Chinua Achebe Legacy Cannot Die - Ogene

 

CHINUA ACHEBE LEGACY CANNOT DIE - OGENE

 

By Henrietta Madichie 

 

The National Vice President Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Damian Okeke-Ogene has described the late Chinua Achebe as a model whose achievements and legacy can never die because of the power of his written words. 

 

He said this at the 7th Chinua Achebe Literary Festival and Nemorial Lecture organised by the Society of Young Nigerian Writers, Anambra State Chapter in memory of Chinua Achebe at Prof.Kenneth Dike Central E-Library, Awka. 

 

Mr. Ogene, who was the chairman of the event explained that Chinua Achebe was a renowned author and intellectual who brought the beauty of Africa and African culture to the limelight, saying that  he was a great teacher of repute, a genius and a freedom fighter.

 

He urged the young writers to take his steps as a challenge to work hard, read more as well as being humble and obedient to help accomplish their goals.

 

The keynote speaker and award winning author, Mr Uzor Maxim Uzoatu in his lecture, described Achebe as a revolutionary author, educator and cultural ambassador who shattered the conventions of literature and shaped the collective identity of Nigerians throughout the world. 

 

"Also with a dream of taking on misperceptions of his homeland, he gave voice to perspectives that cultivated understanding and drew our world together."

 

Uzoatu reassured that Achebe's legacy would endure in the hearts of all whose lives he touched with his everlasting power of his art hence the importance of his commemoration.

 

According to Mr. Izunna Okafor, coordinator of the society of young Nigerian writers Anambra state Chapter,  the purpose of the event was to mark a great literary event in honour of Prof. Achebe. 

 

Okafor explained that Achebe's literary festival and memorial lecture is an annual literary event organized by the society of Nigerian writers Anambra State Chapter in commemoration and celebration of life, works and legacies of Achebe the father of the modern African literature, noting that it is the seventh edition now with many testimonies.

 

"Also through the event promote, encourage and reward creative writing and reading culture among the youths and students, discover and harness the amazing talents in the young ones.

 

"It presents intellectuals as elixirs to our society ailment hence this year's theme "Literature Intellectuals and National Development" that we can develop the society through writing. 

 

The event afford the leaders the opportunity to re-evaluate themselves against the standard as was showcased by Achebe. 

 

Okafor further explained that to retain his fingers in the writing field, the young writers immortalize him through writing and publishing of an international Anthology in his honour known as Chinua Achebe poetry/Essay Anthology comprising poems and essays written and submitted by writers from different countries of the world who identified with Achebe's legendary and personality. 

 

The coordinator requested that the government immortalize Chinua Achebe by renaming the Anambra International Cargo and Passenger Airport and the International Conference Centre after Chinua Achebe as one of the ways to immortalize him, asking for the elites to sponsor the event to continue the legacy.

 

The event futured poems and essay competition from the students which the winners were rewarded, music by Bishop Paulinus Ezeokafor music Academy Awka, and Cultural dance added glamour to the event.

 

The young writers were awarded based on the last Essay competition and the year's Anthology was unveiled titled " Soul Brother". (MOI)

 

RNI