The Powerful Words of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is an acclaimed Nigerian author of novels, short stories, and short fiction. After growing up in Nigeria, Chimamanda moved to the US at the age of 19 to pursue university studies, where she became increasingly aware of her identity as a Nigerian, and an African. She has gone on to write three award-winning novels; ‘Purple Hibiscus’—a story about the promise of freedom for a 15-year-old girl in the face of a Nigerian military coup, ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’—a story about the lives of three characters swept up in the turbulence of the Biafran war, and ‘Americanah’—her follow-up novel about the experiences of an African woman living in the US.
Apart from her writing, Chimamanda is also a profound speaker, having given a widely praised 2009 TED Talk which highlights how a single narrative on issues such as writing, poverty and nations, frames the worldview we have.
Chimamanda went onto give another well received TED Talk in 2012, where she sparked a worldwide conversation about feminism.
Most recently, she has released a book ‘Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions’—where having received a letter from a dear friend from childhood, asking her how to raise her baby girl as a feminist, this was her letter of response.
Chimamanda’s contributions are shaped greatly by her TCK experience, where she champions plurality of all sorts, an aspiration for all TCKs to work towards.
What are your thoughts on her novels and her TED talks? Comment below and have your say!
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Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s instagram documents her commitment to Project 'Wear Nigerian,' where she dresses in Nigerian brands during most of her public appearances to support designers and craftspeople from her country. It’s a great way to get a brief snapshot of one of her cultures.