This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-22634418
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Chinua Achebe: Nigeria to hold funeral for author | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Renowned Nigerian author Chinua Achebe, who died in March, is due to be buried in his home town in Anambra state. | |
Mr Achebe's body arrived back in Nigeria on Wednesday from the US. The author died in Boston at the age of 82 following a brief illness. | |
Relatives and officials were at Enugu airport in southern Nigeria as the coffin was lowered from the plane. | |
Mr Achebe is widely regarded as the founding father of African literature in English. | Mr Achebe is widely regarded as the founding father of African literature in English. |
His 1958 debut novel, Things Fall Apart, which dealt with the impact of colonialism in Africa, has sold more than 10 million copies. | His 1958 debut novel, Things Fall Apart, which dealt with the impact of colonialism in Africa, has sold more than 10 million copies. |
The writer and academic went on to write more than 20 works - some fiercely critical of politicians and what he described as a failure of leadership in Nigeria. | |
He had been living in the US since 1990 after a car crash left him partially paralysed and in a wheelchair, returning to Nigeria infrequently. | |
Cultural groups performed outside Enugu airport as the plane carrying Mr Achebe's body arrived. | Cultural groups performed outside Enugu airport as the plane carrying Mr Achebe's body arrived. |
The BBC's Will Ross in Enugu says that although people are mourning, the life of the influential Nigerian writer is also being celebrated. | The BBC's Will Ross in Enugu says that although people are mourning, the life of the influential Nigerian writer is also being celebrated. |
Mr Achebe's body is due to be buried near his family's home in Ogidi, a small town in the hills of Anambra state, later on Thursday. | |