Chinua Achebe.

Chinua Achebe is more interesting. And his book 'things fall apart' is an international classic.
It made the BBC's 'BIG READ' list.
It is also included in TIME magazine's 100 greatest books ever written.

And I'm YORUBA.

Should you really compare them? Why would you want to? Why can't we enjoy their literary differences and similarities instead of always trying to compare, compare, compare

i enjoy Wole Soyinka more because he does nt patronise my intellect, like Achebe, rather, he trusts me to get his point.

I felt Achebe more. I can read Arrow of God a million times and still I would not get tired of it. It also deepened my respect for the Igbo culture which had no king, quite impressive

renewnaija:

I felt Achebe more. I can read Arrow of God a million times and still I would not get tired of it. It also deepened my respect for the Igbo culture which had no king,  quite impressive

Same here, though I havent read Anthills of the savannah, of all his novels that I have read, Arrow of God is my favorite.

Chinua achebe

Soyinka in my opinion writes 2 impress while Achebe writes 2 express,

Ajisafe the author of this article , wel done for dubbing my wife's artcle posted on family section on the 16th dec. 2010 a day before yours and promoting it in the book section. Atleast this is not piracy, its only that you did not share accolades or say thanks.

CHINUA ACHEBE all the way. Soyinka doesn't communicate.

Achebe for his simplicity and W.S for the depth of expression and grasp of language

Ajisafe and Taxazzpate do not have to be involved in verbal missiles. Their maturity is on trial.

I prefer Achebe to Soyinka. But Ekwensi Cyprian is quite good too.

Both of them are well respected locally and internationally. But Wole Soyinka is more decorated. Judging whether Soyinka or Achebe is the best African writer shouldn't be a subject of controversy. On what basis are they(Soyinka/Achebe) measured? On what criteria are we trying to distinguish them? Readership, Popularity, Intellectual contents are but a few of the likely measurement standards.So debating on this issue in this forum without stated distinguishing criteria is nothing but futile sentimental discourse.

Chinua Achebe is the best! If you knew anything about literature or writing, you would know.

Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka's book is like a dilemma to me

This is one hell of a competition. It has really been tight but Achebe leads with a slight margin.

Personally, I'm not a big fan of literature. But I found Chinua Achebe's works more engaging. I've never read Soyinka's works cos the first time I tried to, I was discouraged by his style of writing.Yes, Soyinka won the nobel price but that does not mean he's on the same level as Achebe. And he's not a close second. We have other good writers in Nigeria e.g Buchi Emecheta, Cyprian Ekwensi, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Ola Rotimi. Pls let's give honour to whom it's due.

Best African authour ? And you limited your options to two Nigerian authors , I m a Nigerian but still I believe this is shortsighted

afam4eva:

This is one hell of a competition. It has really been tight but Achebe leads with a slight margin.

Personally, I'm not a big fan of literature. But I found Chinua Achebe's works more engaging. I've never read Soyinka's works cos the first time I tried to, I was discouraged by his style of writing.Yes, Soyinka won the nobel price but that does not mean he's on the same level as Achebe. And he's not a close second. We have other good writers in Nigeria e.g Buchi Emecheta, Cyprian Ekwensi, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Ola Rotimi. Pls let's give honour to whom it's due.

maclatunji:

Chinua Achebe is the best! If you knew anything about literature or writing, you would know.

I don't want to ridicule Achebe by calling his fiction pop. It is clearly more sophisticated than that. But I find his writing ''too accessible'' especially when juxtaposed with Soyinka's work. Soyinka's work is multi layered, reveals more and more the farther you explore, and unlike Achebe whose intentions are never far from the surface, demands a lot more of the reader.

That is why I prefer Soyinka.

There's no basis or criteria for comparisons between Soyinka and Achebe. Soyinka is Soyinka. Achebe is Achebe. Indeed, both writers are products of their environments, likes and dislikes, etc, and so their writings are informed or influenced by these idiosyncrasies, and shouldn't be subjected to comparisons.

So let's put a stop to this unwarranted and meaningless debates, and enjoy Soyinka or Achebe as you wish because when the bell tolls, these two men would have be said to have played their parts well.

I'm trying to play my part.

Earl

Why are people wasting their time comparing well with and ocean

While Chinua Achebe is simplicity Wole Soyinka is profundity i.e wisdom

Moderation :

Achebe would have matched Soyinka when he wins a Nobel prize

If Achebe's book is in schools then Soyinka's book is leading the museums

Oya! everyone go to bed! NOW

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Chinua Achebe is my choice. His style of writing is clear and unique. His books are page turners. I believe Soyinka is equally gifted but his style of writing makes his work boring. I read a minimum of 1 book a day while in secondary school but I couldn't finish wole soyinka's "the lion and the jewel". Did minnie minnie manny mo during the exam

They're literary icons operating on the same high level frequency, it's only the Nobel prize that "seems" to put them on different levels.

For the new generation writers:
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Well, d beauty of any matured work of art lies in what i call its 'longevity of novelty'....don't mind my coinnage...
Achebe's works ,to me, often appear too dry after d first and sometimes second read while soyinka's works bring something new even at d 999th read though u may mis-understand/mis-interprete some of his analogies....
Some of achebe's works are like nollywood movies: check out d cover case and u will get d plot,characters and even resolutions....no beef cos am fulani/bororo

They are both equally very good writers - both geniuses in their fields and we really shouldn't be pitching them against each other. Just appreciate their works and learn from them.

**That's my opinion!**

The firt time i read soyinkas work it was a complete regurgitation of 1 greeks folklore. Since then v lost all interest for him and his works but just take a look at hw Achebe jus mirrored our today society in his work Anthills of the savana, and you will undoubtedly be proud 2 hv im as a nigerian. And his use of proverb is jus out of dis world.ACHEBE all the way.

When achebe wins a noble laurette, then we can compare, u dont compare okocha with kanu, thats travesty

I find this thread after 7 years and i still think it's the best i've seen on NL
Honestly I adore the Works of this men....
I think they both are the best..
They are Incomparable Buh Achebe's works really does fascinates me....
I'm ibo tho..
Buh I'm not basing my claims on tribalism

I'LL VOTE FOR CHINUA ACHEBE ANYDAY, ANYTIME. HE IS STILL THE BEST IN NIGERIA NOW AND FOREVER.

omogenikky: i think they are both good. they write diff genres so there is no yardstick for comparison. they are both great nigerian writers. infact since achebe's books are used in high schools in the US, more people know achebe than soyinka.
FYI, am yoruba...........

u just said it all

This is Just like comparing Ernest Hemingway and F Scott Fitzgerald.

Both admired and were jealous of each other at the same time
One wrote the Great Gatsby, while the other won a Nobel Peace prize
One was more technical and efficient while the other was more passionate
hopefully one doesn't commit suicide while the other drinks himself to death

at the end of the day, they're both legends and none is better, lets appreciate the fact that Nigeria produced 2 of the greatest African writers