Beware Soul Brother

“Beware Soul Brother” (1971) is a poem by Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe (1930-2013). The poem was published as part of Achebe’s book of poems Beware Soul Brother and Other Poems (1971), published in the aftermath of the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970). The poem is written in free verse, and like all of Achebe’s writing, it combines elements of traditional Igbo culture with elements of Western culture and Christianity. The Nigerian Civil War was the primary inspiration on Achebe when writing the poem, but the larger issues of colonialism and the postcolonial era in Africa weighed heavily on Achebe in all his writing. In this poem specifically, Achebe speaks to issues of life and death, and the necessity for his people to recognize those who value their lives and those who only value their land and resources. The poem, along with the entire book of Achebe’s verse, is not well known. Instead, Achebe is mostly remembered for his novel Things Fall Apart (1958), which is one of the most famous and critically-lauded novels ever written. Achebe is also remembered for his literary criticism and advocacy for Africa.

Poet Biography

Achebe was born on November 16, 1930, in Colonial Nigeria.