By Mirembe Martina

Chinua Achebe, Nigerian novel writer most known for his books Things Fall Apart and No Longer at Ease died yesterday, Friday 22nd March.

Mr. Achebe died in Boston, Massachusetts from acute pneumonia. Prior to his death, he had been admitted to hospital.

Achebe arriving in Nigeria for the first time since leaving the country in 1990.

His death came as a surprise to many although it had been rumored quite a while that he had passed away as far back as last year.

Achebe is survived by his wife, Christie Okoli, four children and six grandchildren, Chochi, Chino, Chidera, C.J. (Chinua Jr.),Nnamdi and Zeal.

Achebe’s first children’s book, Chike and the River was written 1966 after he released his first best selling novel, Things Fall Apart which he wrote in 1958. No longer at Ease was written two years later, a follow up on the character in Things Fall Apart.

Achebe has also written plays and essay, among others. Some of his poems include Beware, Soul-Brother, and Other Poems (1971) (published in the US as Christmas at Biafra, and Other Poems, 1973) and Don’t let him die: An anthology of memorial poems for Christopher Okigbo (editor, with Dubem Okafor) (1978).

As a young man, Achebe always stood out because of his intelligence.

Achebe first taught English at the Merchants of Light school at Oba after leaving school.

While studying at Ibadan, Achebe began to become critical of European literature about Africa.

He married the mother of her children, Christie Okoli with whom they have four children.

Chinua Achebe’s family, his wife Christie (in red), his youngest daughter Nwando and sons Ikechukwu and Chidi (in black).