The Centre for Memories (“Ncheta Ndigbo”) has declared that June 17 will henceforth be known as ‘Things Fall Apart Day’ in recognition of the role the book by late Prof. Chinua Achebe played in capturing a period in Igbo history.
The Centre for Memories (CFM) is a leading non-governmental organization (NGO) focused on preserving the history, culture and values of Ndigbo. On this day, CFM and all lovers of literature will celebrate the book which President Barack Obama described as ‘a true classic of world literature’.
‘Things Fall Apart’ was first published by William Heinemann Limited on June 17, 1958.
The CFM announced that this declaration is in line with its initiative titled, Igbo Daily Celebrations and Memories, designed to celebrate, document and preserve Igbo history and memories.Many scholars have described Things Fall Apart as a masterpiece that is uniquely and richly African and often compared to the great Greek tragedies.
Aside from helping to showcase, celebrate and extol Igbo culture and traditions, Things Fall Apart projected the image and identity of Ndigbo across the globe. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, the book helped to create the Nigerian literary renaissance of the 1960s. All these and many more informed CFM’s decision to set aside June 17 as a date to annually celebrate this book described by the New Yorker as the “Great African Novel”.
To mark the 2020 Things Fall Apart Day (TFA-Day) on Wednesday, June 17, 2020, CFM will host an all-day online engagement on their Facebook handle – Ncheta Ndigbo. Lovers of Things Fall Apart are invited to share their favourite quotes from the book, pay tribute to the author, Chinua Achebe, and share their reflections on the bookthat Goodreads describes as the best-known African novel of the 20th century. Things Fall Apart has sold over 20 million copies and translated into fifty-seven languages.
