Celebrating The Contemporary Goddess of African Literature, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
by Friday Reign
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a Nigerian novelist and a writer of short stories, was born on 15 September 1977 in Enugu. She studied Medicine and Pharmacy at the University of Nigeria for one and half years before leaving for United State at the age of 19.
Chimamanda revealed that when she was 17, she was sexually assaulted by a big man in the media. She explained how she had written a book of poems and took it to the man so he would support her in making the book go public but the man assaulted her sexually. She has since then been very dogged in her support for the girl child and feminism.
After reading her book “Purple Hibiscus”, a white American said the character of Eugene in the novel portrays the slave mentality of Africans and their cluelessness in parenting. Ngozi replied him “You submitted your time, energy and emotions to read a novel that was authored by somebody from a race you call clueless? You are a specific example of myopic thinking”. Even though Ngozi lives in the U.S, she holds the values of Africa in high esteem.
Chimamanda is a woman of substance, an international authority and an enviable personality. She is the author of Purple Hibiscus, The Thing Around Your Neck, Half of a Yellow Sun and Americanah. Her books have won diverse awards across territories and nations; little wonder she was declared as one of the most 100 influential people in the world.
Today, we celebrate the contemporary goddess of literature. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie!