Not every gamble pays off, but the publishing giant, Heinemann, took a big gamble in 1958, and it paid off handsomely. Fifty years after it published Chinua Achebe’s first novel, Things Fall Apart, at a time it wasn’t fashionable to do so by western publishers controlling the publishing industry then, the novel has become the all-time African fiction bestseller with millions of copies worldwide and the most translated literary work by any African writer.

The Association of Nigerian Authors, like it did last year with Wole Soyinka, is organizing an international colloquium for the septuagenarian novelist with the theme, “Telling the African Story”.

The celebration will begin with an interactive session on Saturday April 12, 2008, at the National Theatre Complex, Lagos, with the speakers: Prof. Ahmed Yerima, MD, National Theatre, Lagos; Kaine Agary, writer; Dr. Karen King Aribisala of the University of Lagos, and Dr. Don Pedro Obaseki. Chike Ofili, the chair of ANA Lagos, will moderate the occasion, which will be chaired by Chief Segun Olusola.

An evening of dance tributes by the National Troupe of Nigeria will conclude the day’s session.

On Thursday April 17, 2008, the celebration will shift to NTA, Abuja, where the guest speaker, Mrs. Eugenia Abu, will discuss the topic, “Things Fall Apart and the Nigerian Child”. There will be other activities such as quiz competition, spelling and reading competition among invited secondary school students; screening of NTA production of Things Fall Apart, role modelling session by teenage authors, poetry performances, and variety shows, etc. The Governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, will chair the events.

On Saturday April 19, 2008, a symposium on the theme of the celebration will take place at the popular Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan, with the following speakers, Prof. Sham Sudeen O.O. Amali, former vice chancellor, University of Ilorin; Dr. Festus Iyayi, University of Benin; Dr. Reuben Abati, The Guardian newspaper, Lagos; and Miss Tayo Ajayi, Obafemi
Awolowo University, Ife.

Things Fall Apart will also be on stage, as well as a performance of Biyi Bandele’s adaptation by the Jos Repertory Theatre at the Cultural Centre, Mokola Ibadan, later in the day.

On Wednesday, April 23, 2008, there will be an excursion to Ogidi, Achebe’s ancestral home, and visits to historical places in Anambra State, in addition to a luncheon by Anambra State Government in the afternoon.

The highpoint of the day will be The Night of Griots at Awka, Anambra State, in the evening. The griots expected on the occasion include: Wole Soyinka, Gabriel Okara, Jimi Solanke, Elechi Amadi, Chukwuemeka Ike, Labo Yari, Mabel Segun, Demas Nwoko, J.P. Clark, Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, Okey Ndibe and Femi Osofisan.

The major event of the anniversary, which is the international colloquium on the theme of the celebration, takes place from Friday 25 – Saturday 26 April, 2008, at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka . The keynote speakers are the Kenyan writer, Prof. Ngugi wa Thiong’o, and the Nigerian scholar, Prof. Ernest Emenyonu. In addition, fifteen other distinguished writers and scholars from all over the world will participate in the colloquium.

Other events billed for the day include opening cocktails, performance of the winning entry of the playwriting competition on Achebe’s work apart from TFA, relaunching of Okike: Journal of African New Writings founded by Achebe, and award dinners.

Meanwhile, ANA has called on writers and artists to participate in two competitions as part of the events marking the golden jubilee anniversary of the classical novel. The first is a literary adaptation of any of Achebe’s work other than Things Fall Apart into a stageable play (deadline is February 10, 2008). The second is an art competition, which involves the creation of a poster around the theme, “Achebe and Things Fall Apart @ 50” (deadline is February 25, 2008).

Elaborating on the criteria for the art competition, ANA General Secretary, Malam Denja Abdullahi, informed that (1) all participants must automatically agree by participating that the decision of the judges chosen by ANA is final and not subject to any legal question or action in any court of law, (2) the poster must be judged on its ability to meet five criteria – artistically pleasing, literary content, historical correctness, educational quality and entertainment value to the casual viewer, (3) any theme related to all or part of the celebration “Achebe & Things Fall Apart @ 50”, (4) participation is open to anyone or group or organization , (5) all submissions should be in final poster form in size A3, laminated and ready for immediate display. Posters should be sent with relevant contact details to Educare Trust, Leventis Goshen Building, Coca Cola area, Sango, Ibadan, P.M.B. 5317, Ibadan.

The shortlisted winners, he added, will be contacted to submit a CD of the poster for printing purposes and the prizes are N150, 000, N100, 000 and N70, 000 for the top three, as well as three consolation prizes of N50, 000, N30, 000 and N20, 000
and a plaque and wide media recognition.

Malam Abdullahi has expressed optimism that, with the support of Corporate Nigeria, the chosen poster will be reproduced in thousands and distributed locally and internationally, especially to schools and libraries.

Also, the posters will be selected for an exhibition to take place during the activities marking the celebration. The ANA scribe can be reached at ananatsec@yahoo.com for further enquiries.

In an interview with Sunday Sun, Dr. Wale Okediran, ANA President, said the association has decided to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Things Fall Apart because the book has become a phenomenon which has garnered for itself, as well as its author, accolades, honorary doctorate awards and a worldwide celebration in over 30 international languages.

It is also meant to draw attention, once again, to African and, specifically, Nigerian literature, to act as a form of inspiration to the up and coming Nigerian authors and to join the world in celebrating this remarkable work. Though the celebrations will be in five locations, the choice of Nsukka for the grand finale, said Okediran, was predicated on the fact that UNN was Achebe's last place of work where he still holds the chair of a professor emeritus.

To make sure that everything goes according to plan, on January 17, 2008, the ANA Exco paid a courtesy visit to the vice chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and members of the university community over the event. “We also used the opportunity of the visit to inaugurate the Local Organizing Committee in Nsukka, which will be chaired by Prof. Ossie Enekwe, while the HODs of the English and Drama depts., among others, will be members,” said Okediran.

The ANA Exco has also visited some of the association’s partners and sponsors such as the vice chancellor of the University of Ibadan, the Ministers of Culture and Education, the DG of NTA in Abuja, the Eze Ndigbo of Ibadan, various media houses in Lagos, Ibadan and Abuja. According to him, the management of Fidelity Bank, Anambra and Enugu State Governments, Chiki Noodles, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, among others, have all indicated their readiness to sponsor the events.

However, the association is grappling with financial problem, but, as the ANA president said, “if all the sponsors can keep their promises, this will be overcome.”

Before going on with the celebrations, ANA sought and got the consent of Prof Achebe. “He and his family are very thrilled about the whole arrangement. We are in regular touch with the Achebe family through Chidi Achebe, one of the icon's sons,” remarked Dr. Okediran.

This is a timely and worthy celebration for a writer who, as a trailblazer in the African Writers Series, placed African literature on the world’s literary canon.