Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Biography And Her Books

The biography of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and a succinct details of her writing career. Also, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie books and awards.

  

Biography Of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie was born in Enugu, Nigeria on September 15, 1977 making her the fifth of six children in this Adichie family. Immediately after birth her birth, her family moved to the town of Nsukka, Nigeria. For a fact, Chimamanda Adichie's father was the first statistics professor at the University of Nigeria, and her mother served as the college first female registrar.

Chimamanda Adichie education began early as the writer studied medicine and pharmacy at the University of Nigeria. She later moved to to the US. However, began studying communications at Drexel University in Pennsylvania and eventually graduated with degrees in both communications and political science from Eastern Connecticut State University. At a very young age, Adichie loved reading and was exceedingly good at it. Hence, it's no strange how her literary works and books equally gained prominence.

Following her bachelor's degree, she also gained an MA in Creative Writing from Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore. In 1997,and a masters of arts in African studies from Yale University.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie education is actually breathtaking!

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Books And Writing Career

The African writer, started and her works drew little attention after writing several poetry and a published drama titled 'For Love Of Biafra' in 1988. Shortly thereafter, she began writing and publishing short stories that drew praise. After that, she had several short stories which were published in several literary journals and won various competition prizes.

In 2003, her first novel, Purple Hibiscus, was published and was written while she was enrolled in college. The novel is set in the political turmoil of 1990s Nigeria, the narrative told from the perspective of a Nigeria 15-year-old Kambili Achike who was sent far away from home during a military coup. It won the 2005 Commonwealth Writers Prize (Overall Winner, First Best Book), and was shortlisted for the 2004 Orange Prize for Fiction.

Her second novel is Half of a Yellow Sun (2006), set before and during the Biafra War when if Biafra was trying to gain independence from the larger nation, Nigeria. It tells the story of three characters living amidst the Biafan War in Africa. The novel won the 2007 Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction.

In 2009, Adichie released a series of short stories under the title 'The Thing Around Your Neck'. This collection of twelve stories began the author's examination of life not only in Nigeria, but also in the United States and the romantic relationship between the two states was duly explored.

Chimananda's third novel titled 'Americanah', was written during a fellowship awarded by the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study in 2011-2013 and was published to great acclaim in 2013. However, in 2019, it was officially announced that the novel will be adapted into a TV series for HBO Max.

Also in 2014, a long essay adapted from 2012 TEDx Talk titled 'We Should All Be Feminists' was published followed by Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions in 2017, which eventually won the 2017 Grand Prix de l’Héroïne Madame Figaro (nonfiction).

She has been able to bag some awards in which has helped her become more recognized in Nigeria and abroad. The awards are;

List Of The Awards By The African Writer

2019

Kasseler Burgerpreis "Prism of Reason" Award

2018

PEN Pinter Prize

2017

Grand Prix de l’Héroïne Madame Figaro (nonfiction) for Dear Ijeawele

2015

Winner of the 'Best of the Best' of the second decade of the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction (formerly the Orange Prize for Fiction) for Half of a Yellow Sun

2015

Girls Write Now Awards Groundbreaker honoree

2014

Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction (shortlist)

2013

National Book Critics Circle Award

Chicago Tribune Heartland Prize for Fiction

2011

ThisDay Award: ''New Champions for an Enduring Culture''

2010

Commonwealth Writers Prize (Africa Region, Best Book)

2010

Dayton Literary Peace Prize (US)

2009

John Llewellyn-Rhys Memorial Prize

International Nonino Prize

2008

British Book Awards Author of the Year

MacArthur Foundation 'genius' grant

2007

PEN 'Beyond Margins' Award 2007, for Half of a Yellow Sun

Anisfield-Wolf Book Award

British Book Awards Richard & Judy Best Read of the Year

Commonwealth Writers Prize (Africa Region, Best Book)

James Tait Black Memorial Prize (for fiction)

Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction

2006

National Book Critics' Circle Award (USA)

2005

Commonwealth Writers Prize (Overall Winner, Best Book)

2004

Hurston/Wright Legacy Award

John Llewelly-Rhys Memorial Prize

Orange Prize for Fiction

YALSA Best Book For Young Adults Award

2003

O Henry Short Story Prize

2002

BBC Short Story Competition

Caine Prize for African Writing

Commonwealth Short Story Competition

David Wong Award.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Adiche’s writing about Nigeria post-colonial era demonstrates a capacity to look at the family and the wider public sphere with equal regard and concern as both work hand in hand. Her works also tend to question the impact of colonialism in the post-colonial Nigeria.