CHINUA ACHEBE: The Importance of Stories

CHINUA ACHEBE, one of Africa's greatest authors, examines how the Nigerian-born writer-and modern Africa itself-were shaped by a history of racism and colonialism. Achebe, best known as the author of Things Fall Apart (1958), the first great African novel in the English language, has also written other novels, poetry, children's stories, and criticism. In an interview, Achebe discusses Africa's colonialist history, the nature of indigenous African religious and philosophical beliefs, and the artistry and human significance of literature.