Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie Biography
Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie biography – she is a Nigerian born prominent young writer based in the United States. She was born on the 15th of September 1977 and has written some books using the name Amanda N. Adichie
It seems like the Igbo ethnic tribe of Nigeria is fruitful in producing high profile authors. Just like the famous late Nigerian author Chinua Achebe, who is considered Africa’s most influential writer of literature, Chimamanda is of the Igbo ethnic group.
The two prominent writers were both affected by the civil war in Nigeria, with Chimamnda’s family losing almost everything.
Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie is a feminist who writes novels, short stories, and non-fiction books.
She says of her courage, “I was just very fortunate to have parents who encouraged and built my confidence, and who made me feel that I didn’t have to apologise for being who I was”.
She is still active in Nigeria where she teaches on writing and so she spends her time between Nigeria and United States of America.
Adichie comes from a family of academics, her father James Nwoye Adichie was a university professor of statistics at the University of Nigeria.
Her mother, Grace Ifeoma was the university’s first female registrar.
Adichie is a proponent of homosexual rights
She was inspired to write by Chinua Achebe and Buchi Emecheta
Adichie is married to Ivara Esege, a Nigerian doctor and they have a daughter together.
Presentations on TED Conferences: Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie Biography
In 2009, she presented one of the most viewed speeches titled “The Danger of a Single Story” on TED, an American media organization that posts talks on scientific, cultural, political, humanitarian, and academic topics.
Adichie gave a TEDx talk entitled: “We should all be feminists”, in which she spoke her views on gender inequality and the right of women to be angry because anger propels action in 2013.
Popular singer Beyonce’’ featured parts of the speech were in her song “Flawless” in 2013.
HarperCollins Publishers published an essay based on the speech as a stand-alone volume, We Should All Be Feminists, in 2014
Books by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Decisions, a play published in 1997
For Love of Biafra, poetry published 1998
Purple Hibiscus, a novel published 2003
Half of a Yellow Sun, a novel published 2006
The Thing Around Your Neck, a collection of short stories published 2009
Americanah, a novel published 2013
We Should All Be Feminists, an essay published 2014
Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions, an essay published 2017
Notes on Grief, a memor published 2021
“Checking Out”, a fictional story published 2013
“Apollo”, fictional story published 2015
“The Arrangements: A Work of Fiction”, short story published 2016
Honours, Recognition and Awards
Chimamanda received several honorary degrees from many academic institutions. Here is a list of the institutions
- Eastern Connecticut State University
- Johns Hopkins University
- Haverford College
- Williams College
- Bowdoin College
- SOAS University of London
- American University
- Georgetown University
- Yale University
- Rhode Island School of Design
- North-western University of University
