50 years ago African literature was redefined with the publication of Things Fall Apart.  Tayari Jones offers nice behind the scene insights gathered from a recent event celebrating the book and its author.

USAfrica will honor 50 Years of Chinua Achebe’s masterpiece ‘THINGS FALL APART’ by holding the 2008 ‘USAfrica international Harvest of Achebe’, beginning on 08-08-08 in Houston, Texas. The August 8 and 9, 2008 special events respecting Achebe’s 1958 masterpiece, ‘Things Fall Apart’ will include critical insights, harvest of ideas, international reviews of the epic work, theatrical and cultural performances in honor of the father of modern African literature, the distinguished Prof. CHINUA ACHEBE. The ‘USAfrica BEST OF AFRICA’ 1st Lifetime Award will be presented to Prof. Achebe.