Acclaimed Nigerian author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, is set to headline the inaugural edition of the Things Fall Apart Festival, scheduled to take place from 29 June to 5 July 2025 in Enugu State, South-East Nigeria.
The week-long event, organised by the Centre for Memories (Ncheta Ndigbo), is being held in honour of literary legend Chinua Achebe, 67 years after the publication of his groundbreaking novel, Things Fall Apart.
With the theme “Masculine, Feminine, Human: The Dialogue of Complements in Things Fall Apart,”* the festival will explore gender roles, cultural identity, and the continued relevance of Achebe’s work in contemporary society.
Adichie, who recently completed an international tour for her latest novel, Dream Count, is expected to deliver the keynote address. Her participation will underscore Achebe’s enduring influence on African literature and global thought.
Building on the Centre’s annual Things Fall Apart Day now in its fifth year, the expanded festival will feature a diverse programme of activities, including:
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A reconstructed Umuofia Village, offering an immersive experience into Achebe’s fictional world
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Dramatic performances and staged readings of Achebe’s writings
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Art exhibitions and tech installations celebrating Igbo heritage and Achebe’s legacy
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Panel discussions with writers, academics, and cultural thinkers on gender, tradition, and identity
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Film screenings, memory walks, and scholarly forums
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An essay competition for secondary school and university students
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A major highlight of the festival will be the appearance of actors from the 1987 television adaptation of Things Fall Apart, including veteran actor Pete Edochie, widely celebrated for his portrayal of Okonkwo. The Ajofia masquerade an emblem of authority in the novel will also feature prominently in the recreated village setting.
Speaking ahead of the event, Director of the Centre for Memories, Nze Ugochukwu Chukwu, said the festival aims to foster cultural introspection and celebrate the storytelling legacy that Achebe represents.
“This festival is not just a tribute to Achebe’s genius; it is an invitation to engage with the cultural foundations and intellectual traditions that shaped his writing. We hope it will inspire pride, curiosity, and meaningful dialogue across generations,” he said.
The Things Fall Apart Festival is expected to become a major cultural fixture in Nigeria’s literary calendar both celebrating Achebe’s global contributions and deepening appreciation for Igbo heritage and narrative traditions.
