Late last week, Chidi Achebe, the son of renowned Nigerian author Chinua Achebe, announced on LinkedIn that “Things Fall Apart,” one of the continent’s most widely read works of fiction, is being adapted for television.
Chidi stated, “It’s been two decades in the making.” He wrote, “The Board and Executives at Achebe Masterworks are pleased to announce the upcoming television series adaptation of the African (nay, global) classic ‘Things Fall Apart,’ starring the fantastic Idris Elba (as the protagonist, Okonkwo) and the incomparable David Oyelowo (in a yet-to-be-determined major role) among others.”
The announcement, was met with mixed reactions on Nigerian social media.
Published in 1958, two years before Nigeria’s independence, the screen adaptation of the book, translated into over 100 languages, means the story will now reach a new and younger audience in a different era. Considered a masterpiece, “Things Fall Apart” is a seminal novel in African literature that explores the clash between traditional African culture and Western colonialism.
Set in pre-colonial Nigeria, the novel centers around Okonkwo, a respected wrestler and warrior in the Igbo tribe of southeast Nigeria. Okonkwo’s tragic downfall is a central theme as he struggles to navigate the destructive impact of British colonialism on his society.
The novel examines the clash between traditional Igbo religion and Christianity, challenging established beliefs and practices. It also explores the patriarchal nature of Igbo society and the pressures placed on men like Okonkwo to be strong and successful. Through these themes, Achebe paints a vivid picture of Igbo culture and its collision with Western colonialism, offering a powerful critique of imperialism.
In 2011, Achebe had a brief disagreement with American rapper Curtis James Jackson III, popularly known as 50 Cent, over the rapper’s decision to use “Things Fall Apart” as the title for his film. Achebe’s legal team argued that the title was directly linked to his novel and its cultural significance.
50 Cent is said to have offered Achebe $1 million to use the title, but the late writer’s legal team considered it an insult, stating, “The novel with the said title was initially produced in 1958 (that is 17 years before [50] was born),” adding that, “[It is] listed as the most-read book in modern African literature, and won’t be sold for even £1bn.”
Chidi Achebe, the son of famed author Chinua Achebe, announced that "Things Fall Apart," a seminal work in African literature, is being adapted into a television series. The adaptation, featuring Idris Elba as the protagonist Okonkwo and David Oyelowo in an unspecified major role, has garnered mixed reactions on Nigerian social media. Originally published in 1958, the novel explores the clash between traditional Igbo culture and Western colonialism, focusing on the tragic downfall of Okonkwo, a respected member of the Igbo tribe.
The television adaptation aims to introduce this classic story to a new and younger audience. "Things Fall Apart" examines themes of religious conflict, the pressures of patriarchal society, and critiques of imperialism, illustrating the broader impacts of colonialism on African societies. Additionally, a legal dispute in 2011 between Chinua Achebe and rapper 50 Cent over the use of the novel's title highlighted the cultural significance and enduring legacy of this landmark work in modern African literature.
