The African Studies Association (ASA) has announced the establishment of the ASA Christie and Chinua Achebe Fund, designed to honour the legacy of the celebrated Nigerian author, Dr. Chinua Achebe, and his wife, distinguished educator Dr. Christie Achebe.
Made possible by a generous gift from the Achebe family; Drs. Christie, Chinelo, Ikechukwu, Chidi, and Nwando Achebe, the Fund will support two major new initiatives aimed at promoting African voices and scholarship:
The Chinua Achebe Distinguished Lecture: A new biennial event highlighting humanistic scholarship and creative industries, including literature, film, music, and the visual arts. The inaugural lecture is set for the 2026 ASA Annual Meeting in New Orleans.
The Chinua Achebe Manuscript Prize: An annual award recognising the best unpublished Africana literary manuscript. The winner will be considered for publication by Penguin Press under the prestigious Chinua Achebe Imprint. The first award cycle is scheduled to open in late 2026 for the 2027 prize.
The ASA released a statement noting that the fund is named for the two educators “whose partnership and lifelong dedication to teaching, storytelling, and the empowerment of African voices have inspired generations.”
Chinua Achebe (1930-2013), widely acclaimed as the father of modern African literature, redefined the global literary canon with his 1958 masterpiece, Things Fall Apart, translated into 57 languages. Dr. Christie Achebe (b. 1935) is a renowned scholar, counsellor, and educator who has served as the first woman president of the Nigerian Counselling Association.
The African Studies Association, established in 1957, is the flagship membership organisation in the United States devoted to enhancing the exchange of information and cultivating a better understanding of Africa.
