“Achebeism”: Verbal Artistry and Style in Chinua Achebe’s Writings

Abstract

This article revisits the African novel by focusing on the writings of Chinua Achebe as a case study. This famous Nigerian writer who passed on in late March, 2013 is regarded as one of the pioneers of African literature who has left the younger generation of writers with particular literary aesthetics of which he is the founding father. He coined and developed the concept of “Africanisation” of the novel and the English language as well. The most telling appraisal of his arts is Phanuel Egejuru’s calling his style “Achebeism”. This article is written through a stylistics approach and it addresses the use of language with evocations of some controversies and criticisms over the language of the African novel. It brings to conclusions that Achebe has significantly contributed to the promotion and development of African literature as he belongs to the first generation
of writers whose early literary productions have been harshly criticised, but have regained consideration over the years. Achebe’s literary adventure is acclaimed as a revalorisation of African folklore and the redefinition of the literariness of African arts.

Key words: Achebeism, novel, oratory, style, verbal artistry