In the 19thand 20thcenturies, Great Britain colonized Nigeria in West Africa (Falola and Ajayi, 2019). This began in the 1850s with Britain attacks on Lagos, which were performed to oust slavery and gain influence in the region. The colony of Lagos was annexed in 1861. Later in 1884, Britain claimed the formation of the Oil Rivers Protectorate, which was used to control trade. Following this act, the Royal Niger Company was established, and conflict arose with neighboring territories and tribes. British militarization of the region expanded in the 1890s and into the new century. The actions of the British had extreme implications on those native tribes of Nigeria, but the victims of colonialization are often forgotten.
“Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe is a young adult novel set in the 1890s (Achebe, 2018). It demonstrates the conflict that arose between the white colonial Nigerian government and the traditional indigenous Igbo people. This novel’s protagonist is Okonkwo, the leader of the Umuofia clan of Nigeria. After he accidently kills a clansman’s 16-year old son, Okonkwo is forced into exile with his family. Meanwhile, the white man has been busy destroying other villages. In retaliation, a compound and Christian church are burned down. Okonkwo is summoned back by the District Commissioner, and then jailed and beaten. After being released, messengers sent to his tribe tell him to stop all war activity. In the end of the story, Okonkwo commits suicide after the colonial government’s messengers are released, realizing he will be seen as weak forever. A white writer says that this will make for an interesting paragraph on his book about Africa.
Stories on subject matter such as that covered in “Things Fall Apart” are of importance in YA literature. Due to colonization and the tragedies that have ensued, these stories are often lost without authors like Chinua Achebe. This book contrasts the cultures of Nigeria with white colonials, giving a first-person look into the aftereffects of colonialism. The author was born in Nigeria in 1930, during the reign of Great Britain over Nigeria. His multicultural background, being educated at the Government College while also being raised by those who till lived the Igbo culture, allowed him to present a YA novel that shows perspective from each side of history. More YA novels regarding events that have silenced cultures should be brought to light. Without them, our youth may go through their entire educational careers without learning of them.
Works Cited
Falola, T. O., & Ajayi, J. A. (2019, March 14). Nigeria as a colony. Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/place/Nigeria/Nigeria-as-a-colony
Achebe, C. (2018). Things fall apart. S.l.: Penguin Books.