Final answer:
Chinua Achebe's message in 'Things Fall Apart centers on the destructive impacts of colonization on the Igbo culture and the importance of valuing indigenous histories.
Step-by-step explanation:
Chinua Achebe's message about colonization in Things Fall Apart is a complex reflection on the effects of European colonialism on traditional African societies, particularly the Igbo culture. Achebe portrays the deep impacts of colonialism and challenges the notion of Western superiority over indigenous cultures.
Through the narrative of Okonkwo, a proud Igbo leader, Achebe illustrates how colonialism forcibly introduced new systems and religions that disrupted and eventually dominated pre-existing societies, resulting in profound social and personal turmoil. The novel expresses a need to recognize and value indigenous histories and experiences, shedding light on the often overlooked perspectives of those colonized.
In understanding the impact of colonization on the arts, Achebe underlines how traditional forms of expression and identity are overshadowed by colonial influences.
The importance of indigenous history is highlighted, articulating a narrative that speaks universally to the experiences of colonized peoples globally, as seen in the resonance of the novel with audiences from different backgrounds, such as a class of South Korean girls whose own history of colonization by Japan allowed them to relate to the Igbo experience.
Achebe's own reflections on the portrayal of Africans in dominant literary narratives reveal a demand for literature that authentically represents African humanity, resisting Eurocentric narratives that diminish the complexities of African societies and histories.
This point is emphasized in his critique of Joseph Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness,' which, while denouncing colonization, also perpetuates racist stereotypes of Africans.