Review: The Trouble with Nigeria by Chinua Achebe
Title: The Trouble with Nigeria
Author: Achebe, Chinua
Length: 67 pages
Genre: Non-Fiction, Politics, History
Publisher / Year: Heinmann / 1983
Source: Book Depository
Rating: 4.5/5
Why I Read It: Geosi reviewed this and really piqued my interest.
Date Read: 15/11/11
This was a very slim book – at first I wondered really how much could it cover in 67 pages. If you’ve been following for some time you’ve likely seen a few reviews that hint at the environmental, tribal, and corruption troubles that plague Nigeria. I should never have doubted Achebe though, as he packs quite a punch in this slim volume and says a lot through careful selection.
The book contains sections on: Where the Problem Lies; Tribalism; False Image of Ourselves; Leadership, Nigerian Style; Patriotism; Social Injustice and the Cult of Mediocrity; Indiscipline; Corruption; The Igbo Problem, and; The Example of Aminu Kano. Each section examines a slice of the trouble and builds upon the section prior. As they build up the full picture comes into focus, and Achebe’s love for his country and desperation to see it turn around are on evidence.
The problem, Achebe says, is a failure of leadership which causes all these other issues. The book is a call, he says on page 2, to ordinary citizens to do more.
The aim of this booklet is to challenge such resignation. It calls on all thoughtful Nigerians to rise up today and reject those habits which cripple our aspiration and inhibit our chances of becoming a modern and attractive country.
He then goes on to discuss the basic principles and values of the country. With a motto on the Nigerian coat of arms reading On Unity and Faith, Achebe asks unity in what? and faith in what? It is easy to be united in disorder and corruption, but that isn’t what the country should be united in. He raises some interesting points on virtues in this discussion on page 12.
Another really interesting point is made on page 24 when Achebe says:
Without peace no meaningful social programme can be undertaken; without justice social order is constantly threatened. And the reason is simple. A normal sensible person will wait for his turn if he is sure that the shares will go around; if not he might start a scramble.
Right now, Achebe says, it is a scramble in all levels. And of course all the citizens will scramble when they have so little and the elite have so much. Especially when that is the example given to them by the elite. If the country had better leaders who could take stands against corruption, it would definitely have huge trickle down effects that would aid in bringing social programs, peace, social order and justice.
He says on page 53:
We have stood too long on the side-lines; and too many of us have adopted the cynical attitude that since you cannot beat them you must join them.
Our inaction or cynical action are a serious betrayal of our education, of our historic mission and of succeeding generations who will have no future unless we save it now for them.
I wonder what Achebe would say now, almost 30 years after writing this volume, with the country having only slid further into more and more of these troubles that he describes. I would love to hear his opinion on his country now and if he still has the same hope for it, or if he is becoming weary of the state of affairs. A very interesting read that I’m glad I picked up, though again, I would love an update!
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I am glad you enjoyed this.
Thank you for the review and recommendation Geosi!
Wow, all of that in 67 pages?! Really is hard to imagine!
Achebe has a way with words Emily Jane!
This looks like a wonderful book, Amy! I think in some ways what Achebe says is true for many developing countries – the elite monopolizing the use of resources and opportunities, the rich-poor divide increasing exponentially, corruption at all levels of government, everyone scrambling for things, the common man not having any kind of faith on the government and preferring to avoid the government office at all costs. Sad.
Yes, I think that is true Vishy. The easy money from oil certainly doesn’t help, though Achebe doesn’t directly reference that fact.
Achebe still speaks quite often of Nigeria. Here’s just an example: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/9052622.stm It’s a clip from an interview with him last year marking Nigeria’s 50 years of independence
Oh I remember seeing that, such a fantastic piece Cassie. Thank you for sharing the link!
This, I must read. I read Geosi’ review and now yours.
Yes, I would be interested to hear your thoughts Nana!
At 67 pages, this looks like a worthy read and definitely eye-opening. I’ll put this in my wishlist now. Thanks Amy for sharing this!
I hope you enjoy it JoV!
I love that so much is said in such a small volume; reading the work of people who are still able put their ideas and thoughts in such a concise way is such a pleasure!
Also, sounds like a lot of his thoughts are timeless.
Being concise is a skill I have yet to master Bina
Achebe does it fantastically though, and yes, definitely timeless.
It sounds like he accomplished a tremendous amount in 67 pages. I love concise, meaty writing.
Yes, Achebe is a fantastic wordsmith laughingstars66 – a lot to love in this slim volume.
I have read a lot of books lately set in Africa and have really developed in interest in their people and politics. I will have to add this one to my collection.
Glad to hear it Lisa! I hope that you really enjoy this one and get as much out of it as I did.
You peaked my interest here!
I’m glad to hear it Sheila
Wow! It does seem like he has a lot to say about all this in such a slim space! It sounds also like he has thought so deeply on these issues and that if he were in a position of leadership thing might have a chance of turning around. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on this little book with us. It made for very interesting reading.
Yes, Achebe, or any of the literary greats of Africa really!, in a leadership position would surely see big and wonderful changes I think zibilee!
In 1993 The Sunday Times in London named him one of the 1 000 Makers of the 20th Century for his contribution to creating a modern African literature that was truly African. More than 30 universities have awarded him honorary degrees.Last year Achebe won the Man Booker International Prize which goes once every two years to a writer for a body of work the shortlist included Margaret Atwood Don DeLillo the 2007 Nobel Prize laureate Doris Lessing Ian McEwan Philip Roth and Salman Rushdie.Things Fall Apart emerged at a time when very few Africans had written novels. Achebe forged an original voice by merging African storytelling traditions with elements of the Western literature that he most admired growing up including one of its foundations Greek tragedy as well as modernist techniques like the breaking of linear sequence. But I knew that there was a story that was needed that was waiting to come.
Yes Achebe truly was a unique and founding voice to the English African lit beginnings anyway Dennis V. Berry. Thanks for the comment.
The book is my assignment but d review is not enough.Thanks anyways.
Sadly you will have to do your own assignment it seems Daphne, yes…
The review is great…Thanks so much for that
Thank you prinzarthur.
Yeah amy. The book is wonderful but if you had read it, you ll see it hardly has any solution to problems listed there.. Am from Nigeria and reviewing the novel as a semester work and also wood like hear what the author ll have to say about the country at this present time
Thank you for the comment Ebuka. I did read it and you are right, not a ton of solutions, but still very interesting.
I just finished the book, literally minutes ago, and then found this review. A truly riveting piece, and I find myself believing, as a Ghanaian, that this book could have been written about Ghana as well. It’s usually same difference between Ghana and Nigeria, they just have the kind of scale that makes the trouble all the more evident to everyone. My third Achebe after Things Fall Apart and Man of the People, and I can’t agree with you more about his genius. Will definitely put up a review myself!
Thank you for your comment Agana – if and when you post a review please send me the link! I’d love to see your thoughts on it. I’ve read less on Ghana but have heard that there are some similarities. I had thought Ghana had less of the same issues but the fact that it is on a smaller scale could be a part of that. Interesting!
Very apt review. Does stimulate my interest. I’ve read most of his books but this was unknown to me. I just saw the book referenced in D.J. Smiths’ book; A Culture of corruption: everyday deception and popular discontent in Nigeria. Princeton University Press.(2007), and I had to find out more. Incidentally, I’m Nigerian. Just to think that 20 years or so ago I lived on the next street from him at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, attending school with his daughter, Nwando… Didn’t think he was anything special. As I age I begin to appreciate the insight of the man!!
I’m glad I could point this one out to you Tony. How interesting that you have a bit of a personal experience with him – it’s true that we only realize how remarkable people are with time isn’t it? Smith’s A Culture of Corruption sounds fantastic, I’m going to have to look it up now for myself.
j ai un examen sur ce livre et j avoue que ce resume m’a beaucoup aidé merci
Glad it helped you aicha. All the best and thank you for the visit.
I stumbled on the book last Friday.One chapter into the book, I couldnt help but recommended it to all friends who have a passion for the country. Being a Nigerian, I agree with every word he wrote. Timeless piece from a master. He surely was ahead of his time. You did a good job with the review. However, the part where he mentioned the poverty of thought on the part of our founding fathers got to me. That really is where our problem lies.
So glad to hear that you agree with what he wrote and are enjoying the book Ibe Ogueri. It’s hard for me to know if it is accurate or not as I’ve never been to your country so it is good to hear from you. Thank you for the visit and the comment. Happy reading!
yeah….guys u r ryt….but Achabe didnt really said anything on intermarrital ethnic conflict….dat is also another trouble in nigeria u know
Interesting Maryam, would be interested in hearing more for sure.
despite achibe concern and hope for the betterment of his motherland, there has been little or no changes. Terrorism, corruption , tribalism has become the order of the day. Even the security agents have done little to help. We are left at the mercy of revolution, we wish what had happened in libya, egypt will happen in nigeria..
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Thank you for your comment Romeo, really interesting to read your opinions. I’ll be watching to see if your predictions come true – they do seem possible for sure.
I am a Nigerian, and although I agree with Mr. Achebe’s views on Nigeria, I think he puts more emphasis on the fact that the problems in Nigeria lies with the leadership, rather than placing some problems on the shoulders of the citizens as well. You might probably be interested in works by Abubakar Gimba; he’d once written a letter to Mr. Achebe addressing this fact.
When Achebe wrote the book he had the intention of things getting better but instead it went for the worst. So many problems like Boko haram, removal of oil subsidy without minding the boko haram crisis, Assu strike etc. Let’s just wait for the out come of the sovereign national confrence and see if it’s the way forward.
Thanks for the recommendation of Gimba Yasmin, I’ll check the author out for sure. And Romeo, yes, there seems to still be many issues – many of them still the same or similar as what Achebe pointed out too.
I never read a book like this.
The Book Trouble With Nigeria say’s all fact about our past ero mistakes wich lead to the trouble we are into today,my question is this felo Nigerians how can we correct this mistake and take our country higher.
Apart from being a prolific writer and one with foresight, Chinua is a patriot whose passion for putting things right in Nigeria has been misunderstood by our very corrupt and fallacious leaders as being treacherous. He’s an inspiration and my mentor.