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Chinua Achebe Literary Festival

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Chinua Achebe Literary Festival is an annual literary event held in honour of Nigerian writer and literary critic — Chinua Achebe, the author of Things Fall Apart (1958), in commemoration and celebration of his works and immense contributions in the literary field.[1][2][3]

Chinua Achebe lived between 16 November 1930 to 21 March 2013, when he died in Massachusetts, United States.

The literary festival was initiated in 2016, three years after Achebe's death, by award-winning Nigerian writer, journalist, and Igbo-language activist Izunna Okafor who is also Anambra State's Coordinator of Society of Young Nigerian Writers, the literary body that organizes the event.[4][5][6][7]

Since its inception, the event has been held annually on Chinua Achebe's date of birth (16 November) at the Prof. Kenneth Dike Central E-Library in Awka, the capital city of Anambra State, Achebe's home state. Prior to the event each year, the organizers open and publicize a "Call For Submissions" on various online literary platforms and magazines, for writers to write and submit poems and essays in honour of Achebe, which they thereafter publish as an anthology, known as the "Chinua Achebe Poetry/Essay Anthology".[8][9]

The annual anthology is usually published and unveiled on day of the literary festival, and has attracted and featured works of writers from different countries of the world, including Zimbabwe's Mbizo Chirasha[10][11]

For the first three years of the literary event in 2016, 2017, and 2018, the organizers consecutively called for submissions and consequently published three anthologies.[12] However, for the 2019 edition of the event, there was no call for submissions; rather, the three previously published anthologies were collated and published together as a single anthology, entitled Arrows of Words[13][14][15][16]

In 2020, during the fifth edition and fifth year anniversary of the event, the organizers added Achebe Memorial Lecture to the Festival, hence it is now known as the Chinua Achebe Literary Festival and Memorial Lecture. The maiden Chinua Achebe Memorial Lecture, which was the first of its kind, was delivered by Oseloka Obaze, a prolific Nigerian literary figure and diplomat.[17][18][19][20]

The 2020 edition of the event also featured the unveiling and official presentation of the Fifth Chinua Achebe Poetry/Essay Anthology, entitled Achebe: A Man of the People, edited by Izunna Okafor[21][22]

Over the years, Chinua Achebe Literary Festival has attracted the participation of many literary enthusiasts and dignitaries, including the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 Nigeria's general election, Mr. Peter Obi; Executive Governor of Anambra State Willie Obiano; former SSG, Anambra State, Oseloka Obaze; Nigerian legendary actor, Bob-Manuel Udokwu; former Chief Judge, Anambra State, Prof. Peter Umeadi; MD/CEO of National Light newspaper, Chuka Nnabuife; Odili Ujubuońu (author of Pregnancy of the Gods); Maxim Uzor Uzoatu (author of God of Poetry); Ositadimma Amakeze (author of The Last Carver); Okeke Chika Jerry (author of The Gods Are Hungry); Mr. Isidore Emeka Uzoatu (author of Vision Impossible).[23][24][25]

References

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  1. ^ Ernest Ogunyemi "Chinua Achebe Literary Festival —Attend", Creative Writing News, Nigeria, 12 November 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  2. ^ Chiedu Okoye "ACHEBE IS CONSCIENCE OF NIGERIA SAYS ADINUBA" Archived 8 August 2020 at the Wayback Machine, Anambra State Government Official Website Archived 8 August 2020 at the Wayback Machine, 1 November 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  3. ^ Wole Adedoyin, "Why We Celebrate Chinua Achebe Annually — Izunna Okafor", The Nigerian Voice, Nigeria, 14 November 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  4. ^ CFW Publishers "Society Of Young Nigerian Writers Hosts Writing Event 2016", CFW Publishers, 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  5. ^ Miriam David, "Society of Young Nigerian Writers Celebrate Achebe", Creative Writing News, 1 December 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  6. ^ Nigerian Writers Award "2015 NWA Winners", Nigerian Writers Award, Nigeria, 12 March 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  7. ^ National Light, "2019 Best Young Achievers Award: National Light’s reporter wins Best Young writer", National Light, Nigeria, 5 September 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  8. ^ Naija Stories, "call for papers and poems in the memory of prof. chinua achebe", Naija Stories, 29 September 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  9. ^ Izunna Okafor, "call for submissions in the memory of prof. chinua achebe", The Nigerian Voice, 6 October 2016, Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  10. ^ "Society Of Young Nigerian Writers Hosts Writing Event 2016", CFW Publishers, 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  11. ^ Chioma Iwunze-Ibiam "Call For Submissions: The Third Edition Of The Chinua Achebe Essay/Poetry Anthology—Submit", Creative Writing News, Africa, 9 October 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  12. ^ 9jabooks, "Third Chinua Achebe Poetry/Essay Anthology", 9jaBooks, 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  13. ^ National Light "Chinua Achebe Literary Festival: Young Writers Visit National Light", National Light, 20 October 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  14. ^ Chibuzor Obidike, "Chinua Achebe Literary Festival: Stakeholders Call For Empowerment Of Young Writers", ABS Official Website, 17 November 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  15. ^ Chuka Ubah, "Chinua Achebe Literary Festival Set For Nov 16", Statesman, 14 November 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  16. ^ "File:Arrows of Words 2 — Chinua Achebe Poetry and Essay Anthology.jpg - Wikimedia Commons". commons.wikimedia.org. 16 November 2019. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  17. ^ Brittle, Paper. "The 2020 Achebe Literary Festival And Memorial Lecture | 16 Nov". www.brittlepaper.com. Brittle Paper. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  18. ^ Okafor, Izunna (13 November 2020). "Obaze To Deliver First Chinua Achebe Memorial Lecture At 2020 Literary Festival". Igbo Radio. Igbo Radio. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  19. ^ OHO. "PHOTO NEWS: Obaze delivers keynote address at Chinua Achebe Memorial Lecture in Awka". Oseloka Henry Obaze. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  20. ^ The Nigerian Voice. "Anambra Young Writers Mark 2020 Achebe Literary Festival And Memorial Lecture". The Nigerian Voice. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  21. ^ 9jabooks. "Behold the Fifth Chinua Achebe Poetry/Essay Anthology — "Achebe: A Man of the People"". 9jabooks. Retrieved 16 January 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  22. ^ The Nigerian Voice. "Anambra Young Writers Mark 2020 Achebe Literary Festival And Memorial Lecture". The Nigerian Voice. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  23. ^ Chuka Ubah, "Jubilation As Young Writers Mark Literary Festival", PM Express, 17 November 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  24. ^ The Nigerian Voice. "Anambra Young Writers Mark 2020 Achebe Literary Festival And Memorial Lecture". The Nigerian Voice. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  25. ^ Ovat, Michael (18 November 2023). "Achebe memorial lecture: Obi lauds Anambra young writers". Tribune Online. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
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