Nigerian writer, novelist, poet, essayist, and playwright of postcolonial feminist literature
- Bio:
- Birth Date: September 15, 1977
- Birthplace: Enugu, Nigeria
- Background: the fifth of six children, grew up in Nsukka, Nigeria. She was an avid reader from a young age and was profoundly influenced byChinua Achebe’s iconic novel, Things Fall Apart.
- Education:
- Studied medicine and pharmacy at the University of Nigeria.
- Pursued communication and political science at Eastern Connecticut State University (B.A., 2001) in the United States.
- Earned a master’s degree in creative writing from Johns Hopkins University.
- Studied African history at Yale University.
- Notable Works:
- Purple Hibiscus (2003): Her debut novel set in Nigeria, it tells the coming-of-age story of Kambili, a 15-year-old girl from a wealthy but troubled family.
- Awards: Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best First Book (Africa) and overall Commonwealth Writers’ Prize nominee.
- Half of a Yellow Sun (2006; film adaptation in 2013): This novel gained international acclaim for its portrayal of the Nigerian Civil War and its devastating impact.
- We Should All Be Feminists: A powerful essay adapted from her TEDx talk, advocating for gender equality.
- The Danger of a Single Story: discusses the impact of a single narrative on perceptions and how it leads to rise in stereotypes.
- Purple Hibiscus (2003): Her debut novel set in Nigeria, it tells the coming-of-age story of Kambili, a 15-year-old girl from a wealthy but troubled family.
- Influences: Adichie’s original and initial inspiration came from Chinua Achebe, after reading his 1958 novel Things Fall Apart at the age of 10; Adichie has said that she realized that people who looked like herself could “live in books”
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s writing explores identity, feminism, and the complexities of human experiences.