I received an anonymous comment to my old african male writers blog. Although I have a strict rule against publishing anonymous comments (you must have the courage to write! and stand by what you believe), I have posted it here:
Attacking successful writers by finding excuses like "they are lucky and their fame is due to circumstance and timing" is both ignorant and pathetic. You really need to read up on the role of Achebe in creating the African literary institutions!
In every sphere of creativity,in the west, young artists don't sit around bemoaning their failures unless of course they are not truly talented.
Artists from the poor parts of the world saddly often feel a need to attack the successful ones from preceeding generations because they feel that is they way to "announce themselves"
One will never find Denzel Washington feel the need to attack Sidney Poitier or Danticat attacking Morrison. Here is my two cents worth, "produce good work and pray hard like most struggling artists, and maybe, maybe you will make it"
Adichie, Akpan, and Attah are the only ones we hear about because they clearly "get it"
I think it is a somewhat misguided comment, although I was waiting for the "brave" soul who would challenge me. I am not an untalented young writer. I am simply a writer who is, as Morrison says, finding the words to say it. I think talent is a dangerous idea when often discipline, dedication and commitment are more accurate in describing what is required of all artists, writers included. I am tempted to say that this commenter is not a writer, as he/she has a very essentialist/inaccurate notion of what this process and the publishing industry entails.
I do not show up to the paper or the laptop with thoughts of my inferiority or I would never write a single word. I do not show up thinking about Achebe or Adichie or anyone except my characters. It is only late at night, when I should really be sleeping, that I allow these thoughts that sit behind my conscious mind to enter in.
I was hesitant in writing the "old" blog because it is an unpopular thing to say a word against any type of luminary. You might enjoy reading about my fight with Amiri Baraka, which talks about creating a new language, writing a new book to represent the challenges of the current generation. You might also read the blog I wrote about Meri Danquah as a means of understanding the difficulty encountering and interrogating writers one respects, perhaps even idolizes. I do not believe in sacred cows, that certain people are exempt from criticism. I did not even offer a literary criticism of Achebe; I had not a negative word about his writing. I simply wished there was space for more voices.
And dear anonymous writer, I have a degree from Stanford and (working on) one from NYU, I am looking on my bookshelf at Armah, Adichie, Achebe, Soyinka and Abani. I am not in need of additional lessons, least of all from a cowardly commenter.
And by the way, oh anonymous commenter, my name is Iquo, which means that Mr. Akpan is one of my people. Rather than shy away from speaking the truth for the sake of praising my countryman, I have stated that he still needs much growth in the craft--as do I. I think such early success for him may seriously hamper his development as a great writer, that he will stop turning a critical eye to his work simply because we've all bought it wholesale.
I am not sure what you mean by "get it," but to assume that literary success is based upon merit and understanding is the most erroneous assumption of all. One need only point to myriad examples in pop culture for why this is not true. This is not to say that Achebe's success has no merit, but simply to discredit the assumptions you base your argument upon, thereby discrediting you.
I am a writer; I am courageous; I am also very smart. ;)
Might I also add that this is my blog and I do not tolerate cowardice. If you have something to say, you must have the strength of your convictions or your voice will not be heard. This is also true in the real world, for every writer and artist.
Attacking successful writers by finding excuses like "they are lucky and their fame is due to circumstance and timing" is both ignorant and pathetic. You really need to read up on the role of Achebe in creating the African literary institutions!
In every sphere of creativity,in the west, young artists don't sit around bemoaning their failures unless of course they are not truly talented.
Artists from the poor parts of the world saddly often feel a need to attack the successful ones from preceeding generations because they feel that is they way to "announce themselves"
One will never find Denzel Washington feel the need to attack Sidney Poitier or Danticat attacking Morrison. Here is my two cents worth, "produce good work and pray hard like most struggling artists, and maybe, maybe you will make it"
Adichie, Akpan, and Attah are the only ones we hear about because they clearly "get it"
I think it is a somewhat misguided comment, although I was waiting for the "brave" soul who would challenge me. I am not an untalented young writer. I am simply a writer who is, as Morrison says, finding the words to say it. I think talent is a dangerous idea when often discipline, dedication and commitment are more accurate in describing what is required of all artists, writers included. I am tempted to say that this commenter is not a writer, as he/she has a very essentialist/inaccurate notion of what this process and the publishing industry entails.
I do not show up to the paper or the laptop with thoughts of my inferiority or I would never write a single word. I do not show up thinking about Achebe or Adichie or anyone except my characters. It is only late at night, when I should really be sleeping, that I allow these thoughts that sit behind my conscious mind to enter in.
I was hesitant in writing the "old" blog because it is an unpopular thing to say a word against any type of luminary. You might enjoy reading about my fight with Amiri Baraka, which talks about creating a new language, writing a new book to represent the challenges of the current generation. You might also read the blog I wrote about Meri Danquah as a means of understanding the difficulty encountering and interrogating writers one respects, perhaps even idolizes. I do not believe in sacred cows, that certain people are exempt from criticism. I did not even offer a literary criticism of Achebe; I had not a negative word about his writing. I simply wished there was space for more voices.
And dear anonymous writer, I have a degree from Stanford and (working on) one from NYU, I am looking on my bookshelf at Armah, Adichie, Achebe, Soyinka and Abani. I am not in need of additional lessons, least of all from a cowardly commenter.
And by the way, oh anonymous commenter, my name is Iquo, which means that Mr. Akpan is one of my people. Rather than shy away from speaking the truth for the sake of praising my countryman, I have stated that he still needs much growth in the craft--as do I. I think such early success for him may seriously hamper his development as a great writer, that he will stop turning a critical eye to his work simply because we've all bought it wholesale.
I am not sure what you mean by "get it," but to assume that literary success is based upon merit and understanding is the most erroneous assumption of all. One need only point to myriad examples in pop culture for why this is not true. This is not to say that Achebe's success has no merit, but simply to discredit the assumptions you base your argument upon, thereby discrediting you.
I am a writer; I am courageous; I am also very smart. ;)
Might I also add that this is my blog and I do not tolerate cowardice. If you have something to say, you must have the strength of your convictions or your voice will not be heard. This is also true in the real world, for every writer and artist.
Ngugi Wa Thiong'o will be doing a 
If I were in charge of rewriting the canon, it would look a lot different than it does today. Now that we have a black family at the center of the world, it's time that we shifted our reading material, too.
