Of Swords and Parasols

Based on lectures given by Achebe in 1998, Home and Exile is a collection of three essays about Nigeria and colonialism. Gracious even when tearing into those he perceives* to misrepresent Nigeria, Achebe intricately examines both colonial and anti-colonial writings about Nigeria and the European perspective of it.

It’s noteworthy, though, that while Achebe far more than adequately addresses these issues regarding Nigerian men, I don’t believe Nigerian women are mentioned at all. In fact, while many men are mentioned on both sides of the issue, women are barely mentioned at all, and when they are, they represent colonialism, whether real women like Elspeth Huxley, or in allegories in which they’re cogs in the great machine that is colonialism.

But that’s a quibble, as Achebe’s goal is to address Nigeria and colonialism, and he does that well.

*I say “perceives” not because I have any doubts about his interpretation, but because I’m not familiar with many of the books and arguments mentioned, and so can’t actually have an opinion of them myself, though I agree regarding the ones I am familiar with.