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Chinua Achebe: Nigeria holds funeral for author | Chinua Achebe: Nigeria holds funeral for author |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Thousands of mourners are attending the funeral of renowned Nigerian author Chinua Achebe in his home town in Anambra state. | Thousands of mourners are attending the funeral of renowned Nigerian author Chinua Achebe in his home town in Anambra state. |
Mr Achebe's body arrived back in Nigeria on Wednesday from the US, where he died in March at the age of 82. | Mr Achebe's body arrived back in Nigeria on Wednesday from the US, where he died in March at the age of 82. |
Relatives and officials were at Enugu airport in southern Nigeria as the coffin was lowered from the plane. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
'Illustrious son' | |
The BBC's Will Ross reports from the funeral that Mr Achebe is being given a colourful, grand send off in his home town of Ogidi. | The BBC's Will Ross reports from the funeral that Mr Achebe is being given a colourful, grand send off in his home town of Ogidi. |
Much of what he abhorred is on full display at the service - political patronage and the trappings of power, he says. | Much of what he abhorred is on full display at the service - political patronage and the trappings of power, he says. |
Local politicians were escorted into the church by men from the State Security Service wielding sophisticated weapons while a large number of men and women came dressed head to toe in political party outfits, our reporter adds. | Local politicians were escorted into the church by men from the State Security Service wielding sophisticated weapons while a large number of men and women came dressed head to toe in political party outfits, our reporter adds. |
Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan and Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama flew in by helicopter to attend the service at the packed Anglican church in Ogidi. | Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan and Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama flew in by helicopter to attend the service at the packed Anglican church in Ogidi. |
Thousands of mourners are following proceedings from huge marquees erected outside. | Thousands of mourners are following proceedings from huge marquees erected outside. |
Although people are mourning, the life of the influential Nigerian writer is also being celebrated, our reporter says. | Although people are mourning, the life of the influential Nigerian writer is also being celebrated, our reporter says. |
"I left my house in Asaba (a nearby city) at 05:00 this morning (04:00 GMT) in order to pay my last respects for this illustrious son of Nigeria who has done his people proud," said Sylvanus John, a 31-year-old engineer, AFP news agency reports. | "I left my house in Asaba (a nearby city) at 05:00 this morning (04:00 GMT) in order to pay my last respects for this illustrious son of Nigeria who has done his people proud," said Sylvanus John, a 31-year-old engineer, AFP news agency reports. |
Mr Achebe's body will be buried near his family's home in Ogidi, a small town in the hills of Anambra state, later on Thursday. | Mr Achebe's body will be buried near his family's home in Ogidi, a small town in the hills of Anambra state, later on Thursday. |