Acclaimed Nigerian author and cultural icon Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie will headline the first-ever Things Fall Apart Festival, a week-long literary and cultural celebration honoring the legacy of the late Chinua Achebe.
The festival marks a significant expansion of the annual Things Fall Apart Day, now in its fifth year, evolving into a full-scale cultural event designed to reflect Achebe’s towering influence in world literature.
Adichie, who is currently promoting her upcoming novel Dream Count—her first in over a decade—will return to Nigeria to deliver the keynote address titled “Masculine, Feminine, Human: The Dialogue of Complements in Things Fall Apart.” Her keynote will explore themes of gender, identity, and cultural dualities embedded in Achebe’s landmark novel, offering a contemporary perspective on its lasting relevance.
According to festival organizers, Adichie’s participation represents a significant homecoming and an intellectual tribute to one of her most important literary influences.
“The festival is a bold, expansive gesture; one that seeks to honor Chinua Achebe’s legacy not just through remembrance, but through vibrant, living conversation,” said James Eze, Chair of the Festival Planning Committee. “We are thrilled to welcome Chimamanda back home for this pivotal moment in Nigerian literary history.”
The festival program includes a wide range of activities designed to engage the public, including:
- Art exhibitions and curated film screenings
- Guided memory walks through historic Enugu
- Student and public essay competitions
- Live dramatic performances and staged readings
- Technology-driven installations and panel discussions
- A reimagined “Umuofia Village” experience
One of the week’s most anticipated highlights will be the appearance of cast members from the iconic 1987 television adaptation of Things Fall Apart, including celebrated Nollywood actor Pete Edochie, who portrayed Okonkwo. The festival will also feature the Ajofia masquerade, bringing to life one of the novel’s most powerful symbolic elements.
The event is scheduled to take place in Enugu from June 29 to July 5, 2025, and is organized by the Centre for Memories – Ncheta Ndigbo.
Bakare Oluwatobiloba
I write to educate, motivate and define history with literature. Just being me!
