Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (1977- ), a Nigerian writer, is best known for “Half of a Yellow Sun” (2006). Or, in some circles, for her words on feminism in a Beyonce song, “Flawless” (2013).
Like Chinua Achebe she is Igbo. His books showed her that:
“people like me, girls with skin the colour of chocolate, whose kinky hair could not form ponytails, could also exist in literature.”
Her novels:
- “Purple Hibiscus” (2003) – a coming of age story.
“Half of a Yellow Sun” (2006) – about the Nigerian Civil War in which Igbos declared independence from Nigeria as the country of Biafra, under a flag with half of a yellow sun. A million people died (both her grandfathers among them). It is a period of history that has shaped Nigeria yet is sunk in silence.- “Americanah” (2013) – a love story that takes place in Nigeria, America and Britain, addressing issues of race, natural hair, immigration, and identity.
“The Thing Around Your Neck” (2009) is a book of her short stories.
Her fiction is built out of true stories – like her parents’s experience of the civil war, her own experience of coming to America, even stuff she reads on blogs. But her writing is not thinly autobiographical: unlike Ifemelu in “Americanah”, for example, her life is much more boring and she has never blogged.
Her childhood: She grew up a professor’s daughter in Nsukka, a university town in south-eastern Nigeria. There she fell in love with books.
She has been writing ever since she learned to spell:
“I just write. I have to write. … I like to say that I didn’t choose writing, writing chose me. This may sound slightly mythical, but I sometimes feel as if my writing is something bigger than I am.”
But because she did well at school, she was expected to be a doctor.
Her studies: She studied medicine, but found herself wanting to write bad poetry instead. After two years she dropped out and, at age 19, came to America. She continued her studies, but not in medicine. She has a master’s degree in creative writing from Johns Hopkins and in African Studies from Yale.
Her race: In coming to America, she became Black. Back in Nigeria everyone is Black, so no one is Black. What matters is not race but ethnicity (Igbo in her case) and, especially, religion (fallen-away Catholic).
Race in the US, she found, is learned. For example, at first she did not know:
- why a man she did not know would call her “sister”;
- why liking watermelon should be controversial;
- why her professor was surprised by her writing skills.
Only when she learned Black American history did it all make sense. Only then did she see through the stereotypes.
Her hair: In Nigeria she was taught that her own natural hair was ugly, that straight hair was pretty. Only in the US did she begin to question that.
Her favourite writers, listed by country:
- Botswana: Bessie Head
- Ghana: Ama Ata Aidoo
- Nigeria: Chinua Achebe (especially “Arrow of God”), Flora Nwapa
- Saint Lucia: Derek Walcott
- UK: Enid Blyton
- US: James Baldwin.
– Abagond, 2016.
See also:
- Welcome to Black Women’s History Month 2016!
- Other posts having to do with Adichie
- Beyonce
- US/America
- Nigeria
- Igbos
- Catholic
- favourite writers
- Chinua Achebe
- James Baldwin
- Enid Blyton
- The watermelon stereotype
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Abagond 
You have managed to save Black Womens History Month. Very good.You will do Mary Seacole next. You also look more to the diaspora. Miriam Makeba looks like a good candidate.
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“Half of a Yellow Sun” has been sitting unread on my bookshelf forever.
We share favourite authors: Bessie Head and James Baldwin.
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Ab- I often don’t get the angst of many Black people. When it comes to dealing with whites my questions are; ‘What can you do for me?’, the next question is; ‘What can you do to me?’. Usually the answers are ‘nothing’ – so I am free to do whatever I wish. I have always been curious as to what it would be like to hang out with a group of people who never had to answer for being Black.
Tonight I left the clubs to go to dinner with a group of friends.
We spoke about religion, politics and finance on the l patio of a local restaurant. The security guard asked us to keep our voices down. I paid the tab ($640.00) left a tip ($200.00) and walked out with my crew before we had even eaten. The owner called me before we reached a restaurant across town and asked us to come back. (I sit on a board with him). ‘Nah, man. I”m good’, is all I said. Before we had finished dinner at the other restaurant he had e-mailed each of my guests $200.00 vouchers ($1000.00) in make-goods.
I’ll have to read this author’s books because I have never had to feel inferior for being Black. (Great post)
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Abagond, please do a post on the Igbo people, their connection to Israel, how slave traders specifically targeted the Bight of Biafra region and how they were eventually dispersed to the Americas during the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.
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I just learned about Biafra and the half of the yellow sun was in the emblem on the flag. I also learn many Nigerians don’t know the history of black Americans and that would explain why some of them have a low opinion of black Americans just like Chimamanda-Ngozi- Adichie had about black Americans until she learned better.
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@ Mary
Very perceptive, Mary.
Understanding other people’s history and your own history is so important.
For far too long, people in the African Diaspora have settled for seeing themselves and each other through White people’s eyes. It’s like seeing the world reflected in a carnival fun-house mirror; everything you see is distorted and misshapen.
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She sounds like an amazing woman.
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@Afrofem: I learned that from one of my favorite bloggers Awesomely Luvvie who is Nigerian I think she is Igbo if I am not mistaken and she mentioned how many Nigerians didn’t know about history of black Americans and the icy chasm between us and them. She explained in Nigeria they are taught the history of the British and the history of Nigeria but not black American history, hell in America the school system barely teaches black Americans black history. So there is much to learn.
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Hosea 4:6 my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. “Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.
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@ Mary
Awesomely Luvvie is almost a force of nature! I read her blog http://awesomelytechie.com
because she is such a master of what she does (marketing and social media strategy).
I remember some of the comments in her blog forum that dealt with the divide between Nigerians and Black Americans. Pretty sad, but when people are unaware of their own or other people’s history those attitudes are expected.
I agree with you that the biggest problem is not really the Nigerians, it’s that Black people in this country are so deeply ignorant of our own history and how our unpaid ancestors built the economic foundations of this nation.
So much to learn….
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@Afrofem: Yes i agree love reading you enjoy your fresh voice.
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“I agree with you that the biggest problem is not really the Nigerians, it’s that Black people in this country are so deeply ignorant of our own history and how our unpaid ancestors built the economic foundations of this nation.
So much to learn….”
@ Afrofem
Please permit me to say this loudly..
ERGO MY DEBATE WITH YOU ABOUT WHY BLACK HISTORY MONTH OUGHT NOT BE CONFINED TO ONE DESIGNATED TIME OF YEAR.
BLACK PEOPLE EVERYWHERE NEED A BLACK HISTORY/BLACK KNOWLEDGE MINDSET AWARENESS 365 DAYS A YEAR!
WE NEED TO GET OUR COLLECTIVE HEADS ON STRAIGHT SO THAT WE COME TO LOVE WHAT WE SEE WHEN WE LOOK IN THE MIRROR – AND WHEN WE LOOK AT EACH OTHER!
EITHER WE DO THIS, OR WE REMAIN WHERE AND HOW WE ARE – DIVIDED & CONFUSED & APART.
Okay. I’m done. Thank you. 🙂
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@Fan…I totally agree i loved this past February but i try to learn 365/24/7. I am constantly learning and reading.
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@ Fan
So noted. Said loudly and I agree with your conclusion. (chuckle)
My concern is how do we get to that blessed state of universal awareness of Black history. That will be a very hard job, not impossible, but hard
I respect your passion, Fan. Do you have any ideas on how we get from here (divided, confused and apart) to there (unified, clear and cohesive)?
Vison and passion are one thing. Plans and action are another.
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“Vison and passion are one thing. Plans and action are another.”
.
You love to CHALLENGE MUCH Afrofem, eh? 😉
There are much better thinkers, planners, organizers, activists than I.
And there are movements, plans and thought ALREADY in motion throughout the diaspora. But we need much, much more.
I would simply say that the change will/may come gradually, one step at a time, one day at a time brought about a myriad of techniques and EDUCATIONAL processes.
Turn it around. Making being Black a joyful and proud thing. Knowledge, wisdom, respect and love needs to be at the top of our list of things to accomplish.
I don’t have all the answers, Afrofem. Just the will and desire to open minds and hearts.
After all, I’ve finally reached YOU. 🙂 I think..
All I’m basically saying is let’s take one measly month and expand that FULL-TIME in whatever ways, possible!
We may not all agree with one another, but we can all become positive towards each other – positive toward anyone of us trying to do positive..
How do YOU propose we do this, Afrofem?
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@ Fan
I’m in the same boat as you in that , “There are much better thinkers, planners, organizers, activists than I.” I also don’t have all the answers. Every day for me is a learning experience.
As to your query: “How do YOU propose we do this, Afrofem?” In my area, some Black churches and civic organizations have taken the first step of setting up Saturday ethnic schools that focus on Black history and culture.
These schools are modeled on the ethnic schools that most immigrant communities operate.
I feel it’s a small step, but a crucial first step. Have to start somewhere, right?
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“These schools are modeled on the ethnic schools that most immigrant communities operate.”
.
I don’t mind modeling after immigrant communities – as long as they are positive African ethnic communities.
Why?
Because the mess we’re now in is, imo, because we have followed models (colonization) and systems that are NOT our own.
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@ Fan
This organization, African Community Education, might be one to explore.
They are located in Worcester, Massachusetts and run a Saturday school (among other programs) targeted to African immigrant and refugee children.
http://acechildren.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=119&Itemid=115
This is the model I was thinking about for native born, slave descended Black children. To me, a simple Saturday ethnic school would be a good first step to our joint vision of:
It would be difficult to organize, but it is sorely needed. Do we agree on that?
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“This is the model I was thinking about for native born, slave descended Black children. To me, a simple Saturday ethnic school would be a good first step to our joint vision… It would be difficult to organize, but it is sorely needed. Do we agree on that?”
.
We agree on a lot of things.. but we don’t need to agree here.
There are perhaps a billion ways to help a brother or sister UP, and we all won’t go about it the same exact way.
Yes. Schools geared toward Africans/Blacks are excellent.
But don’t think about a good first step.
Think about a LEGION of steps.
Think about the entire African diaspora having a massive mental/spiritual awakening – by whatever means exponential, harmonious and genuine.
Ponder that one short story by Prof Bell, but with a few twists in it. This time THE RAIN falls on Black people – which causes a massive shift in our thinking, our collective paradigms. I’m using his (changed) story figuratively, to make a literal point.
Aren’t all things possible, however unlikely they might seem at first?
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“Fan…I totally agree i loved this past February but i try to learn 365/24/7. I am constantly learning and reading.”
.
Yes Mary Burrell,
We should all encourage each other to be positive, productive and thirsty – ALWAYS LEARNING about who we truly are.
I don’t always agree with Abagond but I love this forum/blog space that he has created and the information he and others provide here. I loved this February too, but a year of straight Februaries isn’t big enough to encompass all the time and information that has been stolen and kept from us. Or caused us to hurt those who look like us, for the sake of those who don’t!
I believe that the more we know about who we truly are, the more respect and kindness we’ll have for ourselves – no matter our shade, class or income.
It’s no small task, overcoming hundreds of years of *colonized thinking and acting*, rediscovering the latent beauty that lies within everyone of us, if we dare to look ..
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@ Fan
Please describe at least three of the “legion of steps” you envision.
Panoramic vision and passion are wonderful things. Tell me about some of the concrete actions that Black folk can take to start the climb on the steps.
I would love to see what you have in mind.
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“Please describe at least three of the “legion of steps” you envision.
@Afrofem – thanks for asking!
To be clear, I meant that within the diaspora, I envision legions of steps coming out of the minds and hearts of millions of people with a likewise goal or ambition.. UPLIFTMENT & REVEALMENTS (new words).
There’s no one or two or three silver bullets. There’s a bunch of silver bullets. But only if WE choose to enact them!
1. Hidden Colors – (1, 2 & 3) documentaries made by and for Black people should be watched by EVERYONE throughout the diaspora!
Not just “Hidden Colors” – but any POSITIVE media that lends toward furthering our collective education, inspiration and rejuvenation as an African/African descended/Black people.
2. Before integration it was normal and common for Black folks to have 3 or 4 generations living in the same residence. Folks pitched in. People took care of each other. We didn’t put our parents into nursing homes, and our children weren’t raised by strangers in daycare centers or after school centers. We weren’t perfect then, but we had a better/stronger family structure than we have today. The Black Church was more central/active in the lives of the people. We had more more values, dignity and self-respect. Our music reflected different values then. If today’s hip-hop music lyrics truly reflect our values, we’re in deep, deep trouble! Segregation, imo, would be better for us on many levels.
3. I’d like to see every African/Black child thrive with the strength and stability of a male and female headed family. I’d like to see parents value their children MORE — sacrifice their hanging out – and whatnot – by always putting the various needs of their offspring ahead of their material wants. Keeping up with the Jones – western society’s ways of doing things… MASSIVE CONSUMERISM/DEBT and other junk, ain’t it.
4. I’d like to see communication and respect improve between Black men and Black women ….
5. I’d like our children to learn to fish for themselves, instead of learning how to get the fish otherwise. INDEPENDENCE!
6. Viable Parenting & Family education – might help lessen children having children (and not knowing who the baby’s daddy is!)
Here are a few of many people on the web who have also articulated (better than I) how we might step further and higher as a people:
Onitaset
Trojan Pam
Diaryofanegress
Neely Fuller
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@ Fan
Thank you for sharing your “steps”.
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@ uglyblackjohn
“..I have never had to feel inferior for being Black.”
How did you escape the weight/message of INFERIORITY that millions of Black people have to deal with on a constant basis.
What shielded you from feeling inferior?
I recall a little of you telling us about how you won a swimming competition!
Was it education, money, class, social status, parental attitudes, the way you were raised, skin tone ..?
Were you surrounded by white people who were dirt poor or LESS than?
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