Chinua Achebe has died

Nigerian novelist and poet Chinua Achebe has died.

Widely seen as the grandfather of modern African literature, Achebe made his name more than 50 years ago with his novel "Things Fall Apart".

As a writer, broadcaster and teacher, Achebe served as a bridge between Africa and the West and set the tone for generations to come of African writers.

Nelson Mandela read his work in prison and once referred to him as a writer "in whose company the prison walls fell down".

A spokeswoman for his publisher confirmed his death but had few other details.

Achebe was 82.