Catholics claim Achebe is a pornographer

In response to the call by a Catholic lobby group in Kenya to prevent three novels, including Chinua Achebe's A Man of the People, from being presented in schools, Caine prize winner and editor Kwani? is appealing for feedback.

Binyavanga Wainaina writes: "There is much that is comical in our new Kenya; but the nature of comical statements is often something that invites threats. Years ago, when the late Kariuki Chotara, a Kenyan politician, wanted 'Karo Max' arrested and detained, we laughed - but this sort of cowboy narrow-mindedness led to a purge of writers, free-speakers and thinkers that Kenya is still recovering from.

"Now a new one: that Chinua Achebe is a pornographer. His book, A Man of the people, which is taught in schools to 16-18 year olds. This is what a Catholic Church lobby group is saying; what several parents groups are saying.

"My organisation, Kwani? (www.kwani.org) wishes to solicit commentary from writers and writers organisations so we can use this to prevent any action being taken to remove this, and the other books under threat. We hope to have edited comments published in one of our national newspapers: the East African or The Sunday Standard."

Details of the call by the Kenya Parents Caucus, and the outcry it has led to can be viewed in the following two articles:

'Pornographic' book sparks Kenyan row - BBC article

Catholics claim Achebe's political satire is sexually explicit - The Nation article