Achebe drew the world closer-Obama

United States President, Barack
Obama and his wife, Michelle have
described
the late Nigerian novelist, Prof. Chinua
Achebe
as a “Revolutionary author, educator, and
cultural ambassador.”
In a letter made available to Vanguard but
addressed to the Achebe family and read
by a
White House representative, at the
Celebration of Life event for Chinua
Achebe,
last Sunday night, at the Andrew Mellon
Auditorium, Washington, DC 20240,
Obama
and First Lady Michelle Obama said
Achebe
was a “Revolutionary author, educator,
and
cultural ambassador.
“Achebe shattered the conventions of
literature and shaped the collective
identity of
Nigerians throughout the world. With a
dream
of taking on misperceptions of his
homeland,
he gave voice to perspectives that
cultivated
understanding and drew our world closer
together. His legacy will endure in the
hearts
of all whose lives he touched with the
everlasting power of his art.”
The event which also featured an arts
exhibition and reception kicked off at 6
pm.
Other highlights of the event included
tributes from public and private friends
and
dignitaries, cultural dance troupes, music,
masquerades and tributes.
The Francesca Harper project provided a
thrilling ballet and the former Nigerian
based
US citizen, Chuck Mike theatre group
enthralled the crowd with a theatrical
production of a scene from Achebe’s
Things
Fall Apart.
Professor Mike reportedly had the
audience
laughing with his rendition of his
experiences
in Nigeria and the idiosyncratic tendency
of
Nigerians to respond with the phrase “we
thank God” when asked a variety of
questions
in various scenarios.
The Afrobeat band Eme and Heteru
thrilled
the crowd with electrifying music.
Speakers
included the host, Johnnetta Cole,
President
emeritus of Spelman and Bennet Colleges
and
now director of the Smithonian museum
of
African Art; Ruth Simmons, former
president
of Brown University, Poet Sonia Sanchez,
Micere Mugo and Simon Gikandi, Scott
Moyers, president of Penguin, and Jules
Chametzky, professor emeriti of Umass
Amherst, where Achebe spent time in the world