Chinua Achebe is dead

Nigerian author Chinua Achebe making a speech of thanks during an award ceremony in Frankfurt's St.Paul's Church.

Renowned Nigerian author Chinua Achebe has died at the age of 82 after a brief illness.

A statement from his family said his "wisdom and courage" were an "inspiration to all who knew him".

One of Africa's best known authors, his 1958 debut novel Things Fall Apart, which dealt with the impact of colonialism in Africa, has sold more than 10 million copies.

He had been living in the US since 1990 following injuries from a car crash.

Bilkisu Labaran, from the BBC's Focus on Africa programme, talks about the influence of Chinua Achebe

The writer and academic wrote more than 20 works - some fiercely critical of politicians and a failure of leadership in Nigeria.

South African writer and Nobel laureate Nadine Gordimer called him the "father of modern African literature" in 2007 when she was among the judges to award him the Man Booker International Prize in honour of his literary career.

Things Fall Apart has been translated into more than 50 languages and focuses on the traditions of Igbo society and the clash between Western and traditional values.

'Indelible lessons'

The Anambra state government in Nigeria first made the announcement about his death.

Analysts say in Igbo society the death of an important person must be announced by someone in authority.

His home state was in mourning for the death of "the illustrious son of the state, Nigeria and Africa", Mike Udah, spokesman for Anambra state governor Peter Obi, told the BBC.

A statement released on behalf of his family said Mr Achebe was "one of the great literary voices of his time".