BOOK REVIEW BOOK TITLE: A MAN FOR THE PEOPE AUTHOR –CHINUA ACHEBE DATE OF PUBLICATION: 1988 PUBLISHER: HEINEMANN EDUCATIONAL PLUBLSHERS BOKE PAGES: 361 (THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY ONE)

INTRODUCTION

A Man of the People is a novel about Nigeria's halting first steps to form a post-colonial nation, told by Odili Samalu, a teacher turned politician, who takes on his former teacher, a now-corrupt member of the cabinet.

Odili Samalu needs to tell the story of how he leaves the teaching profession in a small village school and enters partisan politics as the opponent of powerful man, once his revered teacher. Odili resents having to stand in a reception line for Chief Nanga, with whom he has grown disillusioned since he called for the head of the Minister of Finance and denounced Western-influenced intellectuals. At university, Odili had hoped for a successful career, which his father, a wealthy and hated retired politician, identifies with government office. Odili and the old polygamist are currently observing a truce in their stormy relationship. This paper tries to give a summary analysis of chapters of the novel

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Chinua Achebe, a strong voice for African literature, was born in 1930 in Ogidi.  His father was a Christian evangelist and teacher. Achebe's full name is Albert Chinualumogu Achebe.  He studied broadcasting with the BBC and received a BA in 1953.  Over the course of his life he has written nearly 300 books and has become a powerful influence in the Nigerian politics.  His writings are aimed toward a select group of people in Africa, not only those who can read, but those educated above the basic level, who have enough money to purchase the book.  "Paradoxically enough, his writings are probably better known outside his own country than in it." (K.W.J. Post, v) This idea of an "aimed audience"implies that Achebe wants countries with power and a say in the world to understand the lives of the people from his part of the world, West Africa.

Chapter 1

Chief Nanga (Minister of Culture) comes to his hometown (village) of Anata.  He is “a man of the people.”  Background on his rise to power.  He recognizes and remembers Odili, who is a teacher in the village.  He invites him to come stay within him in the city. The corruption and the politics are introduced. Would a sensible man “spit out a juicy morsel that good fortune placed in his mouth.” showing tip of tongue to sky to swear oath? 

Chief M. A. Nanga, M.P., praised as a true "man of the people," comes to be feted at his hometown grammar school. The Assembly Hall is overflowing as dance groups and the hunters' guild signal a great event. The narrator, Odili Samalu, resents such extravagance in inflationary times and wishes people were less ignorant and cynical and able to see that Nanga is using his position to enrich himself. In 1948, 16 years ago, a handsome, young Nanga is Odili's beloved teacher - and Odili is Nanga's favorite pupil. Odili takes pride in Nanga's early political career, and is active in the student's branch of the People's Organization Party (POP). In 1960, however, Odili is disillusioned when the POP government reacts to an economic slump that plays into the hands of its weak rival, the Progressive Alliance Party (PAP), not by adopting a recovery plan but by printing

Chapter 2

After Independence, it is who you know, not what you know that matters, and Odili cannot lick boots. He teaches in a small private school for the autonomy. It does not cross his mind to seek help from Nanga in getting a scholarship for post-graduate work in London. Kadibe made the trip last year and learned much, just being in Europe. Nanga raises the question himself at the end of the reception, subtly suggesting Odili spend the holidays with him and meet the Minister of Overseas Training. In two months, Nanga is going to the U.S. to receive an honorary doctorate, which will push his eminence past Dr. Mongo Sego, M.P. Nwege glares at Odili as he takes down Nanga's address and threatens to tell Nanga about his views.

Background on Odili and Else, his friend with benefits.  Also meet his friend Andrew.  Odili is firm in his aspirations and his work to keep his actions ‘clean.’  He will not stoop to cronyism to get the scholarship to London that he desires.  There is a universal disdain among politicians for education abroad, however Nanga still looks forward to his upcoming honorary law degree from a small college in US. Objectification and devaluation of women shown in anecdotes.

Chapter 3

Odili takes Peter to visit their home village, Urua, 15 miles from Anata. Odili has matters to discuss with his father, Hezekiah Samalu. Odili envies Peter's enthusiastic gift buying for his own parents. Odili's mother, his father's second wife, dies giving birth to him, so Odili is considered an unlucky child. First wife "Mama" raises him and his many stepsiblings on an equal footing, but Odili feels something is missing. Father is a district interpreter, a job that makes him a minor god to the people: powerful, wealthy, and hated. The children grow up knowing the world is full of enemies and obsequious friends. While in secondary school, Odili is expelled from a friend's home when his father's identity is revealed. Only when Odili earns a scholarship to university does he dare stand up to his demanding father, who currently has five wives and 35 children.

Odili goes to Nanga’s and is welcomed warmly.  Background on Odili’s father, a district interpreter—a powerful and hated man with five wives and 35 children.  Odili’s mother died giving birth to him—there’s shame associated with this.  Odili and Nanga visit Chief Koko, who handles education abroad, but they don’t get a chance to discuss the scholarship.   After independence the value of education becomes inverted.  Proximity to power is most important.   Corruption feeds and multiplies bureaucracy and vice versa.  OHMS, which the elite don’t use. (Our Home Made Stuff) the gap between power and previous life is so huge that it feeds corruption

Chapter 4

Odili dislikes waking early, but Nanga rouses him on his way out to work. Mrs. Nanga is taking the children to Anata after Christmas, lest they lose touch with their heritage. Odili is happy about this because it will be less awkward to bring Elsie to the guest suite. During his brief stay, Odili happily learns things in government are not as ugly as he has suspected since 1960. He busies himself browsing in Nanga's library and reading incongruous stories in the newspaper. One reports new statutes on excrement pails while Odili lives in a house with seven bathrooms. Most of his life he has used pit latrines, and his few experiences with pails are so revolting he avoids eating so as not to have bowel movements. That had been in Giligili, where he had lived as a houseboy for his half-sister's family.

Mrs. Nanga gets ready to leave with the children to visit her village, which they do at least once a year.  Americans John and Jean stop by.  Jean flirts shamelessly with Nanga while her husband highbrows it with Odili.  Jean and John work in public relations for Nigeria in their efforts with the U.S. - Good details about racism and lynching in the US to contrast with Nigeria’s problems. 

Chapter 5

Jean does not let John's absence on assignment in Abaka interfere with plans for a dinner with Nanga and Odili. Plans break down when Mrs. Akilo arrives that evening after an 80-mile drive. The Akilos together practice law. Odili feels awkward in the presence of this sophisticated woman with whom Nanga doubtless will have sex tonight. She insists on staying in a hotel rather than Mrs. Nanga's bedroom, and they arrange to meet for dinner. Nanga is certain Jean will arrange transportation home for Odili after her party. The dinner is "nine pence talk and three pence chop." Odili's closeness to Nanga brings him attention, which makes him loquacious. He prides himself on correcting an English guest's misunderstanding of an African gesture; he digresses to note another incident in which he straightens out a French art critic's scandalous misunderstanding of a religious mask

Odili goes to Jean’s party and ends up sleeping with her.  He finds that he doesn’t really like her but ask to see her again.  For American, Africans are a novelty, one that they hold apart and distinct from the ‘blacks’ back home.  At the dinner party, Odili has a good time.  Nanga never ends up going because Mrs. Akilo arrives at his home—we find out later that he sleeps with her. Shaking the fist is a sign of great honour and respect.

Chapter 6

The Elsie Odili comes to Bori to see is on night-duty but has 2 days off, during which she and a friend (for Nanga) will come to the house. Nanga's ministerial car has no trouble getting through the hospital gate, delivering Odili to a forbidden nighttime visit to the female nurses' quarters. Elsie is drowsy but desirable and desiring. The friend intended for Nanga is less pretty and very talkative. Odili hopes Nanga will not want to swap. He tells Elsie about the other Elsie he has met at a party and is glad to see her jealous. The chauffeur, who is ready to leave, interrupts their banter. Elsie is impressed by the Cadillac and proprietary as she says good-bye.

On Thursday evening, Nanga is scheduled to open the first-ever book exhibition of a local author. Odili visits Elsie and sets up a date.  He takes Nanga’s Cadillac which impresses her.  They all go together to a book exhibition to hear Nanga speak.  - Objectification of women again.  - Jalio wrote fictional Song of the Blackbird.

Chapter 7

Nanga is a born politician, able to get away with anything and sway anyone. He can say harsh things but hold no malice inside. He is so open and kind Odili cannot take him seriously. Nanga is applauded at the end of his speech when he prophesies Nigeria will soon have world-class authors like the British and is asked for copies of the speech by Jalio and the greasy-looking editor of the Daily Matchet. A few days earlier, Odili had watched the editor uncomfortably solicit rent money from the Minister, who gave in lest he publish some rubbish about him. Nanga calls freedom of the press the freedom to assassinate character. No one but God is perfect, but they should at least criticize constructively. Riding home, Odili fawns over the speech as he throbs with expectation of being alone with Elsie

Nanga makes a good speech and they return home.  He comments that he likes Jalio after he sees various ambassadors fawning over the author.  They eat dinner and Nanga has sex with Elsie!  Odili loses it when he hears them (she is screaming Odili’s name in a perverse twist) and leaves the house at 4AM.  He comes back in the morning and curses out Nanga and heads to Maxwell’s.   - a dash is a small loan or bribe—this destigmatizes corruption—it’s just a small quick thing after all. 

Chapter 8

Odili feels the night's humiliation only after Max leaves for court. He had been able to do nothing about it. He wonders if Elsie will spend another night and thinks briefly of placing an anonymous phone call. He wonders now whether all the trivial thoughts filling his mind had been a smokescreen for weighty decisions taking form. He recalls a teacher's recommendation he read all the questions on an exam and start answering the easiest ones, allowing his subconscious to sort the others out. Manhood demands he avenge Nanga's shameful treatment, and Odili suddenly realizes he can do this through the intended parlor wife. Odili is cheerful when Max comes home and over dinner tells the story lightly, playing down humiliation and playing up revenge. Max agrees putting juju on the woman will catch the old rotter. Max says Nanga shows what happens when intelligent people abandon politics.

Odili plots revenge against Nanga.  Maxwell hold a meeting of the Common People’s Convention (CPC).  While the party has Communist undertones, Maxwell is quick to reject that label.  He reveals that the CPC has an inside man in the current government.  All the politicians care for are women, cars, landed property.  It’s like a rap video today.  Case in point: some in the older generation wish the white man had never left - “it is only when you are close to a man that you can begin to smell his breath”

Chapter 9

Odili returns to Anata on Dec. 23, and finds crowds gathered outside Josiah's. A villager who offers to carry Odili's box asks whether he knows Azoge, the blind beggar. Josiah gets Azoge drunk, steals his stick, and replaces it with a new one, thinking Azoge will not notice. Josiah wants the old one for juju - to make medicine for trade. Odili is still unclear when he reaches his home and wants to rest before searching for Mrs. Nanga, but the noise from Josiah's gets louder. Josiah has barricade himself in his shop, and Azoge is repeating his story for the menacing crowd. Among those raising their voices is a middle-aged Christian carpenter, Timothy, who says ominously, "Josiah has taken away enough for the owner to notice," and vows never to set foot here again.

Odili goes back to Anata and we hear the story of Josiah, the bar-owner who took too much.  Odili visits Mrs. Nanga and gets Edna’s location and then visits her, saying that Nanga sent him to inquire after her mother (who is in the hospital).  He gives Edna a lift to the hospital on his bike but also crashes it, humorously.  - No greater condemnation: taking things till at last the owner (the people) notice.

Chapter 10

At Christmas, details of major corruption (more than their fair share) break out in the media concerning current government.  The CPC has Odili run against Nanga.  Odili implore Edna not to marry Nanga!  Odili meets a lot of opposition in his campaign.  It’s important that he rejects Josiah’s offer of support - now we see a dash of a four-story home! - we also see that the wooden masks are now a game played by drunkards and children - we see Odili enjoying the fear in another person—enjoying power - whereas a telegram might take 3 days to reach the country, rumour took a day or less

Chapter 11

Odili gets bodyguards as the campaign gets vicious.  Through it all, he pines for Edna (probably more than he cares about the CPC).  Nanga approaches Odili’s father and tries to buy off Odili with 250 pounds and a two year scholarship.  Odili firmly rejects this.  - “Eating the hills like yam”

Chapter 12

Maxwell arrives from the city with his CPC staff to drum up support for Odili.  Maxwell admits he took a bribe similar to the one offered to Odili, however, he insists that the bribe carries no weight and he just did it to take the money.  When Odili approaches Edna, she angrily dismisses him.  When the POP finds out that Odili’s father indirectly supported his son’s campaigning, they nearly jail him and levy convenient overdue taxes against him.  Odili’s home village loses their pipes for supporting him.  Odili writes off Edna.

Chapter 13

In disguise, Odili goes to Nanga’s campaign meeting.  Josiah sees him though and calls him out.  Odili is beaten severely, with only Edna vainly trying to help.  He wakes up in the hospital and ends up winning Edna.  A military coup occurs in the country, overthrowing the government and suddenly Max is a martyr and a hero.   - Corruption equated with “a warrior eating the reward of his courage” at throwing the white man out - the people had nothing to do with fall of government—it was unruly mobs and private armies.  - “but in the affairs of the nation there was no owner, the laws of the village became powerless.”   - You’ve lived a good life when someone will shoot your murderer without expecting anything in return. 

CONCLUSION

This novel takes place in 1964 examines the institutions of Nigeria.  Coming out of colonial times, the people have no sense of taxes or being taxed, especially the farmers (because the tax is just being wrapped into the purchase price).  Originally published in 1966, during which there were two coups in Nigeria.  The first coup ended the first republic.  After these two coups Achebe went to Biafra to join their independence movement.  When Biafra lost that bid, Achebe headed to the US for an extended period. 

            Without understanding that Chief Nanga is a man of the people, the story does not work. In the novel, it’s the people that drive the action.  It’s important that Nanga is the only character that talks to the people.  Odili never talks to the people in the same manner.  Even at Odili’s rally, it’s Maxwell who speaks, and he still doesn’t speak to them in the way Nanga does (paragraph’s ideas mainly attributed to prof).

REFERENCES 

Achebe .C  A Man of the People

review and summary of How Europe Underdeveloped Africa is a book written by Walter Rodney,

INTRODUCTION

How Europe Underdeveloped Africa is a book written by Walter Rodney, which takes the view that Africa was deliberately exploited and underdeveloped by European colonial regimes.This book was groundbreaking in that it was among the first to bring a new perspective to the question of underdevelopment in Africa. Rodney’s analysis went far beyond the heretofore accepted approach in the study of Third World underdevelopment and it was met with heavy criticism.

It is based on the outlined issues sketched above that this book was written. The piece of literature is arranged in chapters from one to six with thought provoking and are stimulating issue at each chapter. A post script as well as a biography of the author is attached at the latter part of the literature. A chapter by chapter method of review have been adopted to do justice to this work for an incisive appreciation.
The conceptualization of the notion of development and underdevelopment took the central stage in the first chapter, as the author attempted a penetrating analysis into the duo concepts in order to demystify their justification of capitalism which myopically conceives economic development with little or no consideration for human social development.

Rodney had determined that the only path to true human development and liberation for the majority of the people of his country was through the transformation of their own lives in a struggle to replace and reshape the neo-colonialist government that dominated their society and prescribed their existence.

Walter Rodney’s How Europe Underdeveloped Africa Part 1-3

In the first chapter of the book, Walter Rodney mainly looks into the concept of development and underdevelopment. Underdevelopment, as presented in Chapter I, is characterized by a number of things. First, Rodney emphasizes the comparative nature of the concept of development. Africa, Asia, and Latin America are only underdeveloped in comparison with Europe, North America, and the few other industrialized nations of the world. Second, underdevelopment does not simply describe the relative economic inequality of different countries or continents; but it also implies a relationship of economic exploitation between two or more countries, the exploiter becoming developed and the exploited becoming underdeveloped.  In the social group dimension it implies an increasing capacity to regulate both internal and external relationships. He further explained that man is not the being that engage in group relations but only man has the ability to embark on a line of unique developmentbecause man has the capacity to make and use tools. The tools with which men work and the way they organize labour are indices of social development. He further explained the various stages of development of Europe as spelt out by Karl Marx. The first major stage after simple bands of hunters was communalism which entails collective ownership of resources, work done in come and goods shared out equally. The next was slavery and then feudalism where agriculture was the principal means of making livelihood but land which was the most important for that was in the hands of a few who always took the  biggest share. There came capitalism in which goods were produced not by agriculture but the use of machines and then another trend of socialism was found in which the principle of equality will be restored as in communalism. All these stages brought about development in different ways. He criticized the explanation of the phenomenon as provided by the Bourgeois. They focused more on economic development which was as a matter of the combination of given factors of production that is, land, population, capital, technology, specialization and large-scale production.

The underdevelopment of the countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America is indicated by many things, including amount of steel used (level of industrialization), agricultural output, amount of protein-food consumed, life expectancy, death rate among children, malnutrition, presence of diseases which are virtually non-existent in developed countries, and illiteracy. Other characteristics of underdevelopment are the inability to concentrate on sectors of the economy which would generate growth, weak or no ties between different sectors of the economy, and the frittering away or expatriation of any savings accumulated.

Chapter two focused mainly on the developed nature of African territories before the coming of the Europeans up to the 15th century. The unique status of African civilization which is characterised by certain peculiarities some of which include the possession of distinct institutions/ideas of government etc as examplified by certain African territories like Egypt, Ethiopia, Nubia, Zimbabwe, the Maghreb, Western Sudan, etc were altered by culture contact which saw the infiltration of European civilization into the African system, though with its attendant consequence.

Africa’s contribution to European capitalist development during the pre-colonial period forced the major emphasis of chapter three. The unequal trade relations which saw the transfer of wealth from Africa to Europe was a direct consequence of trade internationalization which elevated Europe’s status as the dominant section of world wide trade system. By extension, the author argued that Africa’s contribution to the development of beliefs of early capitalists Europe was a confirmation of the dependent status of the European national economies which is in interconnectivity wit the world at large.

Chapter three which is entitle : Africa’s contributions to the capitalist development of Europe-the colonial period.] Here Walter talks about how surplus was drawn from Africa to develop capitalism in the metropolitan sector. “Colonialism was not merely a system of exploitation but one whose essential purpose was to repatriate the profit to the so called mother land” [page 177].It means that the development of Europe as a part of the same dialectical  process which Africa was

Underdeveloped. African labourwas cheap. The employer often required more from the worker but paid him less not even enough to maintain his physical self. This was not the case in Europe when feudalism gave way to capitalism. Employers paid their employees a living wage. Wages paid to workers in Europe and North America was far higher than that of Africans. The Africans were discriminated from occupying official positions and even when they did they were paid less compared to the wages of the European officials. This chapter’s main point is to explain how much greater was the exploitation of African workers.

Walter Rodney’s How Europe Underdeveloped Africa Part 4-6

The fourth chapter is entitled Europe and the Roots of African underdevelopment to

1885. It evaluates the European slave trace as a dominant factor in African underdevelopment, all in the interest of European capitalism. Further, a penetrating discuss on the advancement of Europe technology as against that of Africa which is stagnant (this culminating into a distorted economy) was evaluated.

Again, the continuing political/military development in Africa from about 1500 to 1885 was attributed to the imperialist incursion /scramble were African territories were partitioned in accordance with the sphere of interest of the colonizers with colonialism as a major expression in the entire process. An assessment of African contribution to the capitalist development of Europe during the colonial period was discussed in chapter five. The author argued that the unequal non-monetary proceed to the colonizers asides the conventional monetary rewards.

Chapter five with the title ; colonialism as a system for under developing Africa] talks about how colonialism underdeveloped Africa. Following the encounter Europe had with Africa, some Bourgeois writers agree that the relationship was a two-sided thing. This reasoning can be said to have some sentiments. This two-sided argument said that there was exploitation and oppression on one side and development on the other hand. This is false according to Walter; colonialism was a one-sided affair and favoured only the Europeans. The Europeans did very less for Africa and yet took much and almost all form Africa.Even some of the infrastructures they provided were for their comfort. Workers in the mining jobs were exposed to a lot of diseases and yet no proper health service was provided despite all these, the Europeans for some reasons are praised for bringing Political upliftment in Africa. For example they helped in settling fights between some ethnic groups. They brought Nationalism. Walter argued this by saying Nationalism is a form of unity or oneness in a social group trying to control its environment and said that all these characteristics were present in the African community before the coming of the Europeans. Also it is said that capitalism and colonialization meant greater individual freedom for Africans.This freedom as explained by Walter was narrowed and dictated by the colonialists. Africans were mainly free to participate in the money economy and to pass the European oriented culture at a very low and uncreative level.

    The negative impact of colonialism on Africa can be seen the loss of power by the Africans. According to Walter “power is the ability to defend one’s interest and if necessary to impose one’s will by any means available” [page 271].He further said that “when a society finds itself forced to relinquish power entirely to another society, that itself is a form of underdevelopment.[page 271-272].In the pre-colonial trade, social, political and economic power was retained by some Africans but during colonialism, it went further than trade to Europeans taking control of various social institutions. Political life of Africans was changed. Political power was put in the hands of foreigners. In summary, colonialism brought about the disintegration of the African economy and European technological improvement. This chapter also looked at how Education brought about underdevelopment. Europeans education to Africans was mainly to develop Africans to assists in administrative work. Sometimes, those educated were those close to principal towns and were mainly to occupy positions of junior clerk.

The sixth chapter is on the rationalization of the colonial incursion that is drawing a balance sheet of the effects of the brutal and nasty experience. The author argued contrary to pervasive sentiments displayed by bourgeois scholars who argue in favour of the good side of colonialism outweighing the bad side. Rodney, Opined that this contention is completely false. Colonialism had only one hand- it was a one-armed bandit. (Rodney, 1972: 247). This further saw to the power seizure from Africa which had damaging consequences socially. Economically and politically.

The structure of the colonial education system was not left out in the entire manipulation in consonance with the perpetuation of the existence of colonial dominance.
The last segment of this chapter (Development by contradiction) illustrates ‘white man

in black man skin’, that is the withdrawal of direct control by colonizers with an attendant installation of indigenous incorporated dependent bourgeois compradors (tried and tested puppets in the hands of metropolitan superpowers) whose services are comparable to a conduit perpetuancy of Africa’s underdevelopment.

From the view point of Walter Rodney, and from the way he has been able to approach the cause of underdeveloped Africa today, it is clear that he is a Marxist, because he supports the opinion that Africa became underdeveloped due to the contact of Africa and Europe through the aid of colonialism.

This book is not without criticisms despite its wide range coverage. The author was not ignorant of certain positive features of colonialism rather he opined that they were grossly inconsequential when placed side by side it negative effects. In a much as this is contentious, critics have argued that the author was propelled by a value considered as being extreme in its bias in favour of the periphery. Critiques have further argued that contemporary African territories have come of age after years of independence, it is absurd to hinge underdevelopment issues on the mythology of imperialism and colonialism as underdevelopment and development are both states of mind”.

The sixth chapter attempts a rationalization of the colonial incursion, that is drawing a balance sheet of the effects of the brutal, nasty and obnoxious experience. The author argued contrary to pervasive sentiments displayed by bourgeois scholars who argue in favour of the good side of colonialism outweighing the bad side. Rodney, Opined that this contention is completely false. Colonialism had only one hand- it was a one-armed bandit. (Rodney, 1972: 247). This further saw to the power seizure from Africa which had damaging consequences socially. Economically and politically.

Walter Rodney from all indications can be placed as a Marxian because in the book, he supported the Marxian perspective of why Africa is underdeveloped, he stressed the fact that it is due to European contact which is very exploitative in nature that has left Africa underdeveloped today.

We therefore can support the argument of the author because all men were created equally; no man is more gifted than another and so, the argument of the bourgeoisie school is very false because if Africa was not robbed naked of her resources by Europe,

Africa would have been developed today.

CONCLUSION

How Europe Underdeveloped Africa is a book written by Walter Rodney, which takes the view that Africa was deliberately exploited and underdeveloped by European colonial regimes.

Rodney argues that a combination of power politics and economic exploitation of Africa by Europeans led to the poor state of African political and economic development evident in the late 20th century. In the book’s preface, Rodney praises the state of Tanzania, which had pursued the sort of Marxist political ideology that he advocated.

First published in 1972, the book was enormously influential in the study of African history. In the late 1990s many academics became more sharply critical of the book’s central thesis and argued that the book oversimplifies the complex historical forces surrounding the colonial era.

Sources

Rodney, Walter. How Europe Underdeveloped Africa. Washington, D.C.: Harvard University Press, 1981.