Wole Soyinka & J.P. Clark Links Achebe’s Death to Kano Bombings

The news of the death of Nigeria's literary icon Chinua Achebe,
shocked the country.
The renowned novelist, poet, and author of the classic novel, ' Things
Fall Apart ' passed away yesterday in Boston, U.S.A and since then,
tributes and condolences have been pouring in.
Reports say that he died after suffering from an undisclosed ailment
and although the nature of the ailment has not been revealed, veteran
writers and Achebe's compatriots, Prof. Wole Soyinka and J.P. Clark ,
have said his death may not be unconnected to the bomb attacks that
occurred in Kano on Monday.
In a joint statement they issued on Friday which was made available to
Punch , they described him as "a brother, a colleague, a trailblazer".
The statement entitled " On the Passing of Chinua Achebe ," reads:
"For us, the loss of Chinua Achebe is, above all else, intensely
personal. We have lost a brother, a colleague, a trailblazer and a
doughty fighter.
"Of the 'pioneer quartet' of contemporary Nigerian literature, two
voices have been silenced – one, of the poet Christopher Okigbo, and
now, the novelist Chinua Achebe.
"It is perhaps difficult for outsiders of that intimate circle to
appreciate this sense of depletion, but we take consolation in the
young generation of writers to whom the baton has been passed, those
who have already creatively ensured that there is no break in the
continuum of the literary vocation.
"We need to stress this at a critical time of Nigerian history, where
the forces of darkness appear to overshadow the illumination of
existence that literature represents.
"These are forces that arrogantly pride themselves implacable and
brutal enemies of what Chinua and his pen represented, not merely for
the African continent, but for humanity.
"Indeed, we cannot help wondering if the recent insensate massacre of
Chinua's people in Kano, only a few days ago, hastened the fatal
undermining of that resilient will that had sustained him so many
years after his crippling accident."
Even though he lived far away in U.S.A, Achebe was still connected to
his roots and followed closely the happenings in Nigeria.