"There is no story that is not true, [...] The world has no end, and what is good among one people is an abomination with others."

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

Authored by Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe in 1958, Things Fall Apart is a seminal work in African literature. Set in pre-colonial Nigeria, the novel chronicles the life of Okonkwo, a hyper-masculine Igbo warrior, as he is forced to come to terms with the arrival of European colonizers and their disruptions on the traditional way of life.

Things Fall Apart has truly been extremely influencial on contemporary African literature. When you read Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Ama Ata Aidoo, you would see glimpses of Things Fall Apart glacing through their works. I also can't help but think Achebe's writing has ignited the literary sparks and talents in African ladies, inspiring them to pursue a career in writing. Other than cultural imperialism explored in Things Fall Apart, Achebe also reflects on the problems of hypermasculinity on social and familial relationships.

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