Chimamanda is a Nigerian writer who is regarded as a central figure of modern African literature. She was described in The Times as “the most prominent” of a “procession of critically acclaimed young anglophone authors” of Nigerian fiction who are attracting a wider audience.
Her most iconic novel, Half of a Yellow Sun (2006) was set before and during the Nigerian Civil War & received the 2007 Orange Prize for Fiction and the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award. The book was also adapted into a film and was voted by the public to be the best book to have won the Women’s Prize for Fiction in its 25-year history.
Chimamanda is an outstanding author, and her books are read in schools and households all over Africa and the world over. She is a feminist who fights for women’s rights and is an activist for LGBTQ rights in Africa. In 2014, when Nigeria passed an anti-homosexuality bill, she was among the Nigerian writers who objected to the law.
She has been awarded sixteen honorary doctorate degrees from universities including Yale University, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Edinburgh & many more.
On a personal note, Chimamanda is a real inspiration of a young black woman who has achieved so much through hard work and determination. Her books are the bedrock of African literature, and she has truly inspired many young black girls across the world. It’s crucial we recognize and celebrate the achievements of these unsung heroes.
Be sure to look for ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’ on Amazon Prime!
Audrey Chindiya – Business Accountant, Medicine
