Tradition and Modernity in Sub-Saharan Africa: Insights from Achebe’s Things Fall Apart by AERC Board Chair, Prof. Ernest Aryeetey and Prof. Jean-Philippe Platteau
July 11, 2025The African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) proudly celebrates the contribution of its Board Chair, Prof. Ernest Aryeetey, to the newly published Economics and Literature (1st Edition, 2025).
In Chapter 2, titled “Tradition and Modernity in Sub-Saharan Africa: Insights from Achebe’s Things Fall Apart,” co-authored with Prof. Jean-Philippe Platteau, Prof. Aryeetey examines how fiction can inform economic understanding. The chapter delves into the dual role of tradition—as both a foundation of identity and an obstacle to change—through the lens of Achebe’s iconic novel.
This study is, therefore, timely in expanding the conversation around how cultural narratives influence institutional development, identity, and economic transformation in African societies. It also contributes to the growing body of interdisciplinary research that may shape policies and perspectives on development.
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