The mighty Iroko has fallen in the forest,
So let's roll out the drums,
And beat a solemn tune, a worthy tune.
Because an African giant has gone home to rest,
A worthy son of the most high has been called home,
And we are all left bereft by his absence.
The acclaimed father of African literature is no more,
He has been called to a glorious resting place in the sky.
His mortal body is no longer with us,
But his words remain, his so beautiful words remain.
Words from his magnificent first; Things fall Apart,
Through to his glorious magnum opus; There Was A Country!!!
Prof Chinualumogu Albert Achebe is being laid to rest soon,
What can we give him, what can we bring that is worthy?
Mere words, when such words were his medium?
And so glorious a medium he wielded them too.
Sweet words, like new yam to be eaten with the best of palm oil .
Words taken from the memories of our great forebears,
Which contained in them the wisdom of the Ancients.
Achebe dug deep, collected and then presented these words to us,
In so palatable a form that they resonated with all and sundry.
With the old and the young, Igbo's and none-Igbo's,
Africans, Europeans and indeed the rest of the world...
Not many can do this, not many ever have, and few ever will!!!
So we were blessed to have lived when he did,
I know I certainly have been, though I never met him personally.
But meet him I did though, through his wonderful books.
Things Fall Apart, No longer at ease, The Arrow of God,
These were the first of his magnificent books I read, but certainly not the last.
So forgive my often rambling ineloquence,
Pardon my perhaps effusive praise and accolades,
I feel like I've lost a favourite wise and kindly uncle, and indeed I have.
Some of us have indeed lost a husband, father, grandfather, uncle, cousin, friend, teacher and mentor.
So goodnight our dearest Chinua Achebe,
Rest well you worthy son of your parents; Isaiah Okafor and Janet Anaenechi
Rest well you noble soul, for you have proved yourself true.
And we all know the Most High rewards those such as you.
Rest well our gentle Prof, till hopefully we all meet up again some day,
Never to be parted again from your family, friends and readers too.
Ije oma Prof, jeme nkoma, for it is well with your soul.
.
So let's roll out the drums,
And beat a solemn tune, a worthy tune.
Because an African giant has gone home to rest,
A worthy son of the most high has been called home,
And we are all left bereft by his absence.
The acclaimed father of African literature is no more,
He has been called to a glorious resting place in the sky.
His mortal body is no longer with us,
But his words remain, his so beautiful words remain.
Words from his magnificent first; Things fall Apart,
Through to his glorious magnum opus; There Was A Country!!!
Prof Chinualumogu Albert Achebe is being laid to rest soon,
What can we give him, what can we bring that is worthy?
Mere words, when such words were his medium?
And so glorious a medium he wielded them too.
Sweet words, like new yam to be eaten with the best of palm oil .
Words taken from the memories of our great forebears,
Which contained in them the wisdom of the Ancients.
Achebe dug deep, collected and then presented these words to us,
In so palatable a form that they resonated with all and sundry.
With the old and the young, Igbo's and none-Igbo's,
Africans, Europeans and indeed the rest of the world...
Not many can do this, not many ever have, and few ever will!!!
So we were blessed to have lived when he did,
I know I certainly have been, though I never met him personally.
But meet him I did though, through his wonderful books.
Things Fall Apart, No longer at ease, The Arrow of God,
These were the first of his magnificent books I read, but certainly not the last.
So forgive my often rambling ineloquence,
Pardon my perhaps effusive praise and accolades,
I feel like I've lost a favourite wise and kindly uncle, and indeed I have.
Some of us have indeed lost a husband, father, grandfather, uncle, cousin, friend, teacher and mentor.
So goodnight our dearest Chinua Achebe,
Rest well you worthy son of your parents; Isaiah Okafor and Janet Anaenechi
Rest well you noble soul, for you have proved yourself true.
And we all know the Most High rewards those such as you.
Rest well our gentle Prof, till hopefully we all meet up again some day,
Never to be parted again from your family, friends and readers too.
Ije oma Prof, jeme nkoma, for it is well with your soul.
 |
| The Prof reading from one of his own works |
 |
| He presented Africa to the world as proud, noble and beautiful |
.
 |
| Prof Chinualumogu Albert Achebe !930-2013 |
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