The Washington Post Book World crowned Miss Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie "the 21st century daughter of Chinua Achebe." This past weekend I stopped by Barnes and Noble to see the latest African American literature, which also happens to be my favorite type of books to read. There Chimamanda's new book, "Half of A Yellow Sun" caught my attention. I was amazed and happy to see her novel on display. So I picked up her novel to see what it's all about. "Half of a Yellow Sun" depicts the tales of three individuals {Richard, Ugwu, and Olanna} during the Biafra War. If you're an Nigerian you know how important this war was. The Biafra War was essentially Nigeria's way of fighting its independence way back in 1960. {Nigeria has since become an indepedent nation free of British rule. Nigeria gain its indepedence on October 1, 1960.}
Adichie's first novel, "Purple Hibiscus" won critical praise from Nigerian and non-Nigerian publishers and authors.
Most notably Adichie's first work won acclaim from fellow Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe. The godfather of Nigerian tale Achebe had this to say of Adichie's first work, "We do not usually associate wisdom with beginners, but here is a new writer endowed with the gift of ancient storytellers. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie knows what is at stake, and what to do about it. She is fearless, or she would not have taken on the intimidating horror of Nigeria's civil war. Adichie came almost fully made." Prior to Achebe's acknowledgement of her work, Chimamanda used Achebe's poem, "Mango Seeding" in her novel.
Here's the exact citation that Chimamanda used in "Half of a Yellow Sun":
"Today I see it still-
Dry, wire-thin in sun
and dust of the dry months-
headstone on tiny debris
of passionate courage."
{"Mango Seeding" from "Christmas in Biafra & Other Poems" by Chinua Achebe}
Chimamanda's "Purple Hibiscus" won the Commonwealth Writer's Prize and the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award.
Miss Adichie credits her parents especially her father, Professor Nwoye James Adichie for her writing success. Professor Adichie often says "agha ajoka {war is very ugly}" whenever he's telling a story about the past to his daughter. Speaking about the past Miss Adichie dedicated her current novel, "Half of a Yellow Sun" to "their memories: ka fa nodu na ndokwa."
Contact Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie through her official website [here]
"Half of A Yellow Sun" has its own website [here]
