Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is, by now, a household literature name all over the world. Known for her major works like Purple Hibiscus, Half of a Yellow Sun, and Americanah, she established herself as a major contemporary writer a long time ago. She has become a famous Nigerian writer as a young woman and kept her status to this day.
As a recognized Nigerian writer and feminist whose works have received praise both in Nigeria and abroad, she is the winner of many awards and medals, including the MacArthur Genius Grant, a W.E.B. DuBois Medal from Harvard, and the PEN Pinter Prize. You’re going to want to read this because there is so much more than meets the eye when it comes to Adichie.
In this piece, you might learn some new and surprising facts about this great writer and woman. If you know them already, it’s always good to be reminded of someone grand. If not, you’ll have a fact or two to share at your next party and you might even learn to appreciate her more because she certainly deserves all the respect and recognition. Let’s get into it.
A professor’s kid
Born in Enugu in 1977, she was raised in Nsukka, a small university town in southeastern Nigeria. Her father was a professor of statistics at the University of Nigeria, and her mother was the university’s first female registrar. This has influenced her education, and her free-thinking, and even inspired some of her characters and stories from Americanah. (This is a book we warmly recommend to everyone and their mom).
Growing up in such a town gave Adichie the chance to be among a diverse range of people and ideas, which would later influence her writing, as well as a serious dedication to making a change for the better, both with her words and her actions.
Dressed to impress
If you’ve ever seen a photo of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, you will know what we’re talking about here. The woman can write, but she can dress equally as well. This reminds me of the story of one friend, who was professionally interested in online gaming and Bitcoin esports betting, spending most of the time in front of his desktop, but always joining his remote tournaments wearing the “professional suit” and telling that no matter where you are and what you do, you need to look good.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has got so much style that it’s not much of a surprise that she’s been featured in fashion magazines such as Elle and Vogue and has been praised for her ability to combine traditional African clothing with modern styles. In 2014, she was named the face of Boots No. 7 makeup, becoming the first African woman to be the face of a major beauty brand.
Adichie wouldn’t be herself if she didn’t use her social media presence for doing good besides looking good. Did you know that she has also been a vocal advocate for African fashion, and has spoken about the need for African designers to have greater visibility in the global fashion industry? Cool points.
Dramatic past that influenced her life and work
In 2015, her father, James Nwoye Adichie, was kidnapped by militants and it had been a week before he was let go. The incident had an awfully strong impact on Adichie, who wrote about it in an essay for The New Yorker. She described her feelings of anger and being helpless, as well as her frustration with the government’s inability to keep the people safe.
She was also very vocal about it on social media, as she is today. Some people like to spend time on their phones watching TikToks, playing games, and some opt for activism. This Nigerian writer can rock a good selfie but also rock our worlds with her words.
Who runs the world? Girls!
Not to make it all bleak and depressing, it’s a very fun fact that Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a die-hard Bey fan! Everyone knows that Adichie is a feminist and has always been an outspoken critic of gender inequality in Nigeria and around the world. But did you know that she’s a member of the Beyhive?
It seems that the sympathies are mutual. Adichie’s work was featured in Beyoncé’s 2013 song Flawless, which included a recording of a speech Adichie gave on feminism. In an interview with The Guardian, Adichie expressed her love for Beyoncé, saying, “I love her fierceness, her independence, and her willingness to be vulnerable.” Women supporting women at its finest.
Miss? Mrs? Doctor. (Almost)
Not many people know this, but those who read her books will see it sounds familiar. Before becoming a writer, Adichie studied medicine and pharmacy. However, she soon realized that her true passion was for writing, and she switched to a degree in communication and political science.
After completing her BA, Adichie went on to earn a master’s degree in creative writing from Johns Hopkins University, and later a master’s degree in African studies from, wait for it, Yale University. She is a reminder that it’s never too late to fulfill your true dreams or destiny, however, you see it.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is someone worth following on Instagram, or in your local bookstore. We could use more great people in our time, and a woman who does good with her words and actions is a pride to her country and the entire world.