Commentary on Chinua Achebe's Popular Quote Part I

"Until the lion learns to write, every story will continue to glorify the hunter" - Chinua Achebe. 

This will serve as a documentary, commentary, or comment on this matter. To fully grasp the author's perspective, we need to acknowledge that the writer is a poet, widely recognized as such. Consequently, we must recognize that this is a literal work, not a literary one. It's important to understand that language and literature are distinct; they are not easily interchangeable. We must interpret the work from this perspective.

Literature and language are separate entities, despite sharing some common elements. Every culture and tradition, particularly in the African context, possesses both language and literature. However, the academic study of literature has often been conducted in a foreign language, leading many to conflate the two. It's crucial to distinguish between them.

So, if this work is literary rather than literal literature, it implies that the lion may not represent a literal animal. Instead, we should examine the lion's characteristics and compare them to our own to understand its symbolism. The hunter, in this context, may represent an oppressor or someone in power. To understand the lion, one could be anyone trapped within an oppressive system, while the hunter symbolizes the oppressor who becomes conscious and can change the narrative.

Although the lion may seem physically stronger, the hunter's development of consciousness and the ability to document their actions give them power. The lion, like the oppressed, may be missing the crucial element of consciousness to write their own narrative. This is where historical events like slavery and colonization come into play, as they changed the course of African history and identity.

The writer metaphorically depicts the oppressed as lions who cannot speak, highlighting the impact of centuries of oppression. Africa, once a free space, had a rich cultural heritage, but slavery and colonization altered its trajectory. The lion must focus on regaining what was lost, as it's possible to do so through learning and understanding.

The lion's tendency to sleep for most of the day represents a preference for leisure and entertainment over efforts for change. The hunter, on the other hand, recognizes the importance of writing for posterity. While the lion thinks only about the present, the hunter considers the future and how their narrative will be remembered by generations to come.

The writer, as the hunter, plays a crucial role in shaping the narrative, and this power should not be underestimated. Future generations might believe the hunter's version of the story, leading to a skewed understanding of their own identity. It's essential for the lion to learn how to write and take control of their narrative.

In conclusion, this analysis emphasizes the importance of storytelling and writing in shaping the narrative and ensuring that the oppressed are not defined solely by the hunter's perspective. It calls for greater consciousness and recognition of the power of words and narratives in shaping our understanding of history and identity.