Chinua Achebe

Chinua Achebe (1930–2013) was a Nigerian novelist, poet, and critic whose work helped shape modern African literature. Born in Ogidi in southeastern Nigeria, he rose to international prominence with *Things Fall Apart* (1958), a landmark novel that portrays Igbo society and the disruptions of colonialism. Achebe also wrote influential novels including *No Longer at Ease* (1960) and *Arrow of God* (1964), as well as essays that challenged stereotypes about Africa in Western writing. He worked for the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation and later taught at universities in Nigeria and the United States. Achebe received numerous honors for his literary achievements.