A Man of the People (Penguin Modern Classics) [Englisch] [Taschenbuch]

"A Man of the People" is another excellent and moving book by the world renowned Nigerian writer, Chinua Achebe. His other classic books include: "Things Fall Apart" and "No Longer at Ease".

Chinua Achebe is a gifted story teller. From his writings, one can picture life in his native country and particularly of his Ibo clan. In "A Man of the People", Achebe depicts the life of a post-colonial African politician, who is part of the new elite that has replaced the former colonial masters. Just like the pigs in "Animal Farm by George Orwell", these political elite create a good life for themselves at the expense of the masses, the ordinary folk.

Achebe points out some of the cancer that has infected post colonial Africa of corruption, violence and unbridled greed, which created untold suffering and despair following the initial euphoria, high expectations and optimism that greeted independence. Achebe develops the story in a powerful, humorous, witty and masterful way that clearly shows why he is one of the greatest novelists to have graced the African continent. He is one of my favourite writers.

I recommend his collection of books to anyone who wishes to understand developments on the African continent as well as the high quality of African literature. The books ought to be mandatory reading for the English literature curriculum for schools and colleges in Africa.

This novel tells the story of a hapless schoolteacher who enters politics seeking personal revenge after his girlfriend is seduced by a sleazy politician. The book has wry humor, deftly-drawn characters, and a knowing, nuanced view of "ground reality" politics in Africa. It isn't Dostoevesky but it makes the reader laugh and think -- and it's only 149 pages!

I haven't read all of Achebe's works, but so far this is the best. There are two main reasons: storytelling and insight to Nigeria, and by extension, Africa. If you're going to read one Achebe book, it should be this one (unless you're specifically interested in pre-colonial/early colonial setting which would be "Things Fall Apart").

Storytelling: Achebe's strengths are highlighted and weaknesses hidden in this tale. The plot is well-paced, taut and compelling. The style is sharp with a masterful balance of attention amongst setting, characters, and action. In short, "readability" or "page-turnability" is high. The pidgin English conversation may cause a few stumbles for the reader but overall it is more value-added than obstacle. Female characters are still rather more flat than males, which is usual for Achebe.

Insight: The beauty of the storytelling is matched by the contextual insight. In fact, this is the most important aspect of the story for me. One can look up Nigerian history and read that the First Republic lasted from 1960 to 1966, fraught with social unrest and ended by coup and Biafran Civil War in '67. Achebe fills in this time and place with living color - insight as to splits in society, individual motivations, and the legacy of colonial ideas mixing with traditional. He wrote the story real-time, that is, without big picture hindsight of the coup so as to align historical details. However, this makes his prescience all the more remarkable.

Specific observations:
- The single most profoundly insightful scene I've read by Achebe occurs with the post sex-with-Jean drive around Bori (a made-up name - all locations are thus as a means of self-preservation vs Nigerian state censorship and punishment). Though succinct, so much is illustrated about the contradictions inherent in post-colonial Nigerian society as people wend through the frustrating amalgamation of Western and traditional practices.

- Underlying themes are important. It is evident that things are getting worse economically only a few years after independence (1960). There is implication that Nigeria is living partially on the dole as colonial firms still have an important role in the economy. There is also an anti-intellectual movement underfoot. This may be a backlash from the lack of meritocracy and obsession with titles, status, and civil service wealth identified in Achebe's previous story, "No Longer At Ease."

- Achebe tells us that essentially, the second "Scramble for Africa" is INTERNAL. Nigerian elites are grabbing for positions of power and dedicating themselves to consolidating their status while giving lip service to nationalism. The ideals of democracy are trod underfoot by the traditional tendency towards "big man" patron-client apparatus development. The intensity of the struggle over power stems from the rigid assumption of a zero-sum game and lack of true national public interest.

- In Shakespearean tradition, the characters are vibrant and flawed. Hypocrisy abounds as personal agendas and ideological principles intertwine. The most cynical actors of all are the common people. They are so jaded about their leaders and politics that they have no expectations. Indignation about governance inadequacy is bearable; certainly there is no motivation to mobilize and force change - instead everyone remains preoccupied with myopic survival strategies to secure what crumbs that are available from the national "cake." However, this is no "Goodfellas" (the 1990 movie that most people think is brilliant but I absolutely hate because there is not a single redeeming character in it that one can empathize with). Achebe's characters cause head shaking but empathy at the same time. In particular, Eunice is perhaps a Weberian "ideal type" that provides sharp contrast - thoroughly admirable and uncompromising to the end.

- The violence and manipulation dominating elections is far from anachronistic; these details resonate as if written only a few years ago. Elections in Nigeria have changed little, even since the return to civilian rule after Abacha in 1999. The 2007 election, in fact, was judged to be arguably the worst EVER in post-colonial history. Achebe shrewdly and poetically shares with the reader the hints as to "why" the country has been this way.

Happy reading!