English and the African Writer

In his essay, "English and the African Writer" Chinua Achebe reflects on the role of language and power, focusing on African Literature and the misunderstandings that come with it, whether it is produced in Africa or about Africa, and what it is about.

Achebe's main purpose was to communicate the idea about the definition of African literature, how complex of a term it is and how it is being treated around the world. He does this through explaining his experience at a conference focused on African literature in English, stating opinions of other authors and sharing his opinion about the use of the English language in literature in general.

Achebe view of the British/English language is that it is present in Africa and is the primary language of the majority of countries in the continent because of the colonization by the British. He asserts, “[African countries] were created in the first place by the intervention of the British, which, I hasten to add, is not saying that the peoples comprising these nations were invented by the British.” Moreover he claims that the English language is inherited, and through a common language to start off, it has given hundreds of separate communities a mutual tongue to communicate and coexist. He emphasizes that this language is one to appreciate as it has brought with it great things, yet he understands that many may resent it as the foreigners who brought it included “items of doubtful value and the positive atrocity of racial arrogance and prejudice.”

Achebe believes that the justification for using English as a means of communication in his novel is necessary because of two main reasons. First of all it is the national language of Nigeria, where his story is based. And secondly writing it in a language of a smaller community like the Igbo one would limit the novel to those who speak it.  

The influence of the British led to a high socio-political change, including, racial ignorance and arrogance as well as infallible prejudice. Achebe points to the irony at work when presented with work by authors such as Shabaan Robert, the Swahili poet of Tanganyika, as he could not understand his work, and would not, until he learned the language, if possible.

Writers who choose to publish in the colonial languages of English and French, are not, Achebe believes, "unpatriotic smart-alecs," they are in fact, "by-products of the same process that made the new nation-states of Africa."

Achebe draws to a conclusion by referring to the work of James Baldwin in the London Observer. He draws a parallel between this work and his own ideas by altering the language in order to suit his new African surroundings.