As part of the promotion of the 67th Anniversary of the publication of THINGS FALL APART, late Professor Chinua Achebe’s classic, public reading and recording of excerpts of the book is being organized by the Center for Memories, the organizers of the week-long programme, which holds from Sunday, June 29 to Saturday, July 5, 2025, in Enugu, the Coal City.
According to Prince Richard Agu, individuals are being nominated by the Center to read excerpts of the world-acclaimed book, and after their reading and recording sessions, they nominate others to read after them.
He said he was nominated by Mr. Emeka Ugwu-Oju, Founder, N.E.S.H. Foundation, and thereafter, he nominated Professor Okey Oji, a scholar and academic.
THINGS FALL APART was published on June 17, 1958 and has become a globally celebrated classic which has been translated into more than 50 languages and has sold over 20 million copies across the world.
The theme of the 67th Anniversary of the novel’s publication is “MASCULINE, FEMININE, HUMAN: The Dialogue of Complements in Things Fall Apart,” and the Keynote Speaker will be the globally celebrated writer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
Prince Agu, an English Studies major who later studied Law, while elaborating on the reading and recording sessions said he was invited to the office of the Chairman of Enugu Sports Club, Barr Ifeanyi Nweke, by his friend and brother, Chief Ben Etiaba (Ifenna Nnewi), “who is also, like me, a former Chairman of the Club.
“There, the team from the Centre for Memories recorded my reading of a self chosen excerpt from Things Fall Apart. It was interesting reading the excerpt. I had studied the book both as a secondary school student and also as a student of English at the then University of Ife, now OAU (Obafemi Awolowo University), and also taught it in so many secondary schools, all so many years ago!!!
“Incidentally too, Achebe died during my tenure as Club Chairman and, supported by Senator Chuka Utazi, I organized a tribute session in his honour at the club.”
Agu, who prefers to be referred to as a public intellectual, assured that he would be part of the Things Fall Apart Festival, which will have people from all over the world attending, and urged all his members of his family, friends, associates and fellow Nigerians to also be in Enugu for the historic event.
