Final answer:
Colonialism is explored in Adichie's 'Purple Hibiscus' through contemporary societal struggles and Achebe's 'Things Fall Apart' through the historical cultural collapse, with both dissecting its complex legacy in Nigeria.
Step-by-step explanation:
Colonialism has profoundly influenced Nigerian society in both Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Purple Hibiscus and Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart. Adichie's Purple Hibiscus addresses the subtler, continued impact of colonialism through family dynamics and religious influences in a contemporary setting. In contrast, Achebe's Things Fall Apart grapples with the initial contact and dramatic upheavals brought by colonialism, focusing on cultural clashes and the deconstruction of traditional Igbo society during the British colonial era.
Summarizing Chinua Achebe's words, he acknowledges the pivotal role of indigenous perspectives and histories, stressing the importance of understanding one's own past while also relating to others globally. He emphasizes that colonization not only affects those who share similar experiences of being colonized but also resonates across cultures. Achebe's works, together with other emerging scholarship, challenge the European-centric narratives and strive to tell history from indigenous perspectives that were previously overlooked or devalued.