" I tell my students, it’s not difficult to identify with somebody like yourself, somebody next door who looks like you. What’s more difficult is to identify with someone you don’t see, who’s very far away, who’s a different color, who eats a different kind of food. When you begin to do that then literature is really performing its wonders. "
- Chinua Achebe

In the statement, Chinua Achebe encourages his students to see beyond surface-level similarities and instead empathize with individuals who are vastly different from themselves. He suggests that it's relatively simple to connect emotionally with someone familiar or similar to oneself but much more challenging to understand and feel for those who come from distant lands, have distinct appearances, or adhere to unique customs.

Achebe’s assertion delves into the power of literature as a tool for fostering empathy across cultural divides. By engaging with stories that depict diverse perspectives and experiences, readers are prompted to imagine themselves in unfamiliar situations and see the world through someone else's eyes. This process not only broadens one's understanding of different cultures but also nurtures a sense of global community and shared humanity. Literature thus becomes a vehicle for transcending narrow viewpoints and fostering compassion on a broader scale.

Chinua Achebe, a renowned Nigerian writer and academic, is celebrated for his contributions to African literature. His seminal work, "Things Fall Apart," has been influential in presenting the complexities of traditional Igbo society through its characters' perspectives and struggles. Through his writings and teachings, Achebe emphasizes the importance of storytelling as a means to bridge cultural gaps and encourage readers to embrace diverse human experiences.