Award-winning Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie will lead a host of writers, poets, and artists at the first Things Fall Apart Festival. The event will take place in Enugu from June 29 to July 5, 2025, and is dedicated to celebrating the life and legacy of Chinua Achebe.
The festival is organised by the Centre for Memories – Ncheta Ndigbo, based in Enugu. It expands on the annual Things Fall Apart Day, which is now in its fifth year. The goal is to create a full cultural festival that reflects Achebe’s influence on global literature.
According to the organisers, “This festival aligns with your publication’s mission—to tell stories that shape humanity and redefine global narratives.”
Adichie, who is currently on a world tour for her new novel Dream Count, will return home to deliver the keynote speech. The theme of this year’s festival is: “Masculine, Feminine, Human – The Dialogue of Complements in Things Fall Apart.”
In her speech, Adichie will explore what she calls “the Achebean inheritance.” She’ll reflect on storytelling, cultural identity, and the connections between history and who we are today.
The festival’s theme invites a deeper look at how Achebe portrayed gender in Things Fall Apart. It also connects those ideas to current conversations around identity, culture, and balance in society.
The week-long event will include:
- A recreated Umuofia village experience
- Live performances and staged readings
- Art exhibitions and tech installations
- Panel discussions with cultural thinkers
- A student essay competition
- Film screenings and guided memory walks
One major highlight will be a special appearance by actors from the 1987 TV adaptation of Things Fall Apart, including Pete Edochie, who played Okonkwo. The famous Ajofia masquerade—featured in the novel—will also make a dramatic entrance in the recreated village.
The Things Fall Apart Festival promises to be a powerful tribute to Achebe’s legacy, blending art, culture, and dialogue in meaningful ways.
