By Uduma Kalu
Lagos—United States President, Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle have described the late Nigerian novelist, Prof. Chinua Achebe as a “Revolutionary author, educator, and cultural ambassador.”
In a letter made available to Vanguard but addressed to the Achebe family and read by a White House representative, at the Celebration of Life event for Chinua Achebe, last Sunday night, at the Andrew Mellon Auditorium, Washington, DC 20240, Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama said Achebe was a “Revolutionary author, educator, and cultural ambassador.
“Achebe shattered the conventions of literature and shaped the collective identity of Nigerians throughout the world. With a dream of taking on misperceptions of his homeland, he gave voice to perspectives that cultivated understanding and drew our world closer together. His legacy will endure in the hearts of all whose lives he touched with the everlasting power of his art.”
Lagos—United States President, Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle have described the late Nigerian novelist, Prof. Chinua Achebe as a “Revolutionary author, educator, and cultural ambassador.”
In a letter made available to Vanguard but addressed to the Achebe family and read by a White House representative, at the Celebration of Life event for Chinua Achebe, last Sunday night, at the Andrew Mellon Auditorium, Washington, DC 20240, Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama said Achebe was a “Revolutionary author, educator, and cultural ambassador.
“Achebe shattered the conventions of literature and shaped the collective identity of Nigerians throughout the world. With a dream of taking on misperceptions of his homeland, he gave voice to perspectives that cultivated understanding and drew our world closer together. His legacy will endure in the hearts of all whose lives he touched with the everlasting power of his art.”
The event which also featured an arts
exhibition and reception kicked off at 6 pm. Other highlights of the
event included tributes from public and private friends and dignitaries,
cultural dance troupes, music, masquerades and tributes.
The
Francesca Harper project provided a thrilling ballet and the former
Nigerian based US citizen, Chuck Mike theatre group enthralled the crowd
with a theatrical production of a scene from Achebe’s Things Fall
Apart.
Professor Mike reportedly had the audience laughing with his
rendition of his experiences in Nigeria and the idiosyncratic tendency
of Nigerians to respond with the phrase “we thank God” when asked a
variety of questions in various scenarios.
The Afrobeat band Eme and
Heteru thrilled the crowd with electrifying music. Speakers included the
host, Johnnetta Cole, President emeritus of Spelman and Bennet Colleges
and now director of the Smithonian museum of African Art; Ruth Simmons,
former president of Brown University, Poet Sonia Sanchez, Micere Mugo
and Simon Gikandi, Scott Moyers, president of Penguin, and Jules
Chametzky, professor emeriti of Umass Amherst, where Achebe spent time
in the 1970s and 80s. Management Agency, Alhassan Barde, said he is yet
to ascertain the worth of materials destroyed in the inferno.
He said
the state Deputy Governor Ignatius Longjang, has visited the scene of
the fire outbreak. He further said investigation was on to unravel the
cause of the fire.
Footnote:
Only sane minds and people of note knows and
acknowledges Achebe's worth.He didnt run after honours and glory,they
came running to him,and most times he rejects them.But whom God has
blessed,no man can curse.The world crowned Chinua King and father of
modern African literature,and so shall it remain.Nobody can take it
away,they can only hate.Chinua Achebe lives.God bless his soul.
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