I don't recall where or when I first heard of the great Nigerian author Chinua Achebe. It certainly wasn't in high school or college, where I and so many others would have greatly benefited from experiencing his insightful and superbly written novels - from "Things Fall Apart,'' "Anthills of the Savannah,'' to "No Longer to East'' and "Arrow of God.''
What I do remember is how reading his first book, "Things Fall Apart,'' made me feel. Achebe lifted the veil of mystery of the dynamics involved in Europe's physical, psychological, spiritual and mental  assault on Africa and her disapora.
It reinforced the knowledge and pride I have in the Motherland's rich culture, deep, indigenous spiritualism. It gave me a real breakdown of the breakdown from which we are still recovering.

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