THE STORY
“A major writer combines these three- storyteller, teacher, enchanter- but it is the enchanter in him that predominates and makes him a major writer”- Vladmir Nabokov.
Chinua Achebe is a major writer.
In keeping with my New Year Resolution to read more, I got a copy of Anthills of the Savannah and true to Vladmir Nabokov’s prescription above, I was enchanted by Achebe’s wresting of beauty out of the English Language; Anthills of the Savannah is like a compendium of skillfully wielded metaphors-uniquely African metaphors- from a master storyteller.
Below is an excerpt, one of my favourite portions:
To some of us the Owner of the World has apportioned the gift to tell their fellows that the time to get up has finally come. To others He gives the eagerness to rise when they hear the call; to rise with racing blood and put on their garbs of war and go to the boundary of their town to engage the invading enemy boldly in battle. And then there are those others whose part is to wait and when the struggle is ended, to take over and recount its story.
The sounding of the battle-drum is important; the fierce waging of the war itself is important; and the telling of the story afterwards-each is important in its own way. I tell you there is not one of them we could do without. But if you ask me which of them takes the eagle-feather I will say boldly: the story…….only the story can continue beyond the war and the warrior. It is the story that outlives the sound of war-drums and the exploits of brave fighters. It is the story, not the others, that saves our progeny from blundering like blind beggars into the spikes of the cactus fence. The story is our escort; without it we are blind. Does the blind man own his escort? No, neither do we the story; rather it is the story that owns us and directs us. It is the thing that makes us different from cattle; it is the mark on the face that sets one people apart from their neighbours.
Story-telling. Teaching. Enchantment.
