Wole Soyinka is clearly the Father of African Literature. He has the Highest and most Coveted Literary Award in the World (Nobel Prize in Literature) amongst many other Prestigious Awards. He is a Lion who won all the Jewels needed to be won. I'm proud to be a Yoruba/Anago man.
Bro, I don't mean to burst your bubble. But do you know the meaning and geopolitical purpose of Nobel Prize whether in peace or literature or not? Hell will freeze over before Achebe wins the Nobel Prize in Literature even if he lives all over again. Please read: Chinweizu: The Black World and the Nobel (1987) to gain a better understanding of the world we live in.
@@taiwodosunmu7590 forget tribal sentiments how can he be the father of African literature when there have been so many inspirational African writers before him. He is not even the father of Nigeria literature. Achebe is the father of "modern" African literature. Am sure the Ekwensi work inspired Soyinka. WS is just the only Nigerian writer that won a Nobel prize but mind you there's other prestigious prize aside from the Nobel prize
The Nobel prize is great for sure. But in honesty, it's nothing compared to being the best and only Black man to be an all time bestseller. Things fall apart sold 20,000000 copies. No other Black in literary history, not even an African American author has accomplished that. Michelle Obama sold 14 million for her biography. Yet, as popular as she was, she couldn't outsell Things Fall Apart. Please, Let that sink in.
As a graduate of African literature, i had the privilege of studying both men's works....while they're both great, Achebe is just something else. Achebe is a legend...!
Chinua Achebe was a story teller and he was great at it.Wole Soyinka on the other hand is a multi talented human being.soyinka is a story teller as well.he is also a poet,a dramatist,an activist.play writer,producer. I was shocked when I heard Soyinka speaking fluent french.
Any comparison between Achebe and Soyinka is hogwash. Literature is not a discipline every Dick and Harry is competent to pass a comment on just because they read Chike and the River.Imagine a spare parts dealer commenting brain surgery just because he was given Panadol for his headache sometime in the past.
I have heard so many non Nigerians audiences take a reference from Achebe. Achebe a giant of his generation and Soyinka a giant of another generation. I will give it to Tai Solarin.
In the UK where there are worldwide bestselling authors and Nobel winners, I am not aware of any comparisons or arguments as to who is best amongst them. They are all celebrated. In Nigeria we waste so much time on what divides us than what unites us. This Achebe/Soyinka thing has been going on for years and some people are hell bent on dragging Soyinka down especially since 2023 elections. Let them carry on.
Tribalism is an evil curse. If you find yourself denigrating one over the other in order to uplift your tribe, you are affected by the curse and should seek deliverance. They are both great authors with different styles. Both are Nigerians. You can prefer one without denigrating the other.
“I would argue that The Greatest Book in English Language is “Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe” ---------- British MP Tom Tugendhat, during UK Parliamentary Hearing November 26, 2020 on the aftermath of the EndSars Protest.
It's always sad and intellectual laziness when people make comments without thorough research. This argument about Achebe and Soyinka is needless except for ethnic jingoism and intellectual dishonesty. There's really no comparison between Achebe and Wole Soyinka. While Wole Soyinka has done well in the literary enterprise, Achebe is much more ahead. First of all, the Nobel prize is an award. It's a prestigious one but it's an award all the same. There are other awards in the world. There are great writers who never won the award. One of such is Leo Tolskoy. Chinua Achebe did not win for obvious reasons of attacking the West. But he didn't need the Nobel prize to be who he was and is today. Achebe is globally celebrated as the Father or patriarch of Modern African Literature. No honor in literature is greater than that. He was honored with over 50 honorary degrees from universities around the world. Before Things Fall Apart Africa had literary works quite alright but there was no such characterization as African literature. On account of the genius of that work, the global appeal, the number of translations, the millions of copies sold, the opening of doors for other African works to be influenced, published. Achebe was the editor of Heinamans African Writers Series for years and he helped pushed, published and exposed alot of African literary works. Things Fall Apart is studied is colleges and universities across US and around the world. Achebe was the first living author to be included in Everyman's dictionary. Achebe's influence on upcoming African writers and world literature at large is unparalleled. When some say his writing is simple, they're only being mischievous. His writings can drown simpletons. His depth of ideology is not commonplace. His use of literary device is otherworldly. Achebe reinvented the English language and writes without the sheerest sense of anxiety or the burden to impress. He writes so naturally and freely. To say Soyinka"s writings are for intellectuals and Achebe's for common readers is laughable. Literature is meant to be read by many and not put in a museum. Achebe's works are loved by all and studied at all levels of academic pursuit - even the highest level. That's a mark of genius to achieve such a feat, a work that carries both a simplicity and depth that appeals to all. Someone said Soyinka' is bread. Achebe is air! I can't argue with that analogy! Things Fall Apart is on the list of several rankings - The 100 greatest books of all times. One of such rankings is from Times Magazine. Another is from BBC. Yet another is from the Norwegian Book Club, organized by the Nobel Committee. They gathered writers, Nobel lauretes, intellectuals on around the world to select the 100 greatest books of all time. Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart made the list. None of Wole Soyinka's works made it to the list. Note that Soyinka was part of those brought in by the committee to do the selection. Just in recent years, Achebe's Things Fall Apart is amongst the 12 greatest books ever written. This selection was done by Britannica Encyclopedia. Things Fall Apart, No longer at Ease, Arrow of God form the African Trilogy. Google African trilogy and see what comes out. One man's 3 books regarded as the African trilogy? No African writer alive, dead or dying compares to Achebe. Soyinka is great but Achebe is on a league of his own. No comparison!!!
All ibo comments are the same, but they're quick to accuse others of tribalism. Soyinka become their enemy for not supporting obi otherwise, how would you not know Soyinka is ahead of any writer from the east including the so called achebe
No matter your assessments and comments about these two great Nigeria writers, the fact remains, one used JSS 3 level English for his moonlight novels, while the other is still using Post Graduate English language for his playwright. You ought to know that, moonlight stories is different to playwright. By the way, why can’t you people let the sleep dog lying? Look here, when God crowned Lion in the jungle, who among you have audacity to question God? God has crowned the Lion, those that are still grumbling and murmuring can jump into lagoon on the third mainland bridge in Lagos. Make sure you jump into the sea when there is no passers by. Finally, go and read Achebe’s “There was a Country”
Achebe books are reader friendly but WS works are made strictly for intellectuals. You can't read and comprehend the man's work easily. Infact if you want to buy a book by WS please buy a dictionary too.
There is no contest. Please go and find out how many languages the novel Things Fall Apart is translated to. All the works of Professor Gbajue can not match that single book.
There is absolutely no sense in this silly comparison. Comparing the two great men is not only mischievous but also diabolical. They are both literary icons in their own right
I think that Soyinka's Nobel prize was awarded as an affirmative action gesture. Who on earth will like to be called a racist? His body of work does not merit that prize at all. This has always been my position.
You write as if you dont know how Nobel prize is awarded? But it is apparent that you know. But you make it look like a panel just sits and gives the award. That is where affirmative action can come in. Why write as if you dont know what literature is? Achebe is a great prose writer, Soyinka is a playwright, a poet and a prose writer too. That is total literature. There are people who have won Nobel prize in literature only by their prolific prose writing. And given the success of Achebe's prose works, he deserved the Nobel prize too. But to say Wole Soyinkas body of works does not deserve the award of Nobel prize is ridiculous. The Nobel prize is not just about how popular your work is among the street readers, but also about how the literary world views the content and appreciates it. Achebes works appeal to the common readers. The language of Soyinkas works are more profound. You mean the literary giants all over the world who voted for Soyinka did not know what literary works are all about? We are not talking about Nobel prize for peace.
@@limatglobaltemp7181 You have to consider the people who sit on the panel that decides who wins the prize. Do you think that these people would ever live with themselves without lowering the bar a little to accommodate some Africans? I think so and many other people think so too. I will try to find a video of an African gentleman who said as much9 I cannot promise that I can find it that easily but I am going to try). I just don't see that his body of work deserved such honour and that is my argument.
It's abominable to even think that these literary doyens can weighed in some mindless GenZee scale. This is intellectual sacrilege. Respect yourself.Your restless age mates are similarly advised to heed the same.
I'm a Ugandan and I make my honest judgement that Chinua Achebe's work is second to none. He is the best of all African writers.
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Wole Soyinka is clearly the Father of African Literature. He has the Highest and most Coveted Literary Award in the World (Nobel Prize in Literature) amongst many other Prestigious Awards. He is a Lion who won all the Jewels needed to be won. I'm proud to be a Yoruba/Anago man.
@taiwodosunmu7590 thanks for watching
Bro,
I don't mean to burst your bubble. But do you know the meaning and geopolitical purpose of Nobel Prize whether in peace or literature or not? Hell will freeze over before Achebe wins the Nobel Prize in Literature even if he lives all over again.
Please read: Chinweizu: The Black World and the Nobel (1987) to gain a better understanding of the world we live in.
@RadioTV595 Thanks for watching
@@taiwodosunmu7590 forget tribal sentiments how can he be the father of African literature when there have been so many inspirational African writers before him. He is not even the father of Nigeria literature. Achebe is the father of "modern" African literature. Am sure the Ekwensi work inspired Soyinka.
WS is just the only Nigerian writer that won a Nobel prize but mind you there's other prestigious prize aside from the Nobel prize
The Nobel prize is great for sure. But in honesty, it's nothing compared to being the best and only Black man to be an all time bestseller. Things fall apart sold 20,000000 copies. No other Black in literary history, not even an African American author has accomplished that. Michelle Obama sold 14 million for her biography. Yet, as popular as she was, she couldn't outsell Things Fall Apart. Please, Let that sink in.
As a graduate of African literature, i had the privilege of studying both men's works....while they're both great, Achebe is just something else. Achebe is a legend...!
Thanks for watching
No contest, even internationally many years after his death his works especially the THINGS FALL APART still greatly invaluable
Thanks for watching
What dis you mean n'y invaluable mean ( something that dors not have value
Chinua Achebe was a story teller and he was great at it.Wole Soyinka on the other hand is a multi talented human being.soyinka is a story teller as well.he is also a poet,a dramatist,an activist.play writer,producer. I was shocked when I heard Soyinka speaking fluent french.
I was shocked too
Thanks for watching..
He's a genius!
A giant amongst his peers.
Any comparison between Achebe and Soyinka is hogwash. Literature is not a discipline every Dick and Harry is competent to pass a comment on just because they read Chike and the River.Imagine a spare parts dealer commenting brain surgery just because he was given Panadol for his headache sometime in the past.
So what is your take on this?
I have heard so many non Nigerians audiences take a reference from Achebe. Achebe a giant of his generation and Soyinka a giant of another generation. I will give it to Tai Solarin.
Chinua Achebe Africa’s greatest writer, novelist and author of the book with the widest global readership.
Thanks for watching
Thanks for watching
Thanks for watching
In the UK where there are worldwide bestselling authors and Nobel winners, I am not aware of any comparisons or arguments as to who is best amongst them. They are all celebrated. In Nigeria we waste so much time on what divides us than what unites us. This Achebe/Soyinka thing has been going on for years and some people are hell bent on dragging Soyinka down especially since 2023 elections. Let them carry on.
Thanks for watching
I prefer the man who refused to die of Politics.
Thanks for watching
Subscribe
Tribalism is an evil curse.
If you find yourself denigrating one over the other in order to uplift your tribe, you are affected by the curse and should seek deliverance.
They are both great authors with different styles.
Both are Nigerians.
You can prefer one without denigrating the other.
Thanks for watching
One can't compare achebe and wole.
Achebe is far greater than wole
“I would argue that The Greatest Book in English Language is “Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe”
---------- British MP Tom Tugendhat, during UK Parliamentary Hearing November 26, 2020 on the aftermath of the EndSars Protest.
Thanks for watching
Nice one
Thank you
It's always sad and intellectual laziness when people make comments without thorough research. This argument about Achebe and Soyinka is needless except for ethnic jingoism and intellectual dishonesty.
There's really no comparison between Achebe and Wole Soyinka. While Wole Soyinka has done well in the literary enterprise, Achebe is much more ahead.
First of all, the Nobel prize is an award. It's a prestigious one but it's an award all the same. There are other awards in the world. There are great writers who never won the award. One of such is Leo Tolskoy. Chinua Achebe did not win for obvious reasons of attacking the West. But he didn't need the Nobel prize to be who he was and is today. Achebe is globally celebrated as the Father or patriarch of Modern African Literature. No honor in literature is greater than that. He was honored with over 50 honorary degrees from universities around the world. Before Things Fall Apart Africa had literary works quite alright but there was no such characterization as African literature. On account of the genius of that work, the global appeal, the number of translations, the millions of copies sold, the opening of doors for other African works to be influenced, published. Achebe was the editor of Heinamans African Writers Series for years and he helped pushed, published and exposed alot of African literary works.
Things Fall Apart is studied is colleges and universities across US and around the world. Achebe was the first living author to be included in Everyman's dictionary. Achebe's influence on upcoming African writers and world literature at large is unparalleled.
When some say his writing is simple, they're only being mischievous. His writings can drown simpletons. His depth of ideology is not commonplace. His use of literary device is otherworldly. Achebe reinvented the English language and writes without the sheerest sense of anxiety or the burden to impress. He writes so naturally and freely.
To say Soyinka"s writings are for intellectuals and Achebe's for common readers is laughable. Literature is meant to be read by many and not put in a museum. Achebe's works are loved by all and studied at all levels of academic pursuit - even the highest level. That's a mark of genius to achieve such a feat, a work that carries both a simplicity and depth that appeals to all.
Someone said Soyinka' is bread. Achebe is air! I can't argue with that analogy!
Things Fall Apart is on the list of several rankings - The 100 greatest books of all times. One of such rankings is from Times Magazine. Another is from BBC. Yet another is from the Norwegian Book Club, organized by the Nobel Committee. They gathered writers, Nobel lauretes, intellectuals on around the world to select the 100 greatest books of all time. Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart made the list. None of Wole Soyinka's works made it to the list. Note that Soyinka was part of those brought in by the committee to do the selection.
Just in recent years, Achebe's Things Fall Apart is amongst the 12 greatest books ever written. This selection was done by Britannica Encyclopedia.
Things Fall Apart, No longer at Ease, Arrow of God form the African Trilogy. Google African trilogy and see what comes out. One man's 3 books regarded as the African trilogy? No African writer alive, dead or dying compares to Achebe. Soyinka is great but Achebe is on a league of his own. No comparison!!!
@@EmmanuelCflo thanks for watching
@@EmmanuelCflo well said, a good novel is supposed to be reader friendly.
I swear @@topnotch676
Achebe is the greatest and recognised everywhere 👍💯
Thanks for watching
Thanks for watching
Thanks for watching
Achebe is the greatest and most influential. Soyinka won an oyibo award and that's it
They re our People
Thanks for watching
😂😂 what a silly and obtuse comment...
@@Cogiito You're an obtuse tribalist, always pained at the truth
@@obiflex
Languish in your eternal pain and agony.
Even the heavens won't rescue you, only you can.
Seek help and ablution from hate.
Who made Achebe the father of Africa literature?
Thanks for watching
Achebe
@@mattador2003 Thanks for watching
All ibo comments are the same, but they're quick to accuse others of tribalism. Soyinka become their enemy for not supporting obi otherwise, how would you not know Soyinka is ahead of any writer from the east including the so called achebe
Thanks for watching
Same with the Yorubas.... Think before you talk
Thanks for watching
No matter your assessments and comments about these two great Nigeria writers, the fact remains, one used JSS 3 level English for his moonlight novels, while the other is still using Post Graduate English language for his playwright.
You ought to know that, moonlight stories is different to playwright.
By the way, why can’t you people let the sleep dog lying?
Look here, when God crowned Lion in the jungle, who among you have audacity to question God?
God has crowned the Lion, those that are still grumbling and murmuring can jump into lagoon on the third mainland bridge in Lagos. Make sure you jump into the sea when there is no passers by.
Finally, go and read Achebe’s “There was a Country”
Achebe books are reader friendly but WS works are made strictly for intellectuals. You can't read and comprehend the man's work easily. Infact if you want to buy a book by WS please buy a dictionary too.
Thanks for watching
There is no contest. Please go and find out how many languages the novel Things Fall Apart is translated to.
All the works of Professor Gbajue can not match that single book.
Thanks for watching
Achebe.
Thanks for watching
Why this discussion?
It has been all over X.
Thanks for watching.
Good question. Ethnic hubris.
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We're not here for cultism.
Thanks for watching
There's no contest.
Non at all, just two Nigerians that have made us proud.
Thanks for watching
@@PeoplePlacesThings. Exactly 💯
Why this question, just to instigate Igbos and Yerobas to hating each other.
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I must say it meticulously that this is the beginning of ignorance.
Why comparisons, if I may ask?
😅😅
That's what was addressed
Thanks for commenting
There is absolutely no sense in this silly comparison. Comparing the two great men is not only mischievous but also diabolical. They are both literary icons in their own right
Thanks for watching
I think that Soyinka's Nobel prize was awarded as an affirmative action gesture. Who on earth will like to be called a racist? His body of work does not merit that prize at all. This has always been my position.
You write as if you dont know how Nobel prize is awarded? But it is apparent that you know. But you make it look like a panel just sits and gives the award. That is where affirmative action can come in. Why write as if you dont know what literature is? Achebe is a great prose writer, Soyinka is a playwright, a poet and a prose writer too. That is total literature. There are people who have won Nobel prize in literature only by their prolific prose writing. And given the success of Achebe's prose works, he deserved the Nobel prize too. But to say Wole Soyinkas body of works does not deserve the award of Nobel prize is ridiculous. The Nobel prize is not just about how popular your work is among the street readers, but also about how the literary world views the content and appreciates it. Achebes works appeal to the common readers. The language of Soyinkas works are more profound. You mean the literary giants all over the world who voted for Soyinka did not know what literary works are all about? We are not talking about Nobel prize for peace.
@@limatglobaltemp7181 You have to consider the people who sit on the panel that decides who wins the prize. Do you think that these people would ever live with themselves without lowering the bar a little to accommodate some Africans? I think so and many other people think so too. I will try to find a video of an African gentleman who said as much9 I cannot promise that I can find it that easily but I am going to try). I just don't see that his body of work deserved such honour and that is my argument.
Thanks for watching
Thanks for watching
Thanks for watching
How can you compare darkness and light. Achebe is light and wole soyinka is darkness.
Thanks for watching
It's abominable to even think that these literary doyens can weighed in some mindless GenZee scale. This is intellectual sacrilege. Respect yourself.Your restless age mates are similarly advised to heed the same.
Be calming down
Did you Really watch the Video
Thanks for watching.