Honoring Chinua Achebe:

A Lebanese-Nigerian Celebration 

The links between Nigeria and Lebanon are well known. But in many ways these links have been one-sided and one-dimensional. What is sorely lacking is the dimension of mutual cultural exchange. Without cultural exchange, these relations risk being reduced to commercial relations only, wherein consumerism and materialism dominate practically all walks of life. But if human beings are social, artistic and spiritual beings by nature, as the great late Chinua Achebe (1930-2013) believed, then the area of culture ought to take pride of place. Inspired, therefore, by his life and moved by his death, we, Lebanese and Nigerians, are happy to announce a celebration of the life and work of Chinua Achebe through an International Conference at NDU on March 21st, the one year anniversary of Achebe’s death.