Achebe: Hometown quiet as kinsmen mourn demise

Posted by admin Headlines Saturday, March 23rd, 2013

All was quiet at Ikenga Ogidi, the hometown of the literary giant, Prof. Chinua Achebe, when our correspondent visited on Friday morning.

An old woman who claim to be the writer’s sister in-law was seen around Achebe’s house located on the way to Abatete. The black iron gate of the high perimeter fence was securely locked with no sign of any other person in the compound.

The woman, Mrs. Nonye Okoli from Umuokpu, Awka, expressed sadness the author’s death, particularly as she said she saw him last many years ago.

Members of the larger Achebe family were not available to receive sympathisers and early callers to the Achebe’s home. All those who came to pay their condolences turned back at the gate.

The Regent of the town, Chief Akunwata, was also not at home when correspondent visited. Ogidi has been without a traditional ruler for more than 15 years because of an intractable dispute over who should succeed the last traditional ruler, Igwe Amobi.

Incidentally, Achebe, according to a former President General of Ikenga Ogidi Family Union, Chief Uba Onugbogu, was on a mission to find lasting peace to the community when he was paralysed in a motor accident that took him away to the United States.

The President General of Ogidi Development Union, Dr. Eric Obiako, told Saturday Punch that though he had received the news of the death of Achebe, he would not comment on it officially because he needed to be briefed by the family first.

But a few residents and indigenes of Ikenga Ogidi, who spoke to Saturday Punch, expressed shock at the death of the man that was known as the “Iroko of African literature.”

A former President General of Ikenga Ogidi Family Union, Dr. Emmanuel Obianagha, said, “Achebe is somebody the community cannot lose and sit down. He imparted a lot of knowledge in us. He can never tolerate any lazy person around him.’’

“It is a big blow. The iroko has fallen and all the birds that perched on it are scattered in the bush now.”

Mr. Chukwudi Medoani, a lawyer and distant relation of Achebe, said, “I am devastated because a good son of this town is gone.”

Though there was no activity in Achebe’s country home on Friday, the literary community in the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka mourn Achebe’s death. Prof. Joy Eyisi of the Department of English Language and Literature said, “Everybody is mourning but the teachers and students of English are mourning more. Achebe is the father of African literature.”

The Chief Press Secretary to the Anambra State Governor, Mr. Mike Udah, who confirmed the death of Achebe, said, “I talk to Chinua Achebe’s family every week. This morning, upon my arrival at Akanu Ibiam Airport, Enugu, I received a telephone call from his son to the effect that the Iroko has fallen. The world has lost a giant! Africa has lost a rare gem. May his erudite soul rest in peace, Amen.”

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