Natural Environment and Sustainable Development in Nigerian Literature: a Study of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart and Ifeoma Chinwuba’s Fearless

Abstract

Abstract: Literary works emerging from Africa are mostly characterized by indigenous cultural and traditional practices. This paper focuses on Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart and Ifeoma Chinwuba’s Fearless as writings with the imprints of African indigeneity. The objective of this work is to show how Achebe’s and Chinwuba’s pieces of fiction put forth some ideas worth contributing to sustainable development in Africa. Set in different time periods, both Things Fall Apart and Fearless bring to the forefront Nigerian communities in relation to their natural environment from different perspectives. This work is anchored in postcolonial ecocriticism whose lens helps highlight pan-africanist ideologies and aspirations molding the narratives. As a result, this analysis firstly establishes that adequately-managed relationship with nature ensures food supply and enforces African identity. Secondly, it notes that plant-based wisdom guarantees medical solution to Africans and the world. Finally, the interplay between Africans and their natural environment gives birth to a new form of communication which, in turn, well places Africa in the technological context. Keywords: culture, identity, indigeneity, natural environment, sustainable development