Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie ( ; born 15 September 1977)
is a
Nigerian writer whose works include novels, short stories and nonfiction.
She was described in ''
The Times Literary Supplement
''The Times Literary Supplement'' (''TLS'') is a weekly literary review published in London by News UK, a subsidiary of News Corp.
History
The ''TLS'' first appeared in 1902 as a supplement to ''The Times'' but became a separate publication ...
'' as "the most prominent" of a "procession of critically acclaimed young anglophone authors
hich
Ij ( fa, ايج, also Romanized as Īj; also known as Hich and Īch) is a village in Golabar Rural District, in the Central District of Ijrud County, Zanjan Province, Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also ...
is succeeding in attracting a new generation of readers to African literature", particularly in her second home, the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...
.
Adichie has written the novels ''
Purple Hibiscus'' (2003), ''
Half of a Yellow Sun'' (2006), and ''
Americanah
''Americanah'' is a 2013 novel by the Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, for which Adichie won the 2013 U.S. National Book Critics Circle Award for fiction. ''Americanah'' tells the story of a young Nigerian woman, Ifemelu, who immigrates t ...
'' (2013), the short story collection ''
The Thing Around Your Neck
''The Thing Around Your Neck'' is a short-story collection by Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, first published in April 2009 by Fourth Estate in the UK and by Knopf in the US. It received many positive reviews, including:
"She makes s ...
'' (2009), and the book-length essay ''
We Should All Be Feminists
''We Should All Be Feminists'' is a book-length essay by the Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. First published in 2014 by Fourth Estate, it talks about the definition of feminism for the 21st century.
The essay was adapted from Adichie' ...
'' (2014).
Her most recent books are ''
Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions
''Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions'' is an epistolary form manifesto written by Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. ''Dear Ijeawele'' was posted on her official Facebook page on October 12, 2016, was subsequentl ...
'' (2017), ''Zikora'' (2020) and ''
Notes on Grief
''Notes on Grief'' is a 2021 memoir written by the Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Presented in 30 short sections, ''Notes on Grief'' was written following the death of her father James Nwoye Adichie in June 2020, during the early days ...
'' (2021).
In 2008, she was awarded a
MacArthur Genius Grant
The MacArthur Fellows Program, also known as the MacArthur Fellowship and commonly but unofficially known as the "Genius Grant", is a prize awarded annually by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation typically to between 20 and 30 ind ...
.
She was the recipient of the
PEN Pinter Prize
The PEN Pinter Prize and the Pinter International Writer of Courage Award both comprise an annual literary award launched in 2009 by English PEN in honour of the late Nobel Literature Prize-winning playwright Harold Pinter, who had been a Vice Pre ...
in 2018. She was recognized as one of the BBC's 100 women of 2021.
Early life and family
Adichie was born in the city of
Enugu
Enugu ( ; ) is the capital city of Enugu State in Nigeria. It is located in southeastern part of Nigeria. The city had a population of 820,000 according to the 2022 Nigerian census. The name ''Enugu'' is derived from the two Igbo words ''Én ...
in
Nigeria
Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...
, the fifth of six children in an
Igbo family. She was raised in the university town of
Nsukka
Nsukka is a town and a Local Government Area in Enugu State, Nigeria. Nsukka shares a common border as a town with Edem, Opi (archaeological site), Ede-Oballa, and Obimo.
The postal code of the area is 410001 and 410002 respectively re ...
in
Enugu State
Enugu State ( ig, Ȯra Enugu) is a state in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered to the north by the states of Benue and Kogi, Ebonyi State to the east and southeast, Abia State to the south, and Anambra State to the west. ...
.
While she was growing up, her father, James Nwoye Adichie (1932–2020), worked as a professor of statistics at the
University of Nigeria
The University of Nigeria, commonly referred to as UNN, is a federal university located in Nsukka, Enugu State, Eastern part of Nigeria. Founded by Nnamdi Azikiwe in 1955 and formally opened on 7 October 1960, the University of Nigeria has th ...
. Her mother, Grace Ifeoma (1942–2021), was the university's first female
registrar
A registrar is an official keeper of records made in a register. The term may refer to:
Education
* Registrar (education), an official in an academic institution who handles student records
* Registrar of the University of Oxford, one of the se ...
.
[Martin, Michel (18 March 2014)]
"Feminism Is Fashionable For Nigerian Writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie"
(interiew), '' Tell Me More'', NPR. They lived in a house on campus previously occupied by
Chinua Achebe
Chinua Achebe (; 16 November 1930 – 21 March 2013) was a Nigerian novelist, poet, and critic who is regarded as the dominant figure of modern African literature. His first novel and '' magnum opus'', ''Things Fall Apart'' (1958), occupies ...
.
The family lost almost everything during the
Nigerian Civil War
The Nigerian Civil War (6 July 1967 – 15 January 1970), also known as the Nigerian–Biafran War or the Biafran War, was a civil war fought between Nigeria and the Republic of Biafra, a secessionist state which had declared its independence ...
, including both her maternal and paternal grandfathers.
Her family's ancestral village is Abba in
Anambra State
Anambra State is a Nigerian state, located in the southeastern region of the country. The state was created on August 27, 1991. Anambra state is bounded by Delta State to the west, Imo State to the south, Enugu State to the east and Kogi St ...
.
Education
Adichie completed her secondary education at the University of Nigeria Secondary School, Nsukka, where she received several academic prizes.
She studied medicine and pharmacy at the
University of Nigeria
The University of Nigeria, commonly referred to as UNN, is a federal university located in Nsukka, Enugu State, Eastern part of Nigeria. Founded by Nnamdi Azikiwe in 1955 and formally opened on 7 October 1960, the University of Nigeria has th ...
for a year and a half. During this period, she edited ''The Compass'', a magazine run by the university's Catholic medical students.
At the age of 19, Adichie left Nigeria for the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...
to study communications and political science at
Drexel University
Drexel University is a private research university with its main campus in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Drexel's undergraduate school was founded in 1891 by Anthony J. Drexel, a financier and philanthropist. Founded as Drexel Institute of Art, ...
in
Philadelphia
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Since ...
,
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...
. She transferred to
Eastern Connecticut State University
Eastern Connecticut State University (Eastern, Eastern Connecticut, Eastern Connecticut State, or ECSU) is a public liberal arts university in Willimantic, Connecticut. Founded in 1889, it is the second-oldest campus in the Connecticut State Un ...
(ECSU) to be near her sister Uche, who had a medical practice in
Coventry, Connecticut
Coventry ( ) is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut. The population was 12,235 at the 2020 census. The birthplace of Captain Nathan Hale, Coventry is home to the Nathan Hale Homestead, which is now a museum open to the public.
Coventry was i ...
. She received a bachelor's degree from ECSU, ''
summa cum laude
Latin honors are a system of Latin phrases used in some colleges and universities to indicate the level of distinction with which an academic degree has been earned. The system is primarily used in the United States. It is also used in some Sou ...
'', in 2001.
In 2003, Adichie completed a master's degree in
creative writing
Creative writing is any writing that goes outside the bounds of normal professional, journalistic, academic, or technical forms of literature, typically identified by an emphasis on narrative craft, character development, and the use of literary ...
at
Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University (Johns Hopkins, Hopkins, or JHU) is a private research university in Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 1876, Johns Hopkins is the oldest research university in the United States and in the western hemisphere. It consi ...
. Adichie was a Hodder fellow at
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and one of the ...
during the 2005–2006 academic year. In 2008, she received a Master of Arts degree in
African studies
African studies is the study of Africa, especially the continent's cultures and societies (as opposed to its geology, geography, zoology, etc.). The field includes the study of Africa's history (pre-colonial, colonial, post-colonial), demography ...
from
Yale University
Yale University is a Private university, private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Sta ...
. Also in 2008, she was awarded a
MacArthur Fellowship
The MacArthur Fellows Program, also known as the MacArthur Fellowship and commonly but unofficially known as the "Genius Grant", is a prize awarded annually by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation typically to between 20 and 30 indi ...
.
She was awarded a 2011–2012 fellowship by the
Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study
The Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University—also known as the Harvard Radcliffe Institute—is a part of Harvard University that fosters interdisciplinary research across the humanities, sciences, social sciences, arts, a ...
,
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of high ...
.
Adichie has been awarded sixteen honorary doctorate degrees from universities including
Yale University
Yale University is a Private university, private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Sta ...
, the
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania (also known as Penn or UPenn) is a private research university in Philadelphia. It is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and is ranked among the highest-regarded universitie ...
, the
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...
,
Duke University,
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private university, private research university in the Georgetown (Washington, D.C.), Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded by Bishop John Carroll (archbishop of Baltimore), John Carroll in 1789 as Georg ...
,
Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University (Johns Hopkins, Hopkins, or JHU) is a private research university in Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 1876, Johns Hopkins is the oldest research university in the United States and in the western hemisphere. It consi ...
, and the
Catholic University of Louvain
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
, where she received her sixteenth in a ceremony on 28 April 2022.
Writing career
Adichie published a collection of poems in 1997 (''Decisions'') and a play (''For Love of Biafra'') in 1998, using the name Amanda N. Adichie. Her short story "My Mother, the Crazy African", dating from when Adichie was a college senior living in Connecticut, discusses the problems that arise when a person is facing two cultures that are complete opposites from each other. On one hand, there is a traditional
Nigerian culture
The culture of Nigeria is shaped by Nigeria's multiple ethnic groups. The country has 527 languages, seven of which are extinct. Nigeria also has over 1150 dialects and ethnic groups. The three largest ethnic groups are the Hausas that are pre ...
with clear gender roles, while in America there is more freedom in how genders act, and fewer restrictions on younger people. Ralindu, the protagonist, faces this challenge with her parents as she grew up in
Philadelphia
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Since ...
, while they grew up in Nigeria. Adichie dives deep into gender roles and traditions and what problems can occur because of this.
Adichie also published stories in ''
Zoetrope: All-Story'',
and ''Topic Magazine''.
Her first novel, ''
Purple Hibiscus'' (2003), received widespread critical acclaim; it was shortlisted for the
Orange Prize for Fiction (2004)
and was awarded the
Commonwealth Writers' Prize
Commonwealth Foundation presented a number of prizes between 1987 and 2011. The main award was called the Commonwealth Writers' Prize and was composed of two prizes: the Best Book Prize (overall and regional) was awarded from 1987 to 2011; the Best ...
for Best First Book (2005).
Her second novel, ''
Half of a Yellow Sun'' (2006), named after the flag of the short-lived nation of
Biafra
Biafra, officially the Republic of Biafra, was a partially recognised secessionist state in West Africa that declared independence from Nigeria and existed from 1967 until 1970. Its territory consisted of the predominantly Igbo-populated form ...
, is set before and during the
Nigerian Civil War
The Nigerian Civil War (6 July 1967 – 15 January 1970), also known as the Nigerian–Biafran War or the Biafran War, was a civil war fought between Nigeria and the Republic of Biafra, a secessionist state which had declared its independence ...
. Adichie's own grandfather died in a refugee camp during the war and she has said that she wrote the book as a tribute to him.
Adichie has said of
Buchi Emecheta's ''
Destination Biafra
''Destination Biafra'' is a 1982 novel by Nigerian writer Buchi Emecheta, first published in London by Allison & Busby. It is considered to be Emecheta's personal account of the Biafra War. ''Destination Biafra'' was republished in paperback on 1 ...
'' (1982): "
twas very important for my research when I was writing Half of a Yellow Sun." ''Half of a Yellow Sun'' received the 2007 Orange Prize for Fiction and the
Anisfield-Wolf Book Award The Anisfield-Wolf Book Award is an American literary award dedicated to honoring written works that make important contributions to the understanding of racism and the appreciation of the rich diversity of human culture. Established in 1935 by Clev ...
. ''Half of a Yellow Sun'' was adapted into a
film of the same title directed by
Biyi Bandele
Biyi Bandele (born Biyi Bandele-Thomas; 13 October 1967 – 7 August 2022Micah L. Issitt Contemporary Black Biography, 2009. Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 12 October 2015.) was a Nigerian novelist, playwright and filmmaker. He was the author of s ...
, starring
BAFTA award-winner and
Academy Award
The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...
nominee
Chiwetel Ejiofor
Chiwetel Umeadi Ejiofor ( ; born 10 July 1977) is a British actor. He is the recipient of various accolades, including a BAFTA Award, a Laurence Olivier Award, an NAACP Image Award, and nominations for an Academy Award, two Primetime Emmy A ...
and BAFTA winner
Thandiwe Newton
Melanie Thandiwe Newton ( ; born 6 November 1972), formerly credited as Thandie Newton, is a British actress. Newton has received various awards, including a Primetime Emmy Award and a British Academy Film Award, in addition to nominations for ...
, and was released in 2014. In November 2020, ''Half of a Yellow Sun'' was voted by the public to be the best book to have won the
Women's Prize for Fiction
The Women's Prize for Fiction (previously with sponsor names Orange Prize for Fiction (1996–2006 and 2009–12), Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction (2007–08) and Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction (2014–2017)) is one of the United Kingdom's m ...
in its 25-year history.
Adichie's third book, ''
The Thing Around Your Neck
''The Thing Around Your Neck'' is a short-story collection by Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, first published in April 2009 by Fourth Estate in the UK and by Knopf in the US. It received many positive reviews, including:
"She makes s ...
'' (2009), is a collection of 12 stories that explore the relationships between men and women, parents and children, Africa and the United States.
Adichie's story "Ceiling" was included in the 2011 edition of ''
The Best American Short Stories The Best American Short Stories yearly anthology is a part of ''The Best American Series'' published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Since 1915, the BASS anthology has striven to contain the best short stories by some of the best-known writers in con ...
''.
Her third novel ''
Americanah
''Americanah'' is a 2013 novel by the Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, for which Adichie won the 2013 U.S. National Book Critics Circle Award for fiction. ''Americanah'' tells the story of a young Nigerian woman, Ifemelu, who immigrates t ...
'' (2013), an exploration of a young Nigerian encountering race in America was selected by ''
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'' as one of "The 10 Best Books of 2013".
As a youth in Nigeria, Adichie was not accustomed to being identified by the colour of her skin, which only began to happen when she arrived in the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...
for college. As a black African in America, Adichie was confronted with what it meant to be a person of colour in the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...
.
Race
Race, RACE or "The Race" may refer to:
* Race (biology), an informal taxonomic classification within a species, generally within a sub-species
* Race (human categorization), classification of humans into groups based on physical traits, and/or s ...
as an idea became something that she had to navigate and learn. She then wrote about this experience through this novel. The book went on to win the National Book Critics Circle Award
and was picked as the winner for the 2017 "
One Book, One New York" program, part of a community reading initiative encouraging all city residents to read the same book.
In 2015, she was co-curator of the PEN World Voices Festival.
Her next book, ''
Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions
''Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions'' is an epistolary form manifesto written by Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. ''Dear Ijeawele'' was posted on her official Facebook page on October 12, 2016, was subsequentl ...
'', published in March 2017,
had its origins in a letter Adichie wrote to a friend who had asked for advice about how to raise her daughter as a feminist.
In 2020, Adichie published ''Zikora'', a stand-alone short story about sexism and single motherhood.
In May 2021, Adichie released a memoir based on her father's death titled ''
Notes on Grief
''Notes on Grief'' is a 2021 memoir written by the Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Presented in 30 short sections, ''Notes on Grief'' was written following the death of her father James Nwoye Adichie in June 2020, during the early days ...
'', based on an essay of the same title published in ''The New Yorker'' in September 2020. As described by the reviewer for ''
The Independent
''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...
'', "Her words put a welcome, authentic voice to this most universal of emotions, which is also one of the most universally avoided."
When history professor
Toyin Falola
Toyin Omoyeni Falola (born January 1, 1953) is a Nigerian historian and professor of African Studies. Falola is a Fellow of the Historical Society of Nigeria and of the Nigerian Academy of Letters, and has served as the president of the Afric ...
was interviewed, he spoke about some Nigerian figures whom he believes have been recognised prematurely for their achievements. In his argument, he cites several Nigerian academics who are rightly what he calls "intellectual heroes". His list includes Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie,
Chinua Achebe
Chinua Achebe (; 16 November 1930 – 21 March 2013) was a Nigerian novelist, poet, and critic who is regarded as the dominant figure of modern African literature. His first novel and '' magnum opus'', ''Things Fall Apart'' (1958), occupies ...
,
Teslim Elias,
Babatunde Fafunwa,
Simeon Adebo
Chief Simeon Olaosebikan Adebo (October 4, 1913 - September 30, 1994) was a Nigerian administrator, lawyer and diplomat who served as a United Nations Under-Secretary General.
He was the former head of the civil service in Nigeria's old Weste ...
,
Bala Usman
Yusufu Bala Usman (1945 – 24 September 2005) was a Nigerian historian and politician, who was one of the scholars who shaped Nigerian historiography. He was the founder of the Centre for Democratic Development, Research and Training at Ahm ...
,
Eni Njoku
Eni Njoku (6 November 1917 – 22 December 1974) was a Nigerian botanist and educator. He was vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos (1962–1965) and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (1966–1970). He served in the Nigerian House of Represent ...
,
Ayodele Awojobi
Ayodele Oluwatumininu Awojobi (12 March 1937 – 23 September 1984), also known by the nicknames "Dead Easy",
"The Akoka Giant", and "Macbeth", was a Nigerian academic, author, inventor, social crusader and activist.
He was considered a scholar ...
and
Bolanle Awe
Bolanle Awe (Yoruba: ''Bọ́láńlé (Fájẹ́m̄bọ́là) Awẹ́'' born 28 January 1933) is a Nigerian and Yoruba history professor. She became the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria in Nsukka. She has been called a Nigerian "intelle ...
.
Influences
Ngozi Adichie's original and initial inspiration came from
Chinua Achebe
Chinua Achebe (; 16 November 1930 – 21 March 2013) was a Nigerian novelist, poet, and critic who is regarded as the dominant figure of modern African literature. His first novel and '' magnum opus'', ''Things Fall Apart'' (1958), occupies ...
, after reading his 1958 novel ''
Things Fall Apart
''Things Fall Apart'' is the debut novel by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe, first published in 1958. It depicts pre-colonial life in the southeastern part of Nigeria and the invasion by Europeans during the late 19th century. It is seen as the ...
'' at the age of 10;
Adichie has said that she realized that people who looked like herself could "live in books" while reading Achebe's novels.
She has also named
Buchi Emecheta as a Nigerian literary inspiration, upon whose death Adichie said: "Buchi Emecheta. We are able to speak because you first spoke. Thank you for your courage. Thank you for your art ." Other books Adichie has cited as having been important in her reading include
Camara Laye
Camara Laye (January 1, 1928 – February 4, 1980) was a writer from Guinea. He was the author of '' The African Child'' (''L'Enfant noir''), a novel based loosely on his own childhood, and ''The Radiance of the King'' (''Le Regard du roi'' ...
's ''
The African Child
''The African Child'' (French: ''L'Enfant noir'') is an autobiographical French novel by Camara Laye published in 1953. It tells the story of a young African child, Baba, growing up in Guinea. The novel won the Prix Charles Veillon writing prize. ...
'' and the 1992 anthology ''
Daughters of Africa
''Daughters of Africa: An International Anthology of Words and Writings by Women of African Descent from the Ancient Egyptian to the Present'' is a compilation of orature and literature by more than 200 women from Africa and the African diaspora, ...
'' edited by
Margaret Busby
Margaret Yvonne Busby, , Hon. FRSL (born 1944), also known as Nana Akua Ackon, is a Ghanaian-born publisher, editor, writer and broadcaster, resident in the UK. She was Britain's youngest and first black female book publisherJazzmine Breary"Let' ...
.
Lectures
"The Danger of a Single Story"
Adichie delivered a talk titled "The Danger of a Single Story" for
TED
TED may refer to:
Economics and finance
* TED spread between U.S. Treasuries and Eurodollar
Education
* ''Türk Eğitim Derneği'', the Turkish Education Association
** TED Ankara College Foundation Schools, Turkey
** Transvaal Education Depa ...
in 2009.
It has become one of the most-viewed TED Talks of all time, having amassed over 27 million views.
In the talk she expressed her concern for under-representation of various cultures.
She explained that as a young child, she had often read American and British stories where the characters were primarily of
Caucasian
Caucasian may refer to:
Anthropology
*Anything from the Caucasus region
**
**
** ''Caucasian Exarchate'' (1917–1920), an ecclesiastical exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Caucasus region
*
*
*
Languages
* Northwest Caucasian l ...
origin. At the lecture, she said that the under-representation of cultural differences could be dangerous.
Adichie concluded the lecture by noting the significance of different stories in various cultures and the representation that they deserve. She advocated for a greater understanding of stories because people are complex, saying that by understanding only a single story, one misinterprets people, their backgrounds, and their histories. Since 2009, she revisited the topic when speaking to audiences such as the Hilton Humanitarian Symposium of the
Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation is an American non-profit charitable foundation, established in 1944 by hotel entrepreneur Conrad Hilton. It remained relatively small until his death on January 3, 1979, when it was named the principal beneficiary ...
in 2019.
"We should all be feminists"
In 2012, Adichie gave a
TEDx
TED Conferences, LLC (Technology, Entertainment, Design) is an American-Canadian non-profit media organization that posts international talks online for free distribution under the slogan "ideas worth spreading". TED was founded by Richard Sau ...
talk entitled: "We should all be feminists", delivered at TedXEuston in London, which has been viewed more than five million times
and was later published as a book in 2014 by
Fourth Estate titled ''
We Should All Be Feminists
''We Should All Be Feminists'' is a book-length essay by the Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. First published in 2014 by Fourth Estate, it talks about the definition of feminism for the 21st century.
The essay was adapted from Adichie' ...
''. The book has reportedly sold 750,000 copies in the U.S. alone.
She shared her experiences of being an African feminist, and her views on gender construction and sexuality. Adichie said that the problem with gender is that it shapes who we are.
She also said: "I am angry. Gender as it functions today is a grave injustice. We should all be angry. Anger has a long history of bringing about positive change, but in addition to being angry, I'm also hopeful because I believe deeply in the ability of human beings to make and remake themselves for the better." On 8 December 2021, Adichie was interviewed by BBC News about the responsibility of being a feminist icon; she stated that she did not want another person to define her responsibility and she rather defined her responsibility for herself but did not mind using her platform to speak up for someone else. She also spoke about the right of women to be angry, because anger propels action.
Sampling in "Flawless"
Parts of Adichie's TEDx talk were sampled in
Beyoncé
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Beyoncé's boundary-pushing artistry and vocals have made her the most influential female musician of the 21st century, according to ...
's song "
Flawless" in December 2013.
When asked in an
NPR
National Public Radio (NPR, stylized in all lowercase) is an American privately and state funded nonprofit media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It differs from other ...
interview for her reaction to Beyoncé sampling her talk, Adichie said that "anything that gets young people talking about feminism is a very good thing".
She later qualified the statement in an interview with the Dutch newspaper ''
De Volkskrant
''de Volkskrant'' (; ''The People's Paper'') is a Dutch daily morning newspaper. Founded in 1919, it has a nationwide circulation of about 250,000.
Formerly a leading centre-left Catholic broadsheet, ''de Volkskrant'' today is a medium-sized c ...
'': "Another thing I hated was that I read everywhere: now people finally know her, thanks to Beyoncé, or: she must be very grateful. I found that disappointing. I thought: I am a writer and I have been for some time and I refuse to perform in this charade that is now apparently expected of me: 'Thanks to Beyoncé, my life will never be the same again.' That's why I didn't speak about it much."
Adichie has clarified that her particular feminism differs from Beyoncé's, particularly in their disagreements about the role occupied by men in women's lives, saying: "Her style is not my style but I do find it interesting that she takes a stand in political and social issues since a few years. She portrays a woman who is in charge of her own destiny, who does her own thing, and she has girl power. I am very taken with that."
Nevertheless, Adichie has been outspoken against critics who question the singer's credentials as a feminist, and has said: "Whoever says they're feminist is bloody feminist."
"Connecting Cultures"
On 15 March 2012, Adichie delivered the
Commonwealth Lecture 2012 at
the Guildhall, London
Guildhall is a municipal building in the Moorgate area of the City of London, England. It is off Gresham and Basinghall streets, in the wards of Bassishaw and Cheap. The building has been used as a town hall for several hundred years, and is ...
, addressing the theme "Connecting Cultures" and explaining: "Realistic fiction is not merely the recording of the real, as it were, it is more than that, it seeks to infuse the real with meaning. As events unfold, we do not always know what they mean. But in telling the story of what happened, meaning emerges and we are able to make connections with emotive significance."
"Freedom of speech"
On 30 November 2022, Adichie delivered the first of the
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
" speech.
and writing: "I think of myself as a storyteller but I would not mind at all if someone were to think of me as a feminist writer ... I'm very feminist in the way I look at the world, and that world view must somehow be part of my work."
and was raised Catholic as a child, though she considers her views, especially those on feminism, to sometimes conflict with her religion. At a 2017 event at
, she stated that religion "is not a women-friendly institution" and "has been used to justify oppressions that are based on the idea that women are not equal human beings". She has called for Christian and Muslim leaders in
to preach messages of peace and togetherness. Having previously identified as agnostic while raising her daughter Catholic, she has also identified as culturally Catholic. In a 2021
, she stated that she had returned to her Catholic faith.
; in 2014, when Nigeria passed an anti-homosexuality bill, she was among the Nigerian writers who objected to the law, calling it unconstitutional and "a strange priority to a country with so many real problems", stating that a crime is a crime for a reason because a crime has victims, and that since consensual homosexual conduct between adults does not constitute a crime, the law is unjust. Adichie was also close friends with Kenyan openly gay writer
, Adichie said in her tribute that she was struggling to stop crying.
Since 2017, Adichie has been repeatedly accused of
, initially for saying that "my feeling is trans women are trans women" in response to the question "Are trans women women?"
rhaps I should have said trans women are trans women and cis women are cis women and all are women. Except that 'cis' is not an organic part of my vocabulary. And would probably not be understood by a majority of people. Because saying 'trans' and 'cis' acknowledges that there is a distinction between women born female and women who transition, without elevating one or the other, which was my point. I have and will continue to stand up for the rights of transgender people."
In 2020, Adichie weighed into "all the noise" sparked by
's article titled "J.K. Rowling Writes about Her Reasons for Speaking out on Sex and Gender Issues",
and called the essay "perfectly reasonable".
Adichie again faced accusations of transphobia, some of which came from Nigerian author
.
, saying: "There's a sense in which you aren't allowed to learn and grow. Also forgiveness is out of the question. I find it so lacking in compassion."
In a June 2021 essay titled "It Is Obscene", Adichie again criticised cancel culture, discussing her experiences with two unnamed writers who attended her writing workshop and later lambasted her on social media over comments she made about transgender people. She labelled what she called their "passionate performance of virtue that is well executed in the public space of Twitter but not in the intimate space of friendship" as "obscene".
In 2009, Adichie married Ivara Esege, a Nigerian doctor.
They have one daughter, who was born in 2016.
Adichie divides her time between the United States and Nigeria, where she teaches writing workshops.
and her story "That Harmattan Morning" was selected as a joint winner of the 2002
Short Story Awards. In 2003, she won the David T. Wong International Short Story Prize 2002/2003 (PEN Center Award).
In 2010 she was listed among the authors of ''
''s "20 Under 40" Fiction Issue.
2014.
In April 2017, it was announced that Adichie had been elected, as one of 228 new members to ube inducted on 7 October 2017,into the 237th class of the
; this was one of the highest honours for intellectuals in the United States.
.
In 2016, she was conferred with an honorary degree, Doctor of Humane letters, ''
. In 2017, she was conferred an honorary degree, Doctor of Humane letters, ''honoris causa'', by
. In 2018, she received an honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, from
. She received an honorary degree, doctor ''honoris causa'', from the
, Switzerland, in 2019. On 20 May 2019, Ngozi Adichie received an honorary degree from
.
On 28 April 2022, she received her 16th honorary doctorate degree from the
.
On 13 October 2022, a member of Adichie ’s communications team told the Nigerian newspaper ''
: "The author did not accept the award and, as such, did not attend the ceremony."
:A Shortlisted
:B Runner-up
:C Joint win
:D Longlisted
...