Context of Things Fall Apart

'Things Fall Apart' Chinua Achebe

 Why would Achebe choose to set his novel prior to and during the arrival of the colonial administration as opposed to during the context of production?

The time that this was set in is important for context. At the time that this book was written, there was a lot of political turmoil that greatly effected the entire country. This book gave context to what led up to this, assuming that at the time, those reading the book were aware of what was going on at the current time. With Achebe's choice to set the book before the introduction of Christianity and a western government, the book was able to show what Nigeria was like on its own; their own cultures, government, traditions, and so on and that they were able to function using such. Christianity changed all of that and the country was never the same after that but it was not forgotten. However, the prior was never known by the world, only those who were products of it and their families going through. Showing the public what Nigeria was before gives a whole new perspective to the troubles being experienced by the people of the new times. If the history of these people was known to everyone, it would greatly explain the issues that they are facing since their colonization wasn't unique, meaning other areas of Africa were also experiencing a hostile takeover. It was not for the good of the people as it was made to be seen, converting the people in order to give then a good afterlife, but snaking in and stealing the natural resources of the land after gaining the trust of those around them. This book was written based on this time in order to not only provide a story of colonization but also a story of betrayal for those who understood the history of Nigeria and the colonizers themselves. Achebe was outspoken about history of his culture and said that from a young age, reading the books representative of his people was not at all representative, making the public view of his people somewhat offensive, calling characters in popular stories about Nigerians, "Nitwits". Showing the world what the original people of Nigeria were like before everything changed them, provides an insight into the lives of everyone that was effected and gives the readers a better view of the people, more representative of who they truly were/are.
If the story was based in the time it was written, the people wouldn't be the same as they were without the influence and destruction of their culture. The people in Nigeria at the time it was written would have lived through the come of the western society. They are what is being televised on the news, their troubles would have been known to the people. Writing what they were like before all this gives the world a different perspective to these people. It gives them context. It makes what they are going through now just that bit more upsetting, knowing that it wasn't always like that. Showing the tribes before colonization shows culture and rich history. The way that western culture invades gives the audience a new perspective and a better understanding of what these people went through and lost along the way. It provides the contrast that people didn't know about. Every little bit of context helps the bigger picture and that is what Achebe knew.