Prof Chukwuemeka Ike: The Nobel Prize needed Achebe for credibility

[SunNews]

By SOLA BALOGUN

A notable kinsman and schoolmate of the late Professor Chinua Achebe, Professor Chukwuemeka Ike, has said that the legendary writer attained a greater image than the coveted Nobel Prize for Literature, which he never won while alive. Ike, who spoke to Daily Sun recently, as a childhood friend and admirer of Achebe described his late senior as a master of both Igbo and English languages, and that although he missed the Nobel prize, his great contributions to the development of African and world literature cannot be over-emphasised.

Ike said in parts:

Relationship with Achebe from secondary school days

Our relationship started way back at Government College, Umuahia. He was my senior by one year, but because he was given double promotion, he became two years my senior. But our literary interest started then at the Government College, Umuahia, after which he left for University College, Ibadan, the only university then. And I followed later, and he drew me into the club of creative writers, which produced a literary magazine-University Herald. He became editor of the magazine at one stage, and the university actually sponsored the editions.

Earlier at Government College, Umuahia, the school had published a magazine, which Achebe also contributed. The magazine published my first story in 1948 but at that time, Achebe had left for Ibadan. But our friendship went on when he was with Nigeria Broadcasting Service. He was helping people to do well in writing, but when his first novel, Things Fall Apart, came out in 1958, it became so much important to me. I realised how important the story was because he grew up in the same cultural background with me. I never wanted to be a novelist but when Things Fall Apart came out as a good novel, I, too, felt I could do it. I, too, saw it as a challenge and he kept encouraging us until my own first novel came out in 1965, seven years after Things Fall Apart. But our friendship went on.

Essence of Achebe in world literature

Achebe was a master of English Language and a master of Igbo Language. His mastery of these languages enriched his novels and he was the first person who dealt frontally with lifting Igbo language and moving it to English in a way that you could still trace its origin. He was able to weave the language into a work of fiction, which is not only of interest to readers locally but also internationally. This is because when Achebe's book was first published, it was accepted and by international publishers who were mainly interested in the global market, and the book was all over the place. Achebe was, therefore, a writer who was accepted both locally and internationally. Achebe was not a bohemian character. He was neither a womaniser nor a drunkard. He was a complete gentleman who loved everybody that came his way. At Government College, we had little exposure to girls. There was the story of a girl who came to his room and because he did not know what to do, he gave the girl a mathematical set and went out of the room.

Why, I think, Achebe missed the Nobel Prize

The Nobel Prize is said to be the world highest award for Literature and it so happened that Achebe did not make it while he was alive. But I have always said that in fact, the Nobel needed Achebe for credibility than Achebe needed the Nobel. This is because Achebe has made it all with or without the Nobel. Achebe was able to achieve the greatest impact in Literature as his works are being read all over the world while others have reproduced his work into film particularly in the US. He has equally won many awards, and all these awards, are foreign-based, hence his recognition at the global front. I don't know of any Nigeria writer who is only published in Nigeria and who stands the chance of getting the Nobel. This is not because such a writer is not brilliant but because we are faced with keen competition from the outside world.

Via: Sun News Online