Zikora by chimamanda received mixed reactions from readers as to the themes. One says "I didn't see a new Chimamanda in ZIKORA"
ZIKORA: MIXED REACTIONS ON CHIMAMANDA'S AMAZON SHORT STORY
"I didn't see a new Chimamanda in ZIKORA. Her feminism & many other speculations of the other gender were visible all over the book. My worst book from her so far. We need a different narrative from her, a new direction or thought."
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Zikora is a short story by the multiple award winner, Ngozi Chimamanda Adichie and released on October 27, 2020 with Amazon Publishing imprint called Amazon original series. Zikora is her first work of fiction since Americanah was released in 2013. "Among the most resonant observations in “Zikora,” one of them is how close relationships between women, between mothers and daughters, can harbor unexpected tonalities, stresses, and dark context."
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Chimamnda's precious works has created an undiluted emphasis on the travails and challenges of women in the society, especially the African society and on Zikora? This is an enhanced side of a story that left its words on every readers thoughts to ponder on.
A critic says, Among the many graces of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie‘s writing prowess is her eloquent understanding that politics pervades so many aspects of life. In the most intimate of personal concerns—here, racial disparities in pregnancy-related deaths—the political intelligence has its place: sorting concerns, confusion, and commitment.
The short story Zikora opens with a 39 years old Nigerian lawyer, based in Washington DC, USA. in the final stages of giving birth in hospital, groaning in pains. The beginning of the story gives a vivid illustration in the mind of the readers as to the pain during child labour. According to Zikora, it is like "An old testament. A plague!"
From the story, we learnt that Zikora met kwame, a highly educated lawyer of Ghanaian descent, at ab book launch. To her, he is a clean looking black man who she eventually falls in love with. The pair starts ating and their relationship lasted for a while until Zikora discovered that she had gotten pregnant. Immediately kwame learnt of this, he said "Ours was an ancient story, the woman wants the baby, and the man doesn't want the baby and a middle ground does not exist." . A clear indication that he isn't going to take responsibility for the pregnancy. Hence, he stopped taking her calls and texts.
Zikora reflects about her cousin Mmiliaku in Nigeria, who is pregnant and already has five children, of whom the youngest is six months old, and whose “older and wealthy” husband Emmanuel waits until she’s asleep before climbing on top of her, and effectively raping her.
She also reflects on her mother's marriage to her father. How her father left the family home when she was still eight years old to
live with his second wife, Aunty Nwanneka.
Aunty Nwanneka is a young and plump woman who unlike Zikora's mother had only one child after numerous miscarriages and a hysterectomy. However, she was able to able to provide a male child for Zikora's father and was to inherit the family fortune. In order to survive , Aunty Nwanneka became and hardened, hostile and "wielded her nice was like a subtle sharp knife."
She reflects on her own mother’s marriage to her father, and to the time, when she was eight, and her father left the family home, still married to her mother, to go and live with his second wife, Aunty Nwanneka. "She was young, plump, skin glistening as though dipped in oil," but in order to survive, Aunty Nwenneka "wielded her niceness like a subtle, sharp knife”.
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Unlike Zikora’s mother, who had only one daughter, and had endured several miscarriages and a hysterectomy, Aunty Nwanneka was able to provide sons to inherit the family fortune.
MIXED REACTION OF READERS ON CHIMAMANDA'S ZIKORA
Most readers shared their views as to the character, the prowess and the significance of the short story Zikora. However, some also showed some disappointment and distrust as to what the story promotes on the toxicity of both gender towards each other.
A point of view from a reader :
" The high professional, scumbag, boyfriend, Kwame, bolts when he learns Zikora is pregnant. Poor guy can’t face his responsibility and doesn’t .Zikora has no choice to face her pregnancy- and does.Lots of self reflection about her own mother —Mother/daughter themes have been in my space often this year. I did some reflecting, too.At only 35 pages - it wouldn’t be fair to say much more — other than what’s not to love about Chimamanada?
She writes from truth, and heart. The language is poetic...The story taunting.A Kindle unlimited/ read/ or audible format. I enjoyed both"
Another reader says,
" Zikora’ is a deeply emotional, character-driven story that puts a human face on urgent issues. Here she shines a light on high Black maternal mortality rates in the United States.
“The story beautifully expresses the pressures and uncertainty that every pregnant person feels to some extent at work and within their own families, while making clear the additional burden of fear carried by Black women.”
As to whether more work from Adichie might find its way to Amazon Publishing’s imprints, "
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Another positive review from a reader:
"Even in the shortest of stories Adichie says so much with her writing. Her prose, always sharp and witty, is capable of eliciting belly laughs that are tinged with deep pain because this is the heart of humanity laid bare by the author’s hand."
Another writes,
" Ngozi Adichie writes in such a stunning, visceral way. This short story expertly interweaves the trauma of past family life and childbirth."
As to the reviews, many emphasized on the exposition of challenges faced during early motherhood, and others such as; dysfunctional relationships, abortion, the impact of absent parent on the children and the life as a single mother. A reader appreciate her prowess to give a "short and powerful read that manages to explore important themes in just 35 pages."
Most readers also praises her writing prowess to be able to attack the vices in the society and the ability to recreate real life experiences for her readers.
I'd say that is magical!
However, some readers expressed their disappointment based on its method of release and the way it end.
One of them says,
"So good, I was upset to see it end. I want more of this storyđŸ˜©. Aside from the story itself, it’s quite disappointing that this short story is only released on amazon (either kindle or audible)"
Another similar review;
"I like adichie always addressing social issues in her works. For me, I wish the story was longer"
Another striking complaints about the short story is given by a reader. He says,
"I didn't see a new Chimamanda in ZIKORA. Her feminism & many other speculations of the other gender were visible all over the book. My worst book from her so far. We need a different narrative from her, a new direction or thought." PS: A humble opinion though. It is not yours, it is my opinion.
He complained further, "I think Madam Amanda should see how Akwaeke Emezi is progressing from one book to another, telling a different story.
I think she should leave that comfort zone!"
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Chimamanda Adichie Bio
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels Purple Hibiscus ; Half of a Yellow Sun , which won the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction; Americanah , which won the National Book Critics Circle Award and was a New York Times , Washington Post , Chicago Tribune , and Entertainment Weekly Best Book of the Year; the story collection The Thing Around Your Neck ; and the essays We Should All Be Feminists and Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions . A recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship, she divides her time between the United States and Nigeria.
SOME OF CHIMAMANDA ADICHIE'S WORKS!
Americanah. 
Half Of A Yellow Sun
We Should All Be Feminists
The Things Around Your Neck
Purple Hibiscus
Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestion
Zikora
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