as a ‘defender of African tradition, strong, efficient and effective, rich in intellectual wealth, and vast in knowledge’.

The minister said the author’s exemplary lifestyle would continue to linger in the memory of Nigerians, especially those who love good literature.

While likening Achebe to the Biblical boy that offered his five loaves of bread and two fishes to Jesus Christ to feed thousands of his followers, the convener of the commendation service and the Prelate of Anglican Communion, Bishop Nicholas Okoh, said the late author gave his life to the whole world and regained it through both wealth and riches.

According to him, Achebe was a man who did not only uphold the African tradition and exposed its rich culture to the world, he also painted the continent in a way that made other African writers to follow his footsteps.

He therefore called on Nigerians to tow the late author’s footsteps by engaging in what will promote and enhance the rich culture of Africa.