20/08/2026
From reading Chinua Achebe to becoming part of the story.
As a young Zambian, I first encountered “THINGS FALL APART” by Chinua Achebe as a novel about another African society, another time and another culture.
But the more I read, the more familiar some of it felt.
Achebe's portrayal of community, tradition, family, identity, leadership, change and the tension between culture and outside influence made me think about Zambia and the realities of African societies today.
Different country. Different history. Different people.
Yet so many of the questions were familiar.
That connection inspired me to take part in the 2025 Things Fall Apart Festival Essay Competition. I wrote from the perspective of a young Zambian, connecting what I had encountered in Achebe's work with my own understanding of Zambian life, culture and society.
I am deeply grateful to have emerged as the Winner of the Secondary Category.
For me, the experience became more than winning an essay competition. It reminded me that African literature has a way of travelling across borders and generations. A story written in Nigeria can speak to a young reader in Zambia, and that young reader can take that conversation somewhere new.
I am especially grateful to the Center for Memories – Ncheta Ndigbo and the entire Things Fall Apart Festival team for creating a platform that gives young writers the opportunity to read, think, write and be heard.
Platforms like this matter.
They remind young people that our stories, ideas and interpretations have value. They encourage us to read beyond our borders, learn from one another and contribute to the growing literary conversation across Africa and the world.
Thank you for believing in young writers and for creating a space where literature can connect people from different countries and cultures.
From Zambia, I am proud to have been part of the 2025 edition.
One book. One connection. One essay. One unforgettable journey.
