Africa's Tarnished Name
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- Create Date：2021-04-02 14:54:39
- Update Date：2025-09-07
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- Author：Chinua Achebe
- ISBN：0241338832
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Summary
He needed to hear Africa speak for itself after a lifetime of hearing Africa spoken about by others
Electrifying essays on the history， complexity， diversity of a continent， from the father of modern African literature。
Penguin Modern: fifty new books celebrating the pioneering spirit of the iconic Penguin Modern Classics series， with each one offering a concentrated hit of its contemporary， international flavour。 Here are authors ranging from Kathy Acker to James Baldwin， Truman Capote to Stanislaw Lem and George Orwell to Shirley Jackson; essays radical and inspiring; poems moving and disturbing; stories surreal and fabulous; taking us from the deep South to modern Japan， New York's underground scene to the farthest reaches of outer space。
Electrifying essays on the history， complexity， diversity of a continent， from the father of modern African literature。
Penguin Modern: fifty new books celebrating the pioneering spirit of the iconic Penguin Modern Classics series， with each one offering a concentrated hit of its contemporary， international flavour。 Here are authors ranging from Kathy Acker to James Baldwin， Truman Capote to Stanislaw Lem and George Orwell to Shirley Jackson; essays radical and inspiring; poems moving and disturbing; stories surreal and fabulous; taking us from the deep South to modern Japan， New York's underground scene to the farthest reaches of outer space。
Reviews
Holly
，
4 readable and thought-provoking short essays。 I never get tired of reading Chinua Achebe。
kwame
，
Chinua Achebe was a Nigerian novelist， poet， professor， and critic。 I understand he published a total of 29 books， with a range of subject matters and content。 However， the central theme was always to tell Africa's story。 From his perspective， not from the lens of westerner but from an author that was well-positioned to bring to light many complex and， at times， delicate issues of a continent rich in culture and natural resources。Africa's Tarnished Name is a collection of essays describing the a Chinua Achebe was a Nigerian novelist， poet， professor， and critic。 I understand he published a total of 29 books， with a range of subject matters and content。 However， the central theme was always to tell Africa's story。 From his perspective， not from the lens of westerner but from an author that was well-positioned to bring to light many complex and， at times， delicate issues of a continent rich in culture and natural resources。Africa's Tarnished Name is a collection of essays describing the authors' personal experience of being Nigeran and navigating the world around him。 He talks candidly about Africa betrayed by its leaders， western governments， and global institutions such as The World Bank。 These stories will arm the reader with knowledge， wisdom， and history。I was left enlightened， and I aim to read more from the literary genius， Chinua Achebe。 。。。more
Tom Hollingsworth
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Sorry Kirstin。 You'll have to come down soon and read it next ！ Sorry Kirstin。 You'll have to come down soon and read it next ！ 。。。more
Karolína Klinková
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"Our humanity is contingent on the humanity of our fellows。 No person or group can be human alone。" "Our humanity is contingent on the humanity of our fellows。 No person or group can be human alone。" 。。。more
Guchu
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I wish the essays were longer - other than that the collection is magnificent （of course）！
Caitlin Tweddle
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The final essay “Africa Is People” just took my breath away。 Will lay firmly lodged in my consciousness - what a privilege to read。
Kizanne James
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"Africa is people" "Africa is people" 。。。more
Tutankhamun18
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This contains 4 essays。 I adore Achebes non fiction writing style。 It is just as masterful as in his fiction。 He states the facts clearly， with illustrative elements and highly quotable， and often lyrical， conclusions。What is Nigeria to me？This was the least strong of the essays to me。 I think I just wasnt the target audience。Traveling WhiteThis was interesting showing Achebes experience travelling through Zambia/ Zimbabwe/ South Africa - travelling through seperation between black and white and This contains 4 essays。 I adore Achebes non fiction writing style。 It is just as masterful as in his fiction。 He states the facts clearly， with illustrative elements and highly quotable， and often lyrical， conclusions。What is Nigeria to me？This was the least strong of the essays to me。 I think I just wasnt the target audience。Traveling WhiteThis was interesting showing Achebes experience travelling through Zambia/ Zimbabwe/ South Africa - travelling through seperation between black and white and him being unaware of such。Africas Tarnished NameVery accomplished。 He speaks about how the literary cannon and the news have created a narrative around Africa that paints it in an undeveloped， unrefined and savage light。 This was used as justification for the slave trade。 Today it feeds our prejudices。 The speaks about Jospeh Conrads racist portrayal of Africa and shows and his idol， a man 44 years his senior David Livingston， shows none of these racist ideas - therefore it is not of the time but of the person。“Without a doubt， the times in which we live influence our behaviour， but the best or merely the better among us， like Livingstone， are never held hostage by their names。” “ Africans are not really served by his compassion， whatever it means; they ask for one thing alone- to be seen for what they really are: human beings。”Africa is People“Africa is people may seem too simple and too obvious to some of us。 But I have found in the course of my travels through the world that the most simple things can still give us a lot of trouble， even the brightest among us: and this is particularly so in matters concerning Africa。”Highlights how African countries became so poor despite their natural capital。 “Who will pay the penalty of structural adjustment？ Of course， that question is already irrelevant。 The people are already adjusted to grinding poverty and long-range instability。” 。。。more
Afroqueen1904
，
"For too long the world has been content to judge peoples and nations in distress largely on the basis of received stereotypes drawn from mythologies of oppression。"I genuinely enjoyed reading this short collection of four essays by the renowned Nigerian author Chinua Achebe。 In it he shares his views on how Africa and its people are misrepresented in the rest of the world。I was particularly engaged in his criticism of Joseph Conrad's famous novel 'Heart of Darkness'。 Achebe denounced Conrad's p "For too long the world has been content to judge peoples and nations in distress largely on the basis of received stereotypes drawn from mythologies of oppression。"I genuinely enjoyed reading this short collection of four essays by the renowned Nigerian author Chinua Achebe。 In it he shares his views on how Africa and its people are misrepresented in the rest of the world。I was particularly engaged in his criticism of Joseph Conrad's famous novel 'Heart of Darkness'。 Achebe denounced Conrad's portrayal of Africa， especially the words he chose to describe the Continent and its people。 I could sense the anger and frustration that Achebe felt about the dehumanization of his people。 I actually had Conrad's book on my list of books to read but after reading Achebe's analysis of it I have unceremoniously removed it from said list。 Normally I will give a book and its author the benefit of the doubt and read it to form my own opinion but the quotes I read from Achebe's essay left a horrible feeling in my soul。 Achebe also writes about his frustrations regarding the West's constant， self-serving and frequently bloody interference in Africa and that made me realize how much I still have to learn about African history。 Achebe's writing captivated me，left me craving for more and all that is left to do is to go get my next fix。Highly recommended。 "I have news for you。 Africa is not fiction。 Africa is people，real people。" 。。。more
Tanja
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The title essay is really illuminating， the rest is okay。 A must-read for someone who isn’t that familiar in postcolonial theory， though。
Andrea
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Esta ha sido una buena lectura para empezar mi año lector。 Me está encantando la no ficción de Achebe， así que estoy deseando ver cómo es su ficción。Este librito contiene cuatro ensayos/transcripciones de discursos en los que se habla principalmente de la mala representación que Occidente ha hecho de África。 En este caso se para principalmente en la literatura。 Eso quiere decir que vemos a Achebe destripando a Conrad y siempre es un placer leer algo así。 Quitando todo lo que dice de El corazón d Esta ha sido una buena lectura para empezar mi año lector。 Me está encantando la no ficción de Achebe， así que estoy deseando ver cómo es su ficción。Este librito contiene cuatro ensayos/transcripciones de discursos en los que se habla principalmente de la mala representación que Occidente ha hecho de África。 En este caso se para principalmente en la literatura。 Eso quiere decir que vemos a Achebe destripando a Conrad y siempre es un placer leer algo así。 Quitando todo lo que dice de El corazón de las tinieblas， una de las partes más interesantes es que menciona la influencia que tiene la ficción en nuestra percepción del mundo。 Para que esto quede claro pone un ejemplo que podemos comprobar fácilmente porque menciona el nombre completo de la persona de la que habla。 Nos cuenta la influencia que tuvo uno de sus libros a la hora de hacer que una persona que tenía pensado irse a vivir a Ghana cambiara completamente de opinión y decidiera quedarse en su país。 Eso demuestra el poder que puede tener una novela a la hora de hacer cambios en nuestra vida y en nuestra forma de percibir ciertas cosas。 En este caso nos encontramos con una persona que tenía pensado ir a Ghana a comprarse un terreno y pasar allí sus años como jubilado y， por lo tanto， aprovecharse de que su dinero tiene un valor mucho más alto cuando se hace el cambio de moneda， etc。 Esta persona cambia totalmente de idea al leer una novela。 Una novela es capaz de hacer que su percepción de África cambie。 La ficción es poderosa。Lo más importante de todo es que siempre hemos visto una versión de África explicada por Europa y no por la propia África。 Los cambios que vemos en su percepción se deben a que por fin estamos viendo el continente africano explicado por personas africanas。 Ese es el caso de la novela de Achebe y la influencia que tuvo en este juez alemán。 Es el poder de escuchar las voces que realmente importan。También pone en manifiesto cosas como que la excusa que tenemos para defender algunos clásicos -"simplemente refleja la forma de pensar de la época"- se quedan muy desfasados。 Él pone el ejemplo de Conrad。 Se utiliza constantemente esta excusa para defender la descripción del Congo y de sus habitantes que hace en su novela。 Lo que hace Achebe es rebuscar entre las personas que admiraba Conrad y que había leído en su vida para ver qué tipo de descripciones hacen de África。 La realidad es que son más positivas que las que hace él。 Por lo tanto， esto nos demuestra que la percepción que se tenía en décadas anteriores a Conrad era más amable， cosas que deja en evidencia lo racista que era。Son 56 páginas de nada pero es evidente que se saca mucho de ellas。 。。。more
Shamim Khan
，
A star less， only because I didn't wanted this piece to end。 Chinua Achebe is essential。 So essential。 A star less， only because I didn't wanted this piece to end。 Chinua Achebe is essential。 So essential。 。。。more
Michael Annor
，
Very thought provoking essays on Africa。 Achebe’s wealth of experience guides the reader on how to objectively think and talk about Africa， and to come face to face with the real， urgent responsibility to do what we must to reverse the misfortunes carried over from generations past and even in today’s day。 For me， the biggest lesson/reminder across the 4 essays was “Africa is people”。 Whether you like it or not， whether it fits neatly into your frame of reference or not， we are people， and rich Very thought provoking essays on Africa。 Achebe’s wealth of experience guides the reader on how to objectively think and talk about Africa， and to come face to face with the real， urgent responsibility to do what we must to reverse the misfortunes carried over from generations past and even in today’s day。 For me， the biggest lesson/reminder across the 4 essays was “Africa is people”。 Whether you like it or not， whether it fits neatly into your frame of reference or not， we are people， and rich or poor， deserve dignity and respect。 。。。more
Philip
，
Short but clear。
Niamh Fennell
，
Achebe’s writing is captivating and enlightening。 This tiny book taught me more about African history than my whole school education， which is completely outrageous。 I think a good starting point would be to include this book in every school syllabus around the country， it’s a tiny book and is the least we could do。 Obviously， I realise this isn’t enough and I believe we ought to rethink our whole education system to include a non-colonial perspective， one which doesn’t paint Britain as （falsely Achebe’s writing is captivating and enlightening。 This tiny book taught me more about African history than my whole school education， which is completely outrageous。 I think a good starting point would be to include this book in every school syllabus around the country， it’s a tiny book and is the least we could do。 Obviously， I realise this isn’t enough and I believe we ought to rethink our whole education system to include a non-colonial perspective， one which doesn’t paint Britain as （falsely） heroic。 But Achebe’s tiny book is surely a good place to start。 。。。more
Beatriz Martins
，
“Our humanity is contingent on the humanity of our fellows。 No person or group can be human alone。 We rise above the animal together， or not at all。 If we learned that lesson even this late in the day， we would have taken a truly millennial step forward。”
Marina Hurt
，
After this reading， I'll never consider Joseph Conrad's work the same way I did at university。 After this reading， I'll never consider Joseph Conrad's work the same way I did at university。 。。。more
Callum
，
Actually amazing， exudes intelligence
Emma Angeline
，
they really should have made us a read this on comp lit
Lucy
，
4。5
Misha
，
The other reviewers here characterise Chinua Achebe as 'angry' and 'sassy'， but my impression of this book was the total opposite。 While Afro-pessimists like Frank B。 Wilderson III exude resentment and hostility in regards to racial issues， Achebe emanates compassion， community， and hope。 He expresses his disappointment in the mythology that has surrounded and harmed the African people for centuries， but recommends a unifying humanist view on race as the most effective antidote。This is not to sa The other reviewers here characterise Chinua Achebe as 'angry' and 'sassy'， but my impression of this book was the total opposite。 While Afro-pessimists like Frank B。 Wilderson III exude resentment and hostility in regards to racial issues， Achebe emanates compassion， community， and hope。 He expresses his disappointment in the mythology that has surrounded and harmed the African people for centuries， but recommends a unifying humanist view on race as the most effective antidote。This is not to say that Achebe is in any way pandering to the whites， by diluting the cruel truths about racism with more attractive euphemisms。 Achebe is clear about injustice and proud of his African heritage。 But he is also critical of African countries， where criticism is justified。 He speaks of Nigeria as 'neither his mother nor his father'， but as his child， in that it is "Gifted， enormously talented， prodigiously endowed， and incredibly wayward。" I think this is the most healthy mentality towards this most unfortunate continent: a recognition that failings are there， both from the African countries themselves and from the Western institutions responsible for innumerable disasters， but also a belief that the future is hopeful， and that a new， richer， happier and more prosperous Africa is possible once we finally start treating Africa as people。 。。。more
Lucy Hodgeon
，
Although short， this book really packs a punch。 The three essays included are incredibly informative， covering a huge range of information about Africa both from a personal perspective and a more general one。 The essays may require some background knowledge but I think they are also hugely accessible and everyone would benefit from reading them， either to refresh what they already know or to guide further research。Achebe's writing is beautiful， aiding this accessibility。 He writes with humility， Although short， this book really packs a punch。 The three essays included are incredibly informative， covering a huge range of information about Africa both from a personal perspective and a more general one。 The essays may require some background knowledge but I think they are also hugely accessible and everyone would benefit from reading them， either to refresh what they already know or to guide further research。Achebe's writing is beautiful， aiding this accessibility。 He writes with humility， humor， and stark truthfulness。 The essays， some of which were delivered as speeches， are therefore incredibly enjoyable to read。 I would recommend them to anyone and I look forward to reading more of Achebe's work in the future。 。。。more
Lewis
，
This was such a profound read， oh my gosh。 It was so great to get the chance to read these and delve into Achebe's works in such an easy way due to the length of this book; this will definitely encourage me to pick up more of his works！ This was such a profound read， oh my gosh。 It was so great to get the chance to read these and delve into Achebe's works in such an easy way due to the length of this book; this will definitely encourage me to pick up more of his works！ 。。。more
Maimoona Malik
，
“。。their tongues speak sweetly， like some of Homer’s Greeks， but their hearts are closed。”
Georgia
，
Really good， Chinua Achebe is a wee bit of a legend and now I want to read things fall apart
Sara Marston
，
Not very long as I read this in a day but I thoroughly enjoyed it。 This was my first of Chinua Achebe's work and I fell in love with his writing。 Not very long as I read this in a day but I thoroughly enjoyed it。 This was my first of Chinua Achebe's work and I fell in love with his writing。 。。。more
Katrina
，
This was brilliant， illuminating and heart-breaking。 I'll definitely come back to these speeches/essays at a later point。 This was brilliant， illuminating and heart-breaking。 I'll definitely come back to these speeches/essays at a later point。 。。。more
Elliot Techie
，
A really powerful set of speeches from a brilliant writer。 It really opened my eyes to how many biases towards countries in Africa I hold as a white person and how I need to work to get rid of them。 I really enjoyed Achebe’s discussion of how an artist being from a certain century， does not excuse their attitudes to race。
Charlotte Clementine
，
A necessary reading to confront the imperialistic view of Africa that has been fed to us for centuries and continues to poison minds today。
Marie
，
Gives you a glimpse of the fucked up world we live in
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Africa's Tarnished Name
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Africa's Tarnished Name&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft