Early Essays by Chinua Achebe
Unequivocally, there is reinforced credence
when a top creative writer decides to review, criticise, or evaluate works
produced by other writers. This is the case in Africa too, where many of the
celebrated creative writers have also written extensively on fellow writers'
products.
Hence, over the decades we have seen literary essays and
criticisms brought out by the likes of Ngugi wa Thiong'o of Kenya, Es'kia
Mphahlele of South Africa, Lewis Nkosi also of South Africa, Wole Soyinka of
Nigeria, Kofi Awoonor of Ghana, and the illustrious prof Palmer of Sierra Leone.
Arguably, Chinua Achebe of Nigeria is the greatest ever
imaginative wordsmith from Africa, and it is exhilarating that he was also a
very perceptive, adroit literary critic. His imaginative "attack" on
Conrad's Heart of Darkness, eg has
entered the canon of international literary criticism, most famously.
But Achebe produced countless other essays and diverse
appreciation of other writers and their works', especially of fellow African
writers. His first major essays of this ilk appeared in this book, Morning Yet
on Creation Day. Here he deals with varied concepts of literary criticism, the
world, Eurocentric prism, the peculiarities of African writing and
appreciation, etc. He also revisits his own past and upbringing, sociological
and historical mores of his own society et al.
Achebe certainly knew and appreciated most of the early fine
writers from all over Africa; in fact he facilitated the publication of initial
books written by many of them, including the great Ngugi, and Flora Nwapa. In
this work, with the lively, fluid detachment discernible in his own books, he
discusses many of others' books, including authors like Ama Atta Aidoo, Ayi
Kwei Armah, and Camara Laye.
Intermittently, Achebe does deliver rather negative comments
on some of the published works, but the general impression garnered is how much
this colossal African writer enjoyed savouring books written by others. An
invaluable early work, and a literary treasure trove!
- Eric Malome
