Technology giant, Google has honoured Nigerian literary icon, Chinua Achebe on its doodle, adding up to the long list of awards clinched by the writer in life and in death.
Surrounded by symbols, donning his signature cap and spectacles, Chinua Achebe is pictured in front of a green banner decorated with icons of his most famous literary works in Thursday’s Google Doodle. The illustration honors the legacy of the renowned Nigerian writer on what would be his 87th birthday.
Widely regarded as the father of modern African literature, Achebe was an illustrious author whose work sought to reclaim Africa’s literary voice from Western control. Achebe rose to international prominence when he published Things Fall Apart at 28 years-old.
Based on his own family heritage and upbringing, the story recounts the demise of an Ibo man in southeastern Nigeria under the oppression of 19th century British colonial rule. The book is now a classic and required reading for students, selling more than 20 million copies and translated into 57 different languages.
Google said on its website on Thursday that it honoured Achebe on its doodle today; Nov. 16 would have been Achebe’s 87th birthday.
Google Doodle is a special logo on Google’s homepage that is always temporarily alternated and intended to celebrate holidays, events, achievements and people.
Google said that Achebe had been honoured to underscore his status as a figure of 20th century literature.
”One man took it upon himself to tell the world the story of Nigeria through the eyes of its own people.
”Chinua Achebe was the studious son of an evangelical priest. A student of English literature, he started writing in the 1950s, choosing English as his medium but weaving the storytelling tradition of the Igbo people into his books.
”His characters were insiders, everyday people such as the village chief (in Things Fall Apart); the priest (in Arrow of God) or the school teacher (in A Man of the People).
”Through their stories, we witness a Nigeria at the crossroads of civilisation, culture and generations.”
The search engine said that Achebe’s pen brought to life the land and traditions of the Igbo, the hum of everyday village life; the anticipation and excitement of sacred masquerades.
Google added that Achebe’s pen brought to life the stories of the elders and the honour of warriors; the joy of family and the grief of loss.
It said that Achebe was considered by many to be the father of modern African literature and was awarded the Man Booker Prize in 2007.
Surrounded by iconic images of his most famous literary works, today’s Doodle celebrates Achebe’s legacy on what would have been his 87th birthday.
Achebe died in March, 2013 at the age of 82.
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