My takeaway from Achebe's interview

When approaching the book Things Fall Apart during the summer, I was confused of what the purpose of the book and it's significance, but only when understanding the decision of Achebe to set his book in that literary and cultural context (during the 19th century) in parallel to what was actually happening in all colonised countries (in 1958) was I only able to understand. It is not only a new form of literature in English that has been written to be able to show another side of civilisations in Africa that were otherwise described as savages and "uncivilized" by Europeans authors in the 18th century, but also shows the community that is values strength and stability. Submerging the reader into the world of Igbo before the arrival of colonial powers allows to show the complex, individual voices and deep value of African populations before they had been weakened by all it's values, unity and traditions, ultimately leaving all colonised territories discussing what should be the next steps for the future of their nations during the process of decolonisation. 

The demonstration of the complexity of the situation and it's impact reminds me of a quote that has stood out during the crash course video said by the Igbo people which is ; "If you want to see it well, you must not stand in one place" , highlighting the importance of not only looking at "the single story".

One quote that has stood out from the interview is; 

"but a whole range of people across the globe who have not spoken. It's not because they don't have something to say, it simply has to do with the division of power, because storytelling has to do with power. Those who win tell the story; those who are defeated are not heard. But that has to change. It's in the interest of everybody, including the winners, to know that there's another story. If you only hear one side of the story, you have no understanding at all. "

I have chosen this quote because it expands the idea I have said in the previous paragraph. There is an emphasis in this quotes that power is unfairly divided in the world, and that storytelling is essential because it's spreads the message and complexity of the issues. Usually history is essentially told by the winner and Achebe states that this must change, as there is no benefit in looking at the story from one perspective, but rather from a holistic view.