Chinua Achebe is often called the 'Father of Modern African Literature.' His debut novel, 'Things Fall Apart' (1958), was a direct response to European literature that depicted Africa as a 'dark' and 'uncivilized' continent. By telling the story of Okonkwo and the Igbo people from an African perspective, Achebe restored dignity to the pre-colonial history of Nigeria. He famously wrote in English but incorporated Igbo proverbs and speech patterns, a technique he called 'Africanizing' the language. The novel’s title is taken from W.B. Yeats' poem 'The Second Coming,' highlighting the collision of cultures. 'Things Fall Apart' has been translated into over 50 languages and is a staple of global literature, marking a turning point where African writers reclaimed their own narrative from the colonial gaze.