Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a Nigerian author who has written multiple novels, short story collections, a memoir, and numerous essays and articles. Her works explore themes of religion, immigration, gender, and culture, drawing from her Igbo heritage.
Born into an Igbo family in Enugu, Nigeria, Adichie grew up in Nsukka, where many of her novels are set. She initially studied medicine at the University of Nigeria but left at 19 to pursue further education in the United States. She studied at Drexel University, Eastern Connecticut State University, Johns Hopkins University, and Yale University.
Adichie’s literary career began with the poetry collection Decisions (1997) and the play For Love of Biafra (1998). Her debut novel, Purple Hibiscus (2003), brought her widespread recognition. She has also published essay collections, including We Should All Be Feminists and Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions, as well as the memoir Notes on Grief (2021) and the children’s book Mama’s Sleeping Scarf (2023).
Beyond writing, Adichie is known for her influence in fashion and activism. Her “Wear Nigerian Campaign” earned her a Shorty Award in 2018. She is also a prominent speaker—her TED Talk “The Danger of a Single Story” (2009) is one of the most viewed TED Talks, and her 2012 talk, We Should All Be Feminists, was sampled by Beyoncé and featured on a Dior T-shirt in 2016.
Adichie has received numerous awards and honours, including a MacArthur Fellowship in 2008 and induction into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2017, solidifying her status as one of the most influential contemporary writers. She is married to Nigerian doctor Ivara Esege and divides her time between the United States and Nigeria, where she leads an annual creative writing workshop.
