This is a great collection of stories. Too often the artistic talent in Africa is overloooked because of the turmoil in some parts of the land. This book is for anyone who wants a deeper understanding of the African people and their lives that one cannot get from headlines.

This book by Achebe and Lyons is infact a decent and respectful view of Africa.It does not contain pictures of Starving children or wars.The photographs taken by Lyon shows ordinary Africans going about their business with dignity.There is also a very good essay by Achebe discussing the Images of Africa over time.It uses as it's main theme a discussion of Joseph Conrad's book the heart of darkness.He does not shy away from issues such as slave trade and wars,but he treats the subject of Africa's image with dignity.There are also a number of poems after a few pictures.The pictures are about 100. My only grouse with the book is that no pictures were taken of Nigeria and South Africa which are indeed countries that show all the contradictions and hopes of Africa.I say this mainly for sentimental reasons being a Nigerian i would have loved a picture of the hustle and bustle of Ojuelegba in Lagos or the Onitsha market.It is however a welcome addition to my library.

"No Longer At Ease" deals with a theme that is well-developed by Achebe, i.e. the exploration of the interaction between rapid modernization (or, better stated, Westernization) brought to Africa by colonial (mis)rule on the one hand, and tradition on the other. I actually think this book is better than "Things Fall Apart," in which Achebe depicts the brutality of the outright conquest of an African society by a colonial power (in this case the British). In "No Longer At Ease" he shows the deep and drastic changes which occurred in society in Nigeria as colonial rule became established, and how this change warped social relations in the country. Society in the colony is no longer something created and maintained by the native Africans, but rather an imitation (or attempt thereof) of the colonial power's society. It lies somwhere in between, because it's not traditional, yet the natives are treated like second-class citizens in their own country. Through the central character, Achebe does an excellent job of evoking the alienation and frustration this engenders among those Nigerians who are Western-educated and urbanized, yet not really able or allowed to participate in decision-making in any meaningful way. Achebe is a truly masterful writer who can convey such a potent message through literature.

"No Longer at Ease" is an interesting novel, whose well-relayed story remains fascinating despite its age. It is a sequel to the more popular "Things Fall Apart". Thus, potential readers who are already acquainted with "Things Fall Apart" would feel at home in this niche.
The story which this book tells is captivating, exhilarating, and down-to-earth. It is another brilliant piece from Professor Achebe.

Achebe's sequel to Things Fall Apart, he seeks to reconcile and give us a further understanding of the struggle between modernism and tradition. He gives us a view of how our ideals contrast with how we really live and exist in reality. The point of this book can be best summed up by Achebe's own words. He states, "The impatient idealist says: 'Give me a place to stand and I shall move the earth.' But such a place does not exist. We all have to stand on the earth itself and go with her at her pace." This book while centered mainly on the African identity crisis, gives a broad understanding of issues of right and wrong and moral consequences of individualism.

As an educated African American male who has travelled to Nigeria multiple times, I found the title "Achebe or Soyinka" quite pathetic. What the author (Omotosho) is hoping for is that the readers of his " literary analysis" are ignorant of the Ethnic hatred that robs many an academic from Nigeria of being able to critically and fairly analyze literature that is written from "outside their world view" (read as outside their tribe). Omotosho, a Yoruba, is so heavily jaundiced by this scourge that the book in several parts reads as a promotional pamphlet for Yoruba culture. As a reader you often find yourself asking "why must we choose?...Why can't we celebrate them both?" Achebe and Soyinka are two of Africa's literary Giants and are friends. They happen to come from different Ethnic groups in Nigeria Igbo (or Ibo) and Yoruba. They have different Literary styles..so what? They are both quite certainly above Omotosho's petty ethno-social literary politics. For true unbiased analysis of African Literature and indeed Achebe and Soyinka's work, I suggest the interested reader read works of literary critism by Bernth Lindfors, Ernest Emenyonu, K.A. Appiah or G.D. Killam. The chapter on Tribalism in Achebe's "The Trouble with Nigeria" eloquently supports this readers point. Indeed read the whole book for a full understanding of Nigerian politics and problems. Also pick up Soyinka's "Myth, Literature and the African World". TP

Kole Omotsho tried to define the size of two Elephants with much success but can he get the best of these to Giants is a very strong point.

Wole Soyinka and Chinua Achebe are the best brains from Africa particularly Nigera and it is difficult to evaluate which one of the writer is better. Soyinka is more academic than Chinua who is more to the grassroot.

Soyinka is much more into politics than Chinua but Chinua remains a shinning star with his Book Things fall Apart. that can never be taken from him but Wole remains a better brain, a balance writer often misuderstood in all areas like Poems, Plays and fiction.

My love remain for Wole for his Poem on ABIKU in West African Verse I read in 1973 for the West Africa School Certificate Examination,while Wole made me as a Yoruba to appreciate my culture Chinua gave the opportunity to appreciate the culture of the Igbos which is very similar to mine particularly on Ogbanje (Abiku) and Amadiora (Sango god Of Thunder).

Both have received glories through their works and they will remain a standard for all writers in Africa for a very long time.

I don't have the tim