Who Is Chinua Achebe? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Chinua Achebe was born on November 16, 1930, and passed away on March 21, 2013. As of 2025, had he still been alive, he would have been 94 years old. Widely regarded as one of the most significant African writers in the 20th century, Achebe is best known for his novel "Things Fall Apart," which explores the clash of traditional African culture with colonial influences. His critical essays and literary critiques have inspired generations of readers and writers.
| Occupation | Activists |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | November 16, 1930 |
| Age | 82 Years |
| Birth Place | Ogidi, Colonial Nigeria |
| Horoscope | Scorpio |
| Country | Nigeria |
| Date of death | 21 March, 2013 |
| Died Place | Boston, Massachusetts, US |
Popularity
Chinua Achebe's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While specific details about Achebe's height and weight were not commonly discussed, it's important to recognize that physical attributes played a more understated role in his legacy than his literary contributions. His profound insights into cultural identity and socioeconomic issues remain at the forefront of why he is celebrated today.
On 22 March 1990, Achebe was riding in a car to Lagos when an axle collapsed and the car flipped. His son Ikechukwu and the driver suffered minor injuries, but the weight of the vehicle fell on Achebe and his spine was severely damaged. He was flown to the Paddocks Hospital in Buckinghamshire, England, and treated for his injuries.
In July doctors announced that although he was recuperating well, he was paralyzed from the waist down and would require the use of a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Soon afterwards, Achebe became the Charles P.
Stevenson Professor of Languages and Literature at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York; he held the position for more than fifteen years. Throughout the 1990s, Achebe spent little time in Nigeria but remained actively involved in the country's politics, denouncing the usurpation of power by General Sani Abacha.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Chinua Achebe married Christine Nwoga in 1953, and the couple had four children together. Their partnership endured through numerous trials, including Achebe's exile and critical acclaim. His family remained supportive of his literary journey, and together they have contributed to preserving his legacy.
Chinua Achebe (born Albert Chinụalụmọgụ Achebe; 16 November 1930 – 21 March 2013) was a Nigerian novelist, poet, and critic who is regarded as a central figure of modern African literature.
His first novel and magnum opus, Things Fall Apart (1958), occupies a pivotal place in African literature and remains the most widely studied, translated, and read African novel. Along with Things Fall Apart, his No Longer at Ease (1960) and Arrow of God (1964) complete the "African Trilogy".
Later novels include A Man of the People (1966) and Anthills of the Savannah (1987). Achebe is often referred to as the "father of modern African literature", although he vigorously rejected the characterization.
Net Worth and Salary
Though precise figures regarding Achebe's net worth at the time of his death in 2013 are not publicly documented, his impact on literature and culture has undoubtedly ensured a lasting legacy beyond monetary measures. The global recognition of his work continues to influence and inspire literary scholars and enthusiasts alike.
Career, Business, and Investments
Achebe began his career in the late 1950s, with "Things Fall Apart" published in 1958 swiftly becoming a critical success. His role as a novelist, essayist, and editor placed him firmly in the literary spotlight. Achebe also served as a professor of English and literature at various institutions, enriching academia with his unique perspectives on African narratives. His contributions extend into editing and establishing a literary foundation that promotes African storytelling.
In 1948, Nigeria's first university opened in preparation for the country's independence. Known as University College (now the University of Ibadan), it was an associate college of the University of London. Achebe was admitted as the university's first intake and given a bursary to study medicine.
During his studies, Achebe became critical of Western literature about Africa, particularly Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness. He decided to become a writer after reading Mister Johnson by Joyce Cary because of the book's portrayal of its Nigerian characters as either savages or buffoons.
Achebe recognised his dislike for the African protagonist as a sign of the author's cultural ignorance. He abandoned medicine to study English, history, and theology, a switch which lost him his scholarship and required extra tuition fees.
To compensate, the government provided a bursary, and his family donated money—his older brother Augustine gave up money for a trip home from his job as a civil servant so Achebe could continue his studies.
Social Network
Achebe engaged with readers and literary aficionados around the world through various social networks, helping to amplify African voices in literature. While his online presence cannot be updated posthumously, Achebe’s literary estate continues to manage his legacy, ensuring that his work remains accessible to a new generation.
Achebe's debut as an author was in 1950 when he wrote a piece for the University Herald, the university's magazine, entitled "Polar Undergraduate". It used irony and humour to celebrate the intellectual vigour of his classmates.
He followed with other essays and letters about philosophy and freedom in academia, some of which were published in another campus magazine called The Bug. He served as the Herald editor during the 1951–52 school year.
He wrote his first short story that year, "In a Village Church" (1951), an amusing look at the Igbo synthesis between life in rural Nigeria with Christian institutions and icons.
Other short stories he wrote during his time at Ibadan—including "The Old Order in Conflict with the New" (1952) and "Dead Men's Path" (1953)—examine conflicts between tradition and modernity, with an eye toward dialogue and understanding on both sides.
When the professor Geoffrey Parrinder arrived at the university to teach comparative religion, Achebe began to explore the fields of Christian history and African traditional religions.
Education
Chinua Achebe studied at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in English literature. He later went on to pursue postgraduate studies at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, further cultivating his passion for writing and cultural representation in literature.
Born in Ogidi, Colonial Nigeria, Achebe's childhood was influenced by both Igbo traditional culture and colonial Christianity. He excelled in school and attended what is now the University of Ibadan, where he became fiercely critical of how Western literature depicted Africa.
Moving to Lagos after graduation, he worked for the Nigerian Broadcasting Service (NBS) and garnered international attention for his 1958 novel Things Fall Apart.
In less than 10 years he would publish four further novels through the publisher Heinemann, with whom he began the Heinemann African Writers Series and galvanized the careers of African writers, such as Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o and Flora Nwapa.
