NIGERIANS in the UK will hold a memorial service and a colourful cultural reception for Chinua Achebe on May 18 in London as part of the series of global activities earmarked to give the literary icon a fond farewell.
Professor Achebe's body will arrive in Abuja on May 12, sparking off a series of events and festivities that will continue until his final interment in Ogidi, Anambra State on May 23. Nigeria's UK diaspora community in conjunction with his family, the high commission and the wider literary world, have decided to organise their own celebration as part of this programme.
Their activities will kick off with a memorial service at All Saints Cathedral, New Cross, London which will be presided over by the Bishop of Southwark. Due to the sudden nature of the arrangement, the Archbishop of Canterbury will be unable to attend because of prior engagement but he is expected to send a representative.
Ubaka Alex Achebe, a family spokesman, said: "Apart from the Bishop of Southwark, the Bishops of Woolwich and London will also be there. There will be several cannons and vicars coming too, so we are expecting about a dozen clergymen.
"Originally, the event was to hold at Southwark Cathedral but due to the fact that the arrangements were only made last week when we got a final burial date, it was too late. Southwark Cathedral has been booked for another event but fortunately, All Saints Cathedral has offered to host the memorial service."
Ubaka continued, “After the service, guests will be treated to an evening of African culture, literature at the nearby Millwall Football Club's reception hall. There will be cultural troupes from all over Nigeria performing as well as those from Ghana, Kenya, the Caribbean and Congo, and a re-enactment of Things Fall Apart.
Dignitaries expected to attend include former Commonwealth secretary general Emeka Anyaoku as well as the Nigerian High Commissioner to the UK Dr Dalhatu Tafida, Chi Onwurah MP, Chuka Umunna MP, and the Mayor of Enfield Kate Anolue. Also expected are the Embassies representatives of Ghana, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and Côte d'Ivoire. The Anambra Women Group has offered to take care of catering on the day and treat guests to the best of Nigerian cuisine.
Dan Otuonye, the chair of the organising committee said: "We will print T-shirts, women's head ties and men's caps, which will be made available on the day. Igbo Youth Organisation will also entertain guests to the best of our culture."
Organisers have been split into cultural, security, publicity, catering and organising committees to ensure everything runs smoothly on the day. Several Nigerian authors and poets will also be expected to read from their books, while academics who worked with Professor Achebe will read out eulogies.
Ayo Akinfe, the chairman of the publicity committee, said: "Achebe was a global icon who cared passionately about humanity and we want this event to reflect his life. He straddled the literary, cultural, historical and humanist worlds, so it is only appropriate that any farewell we give him highlights his contributions in all these fields.
"There will be cultural troupes there to showcase how Achebe brought the attention of the world to the fact that we Africans actually have a culture and there will be literati there to highlight the fact that he was a genuine global icon. Things Fall Apart is the only African book that has sold 8m copies and been translated into 50 different languages, making it the most read novel from the continent."
Organisers are in the process of raising funds for the event and are calling for donations from members of the public. A bank account has been opened with Natwest to which donors can make contributions.
Its account number is 80122914 and its sort code is 602327. It has an account name of A Achebe and donors are being advised to reference their payments: Chinua Achebe UK Burial Committee.
A website has also been created where further information will be available and a Facebook page has been opened. The website address is www.chinuaachebememorialuk.com.
Over the coming weeks, publicity for the event will be stepped up and a series of meetings will be held with the High Commission and the Central Association for Nigerians in the UK. Organisers are expecting at least 700 guests on the day.
Organising committee
Sir Dan Otuonye - Chair
Zona Onubogu
Mike Merenini
Mike Udeogba
Ichie Aaron Muorah
Cultural committee
Ifeanyi Okongwu - Chair
Okechukwu Nwajagu
Security committee
Ken Tabansi
Catering committee
Susan Obi Smith
Publicity committee
Ayo Akinfe - Chair
Nnamdi Kanu
Edwin Ajoku
Ezennaya Chiekezi
Professor Osita Okagbue
SOURCE: Nigerian Watch
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