Talks by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

 Talks by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

This blog is a part of a thinking activity given by Dilip Barad Sir from The English Department, MKBU, Bhavnagar. Check out Dilip Barad sir's Blog Site (Click Here for more information and knowledge about  works and writers. In this blog I am going to discuss about Talk by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. These talks are on 'The Dangers of Single Story', 'We should all be Feminists' and 'Harvard University - Importance of Truth in Post - Truth'. 

Short information about Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie :-

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (born 15 September 1977) is a Nigerian writer whose works include novels, short stories and nonfiction. She was described in The Times Literary Supplement as "the most prominent" of a "procession of critically acclaimed young anglophone authors" of Nigerian fiction who are attracting a wider audience, particularly in her second home, the United States. 

Adichie has written several novels, among which Purple Hibiscus (2003), Half of a Yellow Sun (2006), and Americanah (2013), short stories, the book-length essays We Should All Be Feminists (2014) and Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions (2017), and a memoir , Notes on Grief (2021).

In 2008, she was awarded a MacArthur Genius Grant. She was the recipient of the PEN Pinter Prize in 2018. She was recognized as one of the BBC's 100 women of 2021.

In 2002, she was shortlisted for the Caine Prize for African Writing for her short story "You in America", and her story "That Harmattan Morning" was selected as a joint winner of the 2002 BBC World Service Short Story Awards. In 2003, she won the David T. Wong International Short Story Prize 2002/2003 (PEN Center Award).

Video :- 1. 

          'The Dangers of Single Story'

The video revolves around The Danger of a Single Story. The speaker begins by sharing personal details, recounting her childhood, friendships, and life experiences. She identifies as a storyteller who grew up on the campus of a university in Eastern Nigeria. In her early writing, all her characters were white and blue-eyed, living in Nigeria with snowy weather, often portrayed as mostly drunken. She initially believed she was the only black girl in literature. 

Her perspective shifted when she visited Africa, interacted with African people, and read African books. This experience inspired her to write about the things she recognized, breaking away from the single narrative she once held. She now appreciates American books for their ability to open new worlds to her imagination. She acknowledges that reading African literature saved her from the confines of a single story.

She is coming from a middle-class family with a professor father and an administrative mother, she recalls an impactful incident involving a man named Fidy who lacked sufficient food. This made her appreciate the privilege of having food without struggle. She often felt uneasy about her African identity and black colour, perceiving a lack of possibility for Africans as human equals. Before settling in the U.S., she didn't strongly identify herself as an African.

The speaker highlights the importance of power in writing, stating that it goes beyond telling someone else's story; it makes it the definitive story. She introduces the term nikale, signifying superiority, asserting that stories, too, are defined by various principles. 

She quotes a Palestinian poet, Merit Budnitsan, emphasising that "If you want dispossessed people then the simplest way to do it is to tell that story and just start with secondly".

She delves into her past, recounting a happy childhood marred by the deaths of her grandfather, cousin, and friend, and the oppressive military government under which she grew up. Her stories, both negative and overlooked, shaped who she is. She underscores that stories highlight differences rather than similarities, acknowledging their power to dispossess or empower and humanise. Stories, she concludes, can either break or repair the dignity of people.

Video :- 2.

         'We should all be Feminists'

This video is on the topic of "we should all be Feminists'. At the starting she gives her personal information. She starts with recalling one of her best friends' talk,whose name is Okuloma,Who lived on her street and looked after her like a big brother. Okuloma died in the notorious sosoliso plane crash,in Nigeria in December of 2005,seven years ago. His opinion is the most important for her,she always takes his opinion. Okuloma was a person to whom she could argue,laugh and truly talk to. He was a first person to call her a feminist. When Okuloma is 14th years old , one argument is going on in front of me  in Okuloma's house that was like his family is argue on an unknown subject in between Okuloma looked at her and said,"you know, you're a feminist".and then she replies that,"you are a supporter of terrorism".    She doesn't no the meaning of the word 'feminist' and she doesn't want that Okuloma does know that. So, without knowing the meaning she does continue her argument on feminist and then she planned to look for the word feminist in the dictionary when she goes to her home. 

Some years later she wrote a novel,about a man who, among other things, beats his wife and whose story doesn't end very well. During the promotion of her novel,one journalist gives her advise that "people were saying that my novel was feminist". Till now she didn't find out the real meaning of the word feminist. According to her 'feminist' words definition is like this,' feminists are women who are unhappy because they cannot find husband '. So, as per her assumption she decided to call herself ' happy feminist ', and then she read African books and then she study on the topic of feminism and she decided to call herself ' a happy African feminist ', because at some points she was happy African feminist who does not hate men and who likes lip gloss and who wears high heels for herself but not for the men.

She also shares her experiences related to feminism which she felt. First was about her childhood, the school incident that was about to the testor vote of who is being the monitor of the class, she is interested to be a monitor because monitors have a power to write the names of the noisemakers and they can take a stand against bed childrens. As a result the voting is in favour of her or she is at the  top place of voting and at the second place there was a boy,he was a sweet gentle soul and she is full of ambition to do so. But the beliefs of the teachers is that a boy should be the monitor rather than a girl ,so the boy is becomes the monitor rather than she.  

The second incident happened when she was with her friend Louis. It happened when they were at the coffee shop , when she was paying the money to the waiter but the waiter said thanks to my friend rather than me. He is doing that because all the male or the person normally believes that man are made to earn money ,if the money is given by a female then also the money is coming from a man ,so he is behaving like that. 

Third incidents is about the young women who is raped by a gang in the university. At that time the response of man and women are like "yes, rape is wrong ,but what is a girl doing in a room with four boys?". The society always raises questions on the women's character rather than a man's character. 

Fourth was a hotel incident which she faced,that was like, when she entered alone in the hotel the guard stops her and asks her annoying questions.because they believe that a lonely woman with a man  comes in the hotel is only a sex worker, and guard always greets man and they ignore women every time.  So, these are some incidents or personal feelings regarding feminism which she felt .

Video :- 3.

          'Harvard University - Importance of Truth in Post - Truth'. 

This video explores 'the importance of truth in the post-truth era.' The speaker primarily emphasizes the significance of truth, drawing upon examples from her own life, often referencing Harvard University. The narrative begins at a U.S. conference where she, a budding writer, encounters an established writer and faces an awkward moment when asked about the books she claimed to have read. Despite numerous rejections as a woman in the writing field, she perseveres, even though her first novel remains unpublished, a significant setback.

For her, literature is a kind of religion, a source of learning, and she contends that humans, flawed as they are, can embody enduring goodness without needing perfection. Addressing the class of 2018, she encourages courage, urging them not to be silent and to speak the truth. She cites the example of Harvard University, often perceived as a symbol of untouchable intellectual achievement, with societal beliefs attributing success and opportunities solely to a Harvard degree.

Her friend, a Harvard student, shares insights that while Harvard degrees offer access and opportunities, they do not make one invincible. She recounts her own experience shifting from a medical school dream to a writing career, emphasising the importance of truth. She believes that while occasional lies may occur, speaking the truth to oneself and others is crucial for overcoming self-doubt and achieving success.

The lecture concludes with lines from Mary Oliver's poem "Whoever you are no matter how lonely."

Conclusion :-

In conclusion, this video passionately advocates for the universal adoption of feminism, a cause the speaker embraces through personal anecdotes and experiences. The profound influence of her late friend, Okuloma, who identified her as a feminist, serves as a catalyst for her exploration of the term. The speaker confronts societal misconceptions surrounding feminism, humorously recalling her initial assumption that feminists are merely women unable to find husbands. Through compelling narratives, she exposes deeply ingrained gender biases, from childhood ambitions thwarted by societal norms to encounters with prejudiced waiters and victim-blaming in cases of assault.

The speaker's journey of self-discovery and her commitment to being a 'happy African feminist' underscore the transformative power of embracing gender equality. The conclusion echoes a powerful call to challenge societal norms, dismantle biases, and advocate for a world where feminism is not just a label but a shared commitment to justice and equity.