This essay is about the life of Chinua Achebe.

Essay by krwmUniversity, Bachelor'sA, December 2002

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Chinua Achebe is one of Africa's most influential and widely published writers. He has written twenty-one novels, short stories, children books and collections of poetry. Achebe was born in on November 19, 1930, in Ogidi, Nigeria. He was christened Albert Chinualumogu Achebe. Achebe was born the son of Isaiah Okafo, a Christian churchman, and Janet N. Achebe. Achebe describes growing up in Eastern Nigeria as "living at the crossroads of cultures".

Achebe was raised an Ibo Christian, which made him stand out among his peers. He was given insight in to two different cultures. This is an element that Achebe uses in describing characters in some of his writings. As a child, Achebe attended church schools. Around the age of eight, he began to learn English. He listened to stories told by his mother, older sister, and the men of his village. Achebe has "always been fond of stories and intrigued by language".

In 1944, at the age of fourteen, Achebe was selected to begin schooling at Government Albany College in Umuahia for three years. He went on to attend the University of Ibadan from 1948 to 1953 on a scholarship. Achebe lost his scholarship when he switched his major from medicine to English literature, religion studies and history. His older brother John supported him and helped him out with school, which allowed Achebe to pursue his dreams.

Following his education at the University of Ibandan, Achebe earned his Bachelor's degree from London University in 1953. After being named Talk Producer of the Nigerian Broadcasting Service, in 1956 Achebe began to study broadcasting at the British Broadcasting Corporation in London. He was appointed Senior Researcher at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and began to lecture. On September 10, 1961, Achebe married Christie Chinwe Okoli. Together they conceived four children:...