Renowned Nigerian author and global literary figure, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, was on Saturday inducted as an Honorary Fellow of the Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN), in recognition of her outstanding contributions to promoting Nigerian and Igbo cultural identity through literature.
The honour was conferred during the 2025 edition of the *Things Fall Apart* Festival, held in Enugu. Organised by the Centre for Memories – Ncheta Ndigbo, and endorsed by the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) in collaboration with ATPN and iTour Africa, the festival celebrates the enduring legacy of Chinua Achebe’s seminal novel *Things Fall Apart*.
Adichie, who chaired the festival, delivered a powerful keynote address in which she called for unity and cultural awakening among the Igbo people. She lamented the growing erosion of cultural values, the declining use of the Igbo language, and deepening internal divisions that continue to threaten the region’s collective strength.
“Ndigbo k’anyi tetalu n’ura. Let us wake up. Ife emebigo n’ala Igbo. Things have fallen apart in Igbo land,” she declared. “We often speak of political marginalisation, and indeed, any honest assessment of post-war Nigerian history acknowledges that. But before we can truly challenge external forces, we must first ‘clean house.’”
Adichie emphasised that unity does not equate to uniformity, but rather a conscious effort to rise above partisan divides for a common regional purpose. “If all governors and senators from the Igbo-speaking states come together and set aside party affiliations, it would bestow significant bargaining power to influence policies beneficial to the region.”
She also decried the loss of cultural pride, especially among younger generations. “What’s happening in Igbo land is not about multilingualism—it’s about the lack of value for what is ours. Even our naming culture is eroding. We now give names not for their meaning, but for how ‘Western’ they sound.”
The author warned that internal divisions, driven by political rather than cultural factors, continue to undermine Igbo cohesion. “Igbo is Igbo. Nobody is more Igbo than another. The distinctions we make today—‘Anambra Igbo,’ ‘Delta Igbo’—are political, not cultural. Our strength lies in our unity.”
Present at the festival were prominent figures including Sir Ike Chioke, Managing Director of Afrinvest; Sir Emeka Mba, former Director General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission and founder of Afia TV; and celebrated Nollywood actor Chief Nkem Owoh (Osuofia).
Speaking on behalf of ATPN President Omo-Oba Adetunji Femi Fadina, the association’s Deputy President II, Wilson Uche Ugwu, stressed the critical role of cultural identity in driving tourism development. He called on Nigerians—especially the Igbo—to support initiatives that preserve indigenous heritage, while reaffirming ATPN’s commitment to upholding professionalism within the sector.
The *Things Fall Apart* Festival 2025 served not only as a literary celebration but also as a platform for reflection on cultural preservation, identity, and unity in Igbo land. Honouring Chimamanda Adichie—one of Africa’s most influential storytellers—was a symbolic highlight of the event’s mission to inspire a cultural renaissance.