Chinua Achebe, renowned author of the modern African classic 'Things Fall Apart' (1958), which has sold over 10 million copies worldwide, and has been translated into 50 languages, will be visiting Jamaica from December 31 to January 10.

Professor Achebe's visit comes as part of activities planned by the National Bicentenary Committee to mark the 200th anniversary of the end of transatlantic trade in Africans to the Commonwealth Caribbean. He will address a cultural rally to be held at Emancipation Park, New Kingston, on January 2, which represents the launch of the observance, and is also Haiti's Ancestor Day.

Referred to as the father of the African novel, 76-year-old Achebe, whose full name is Albert Chinualumogu Achebe, has authored more than 20 books.

Professor Achebe was awarded the prestigious Peace Prize of the German Book Trade in 2002. In protest of the state of affairs in his native Nigeria, he declined to accept the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) - the country's second highest honour, in 2004.

The Jamaica National Bicentenary Committee, a non-partisan, broad-based group was established in 2005 in recognition of the importance of the passage of the 1807 Abolition Act, to plan a number of activities to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic trade.