10 things you may not Know about Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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June 17, 2015 10:10 AM

Here are some things you may not know about renowned writer, Chimamanda Adichie.

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Did you Know:

1. Her heroes are ordinary women

In an interview with Vogue Magazine When she was asked if she sees herself as a feminist heroine, she said "The real heroes are the nameless women in the market, who are holding their families together. They are traders and their husbands are out drinking somewhere... It's those women I admire. I am full of admiration for them."

2. She comes from a long line of strong women

Adichie’s mother was the University of Nigeria’s first female registrar, serving as the head of the administrative section of the university. Her sister operates a medical practice in Coventry, Connecticut.

3. Celebrities are in love with her

So many celebrities love her work including Beyonce whose song, “Flawless,” included an excerpt from a talk that Adichie gave at TEDxEuston in December 2012. The talk, entitled “We Should All be Feminists,” discussed the way women are raised and what it means to be a feminist. “We teach girls to shrink themselves, to make themselves smaller,” Adichie said. “We say to girls: ‘You can have ambition, but not too much. You should aim to be successful, but not too successful. Otherwise, you will threaten the man…’” Adichie defined a feminist as a person who believes in the social, political, and economic equality of the S*Xes. Also, Hollywood superstar, Will Smith, is a fan of her work.

4.She is a fashion icon

Adichie’s mother was always very concerned about her daughter’s appearance, and instilled the same value in her children. When Adichie first burst onto the writing scene in the U.S., she tried to dress more subdued in an attempt to be taken seriously, but soon realized that her personal style had the right to shine through.

5. She dropped out of medical school to pursue writing

Following her father’s wishes, Adichie enrolled in medical school in Nigeria, but dropped out at age 19 to attend Drexel University in Philadelphia on a scholarship. She ended up graduating from Eastern Connecticut State University with a degree in communication and political science.

6. She was inspired by Chinua Achebe

After reading Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart,” Adichie was inspired by seeing her own life represented in the pages. She once said, “I realized that people who looked like me could live in books.” Using that inspiration, Adichie has been writing about the Nigerian experience throughout her career.

7. She grew up in a house once owned by Achebe

She is the fifth of six children and grew up in a house that was once used by Nigeria’s and one of Africa’s finest writers, Chinua Achebe, whose book Things fall apart she read at the age of 10.

8. Giving back

She’s been organising Creative Writing Workshop annually since 2008 to encourage and help Nigerian youth.

9. “Half of a Yellow Sun,”

Her second novel, (2007), which was first published as a short story, has been adapted into a movie of the same name. The film adaptation, directed by Biyi Bandele, features Hollywood acts like Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton, Anika Noni Rose and Nollywood’s Genevieve Nnaji. The book is set before and during the Biafran war, and its title reflects the flag of the short-lived independent nation.

10. she doesn't like to be referred to as MRS

Though she once described marriage as a ‘dangerous’ institution for women; she is happily married to Dr. Ivara Esege, a doctor based in Maryland, United States and she doesn't like to be called MRS. In an interview with Naij, she said: "Addressing me as Mrs. Chimamanda (Esega), i dont like this at all. So my name is Chimamanda Adichie, full stop"

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