A man calling himself Chinedu Ezigbo of Abatete posted this piece on Village Square about a week ago. He calls out Chimamanda for writing her novels solely in English and for her political views on feminism and homosexuality, saying that Achebe would not approve of the Nigerian novelist’s pro-gay stance.
“I have followed Chimamanda everywhere, facebook, youtube, TEDTalk, you name it,” he writes, “I have gone beyond her books to read her body language, her gesticulations, her appearance, all of which sums into her brand.”
He claims that this careful study of her work [and her gestures] has helped him figure out why “her brand” bothers him and gives him what he calls “a feeling of creepiness.”
Check out quotes from the essay after the image and let us know what you think of his criticisms.
On Not Writing in Igbo:
Nonetheless, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is an Igbo-African writer who is yet to write for her own people. All through her works, she has put the story of her own people into beautiful paperbacks for the reading West. And she has been successful. While Nigerians and Ndigbo celebrate her success, they have not been able to enjoy their identity in these stories.
On Not Taking Her Husband’s Name {see adichie’s comments HERE}
I have been pressured not to add a prefix to her name since it will be unAfrican of me to address a woman whose Igbo family took a dowry on as Miss instead of Mrs.; Chimamanda’s insistence to be addressed as Miss Adichie instead of Mrs. Adichie (to excuse her ‘name in fame’ in the hope that her documented last name is her husbands’), is a clear case of the contrast between what she portrays – appearance, writing and who she is – Igbo-African woman.
On Adichie’s Feminism {watch video HERE}
I root for her understanding and explication of feminism, but if [refusing to take her husband’s name] is any part of what she means by feminism then she is a bigger contradiction than I ever thought. My simple proof is that since I am neither her father nor husband, I may not address her as Mrs, but in the same vein I will not address her as Miss, since that will be against our common traditional heritage and values which in itself has no guile nor will its obliteration be a proof of feminism in any case.
On Criticism of Anti-gay Bill {read adichie’s essay HERE}
Why wouldn’t she, when Europe and America will be eager to read or hear her take on a more global issue like homosexuality, a way of life in the very fiber of the west and a decisive factor for who becomes president of the United States…So, maybe because she has to keep the handshake with her western publishers, Literary Awards and various festival Organizers, talk show hosts and interviewers Chimamanda did not stop to think that Sochukwuma [the subject of Adichie’s essay] was from another clime and culture that is not western enough yet to deal differently with the epiphany of same sex unions for their kits and kin. I am more than certain that she knew all these except that she must keep selling her story to the west – her greatest buyers.
Why Achebe Would not Approve:
Incidentally, Chimamanda and I share the same icon Albert Chinualumogu Achebe and we all come from the same area, only about 20 minutes from each others’ town. Achebe is one of those who are victors in the battle between westernization and Igbo-Africanness. He did not lose his head in that battle just like Chimamanda is already doing. The literary icon whom Chimamanda and I adore is an ozo title holder whom I am certain will not take Chimamanda’s stand on homosexuality in Nigeria even if that stand would sell a trillion of his published works and give him a worlds record breaking offer for more publishing.
Read full article HERE.
Ositadinma March 31, 2020 12:25
First of all, one of the writers Achebe greatly admired and wrote about persistently was gay. His name was James Baldwin. His fiction was also LGBT-themed, this James Baldwin's. Achebe read them and still loved the man. So yes, he was glad to have been seen by the gay in 1980 when they met at an African event. As to the case of surnames, go and read Igbo history. It never really mattered for the wife to be known by his husband. If you need proof, go and read Efuru by Flora Nwapa. The wife was known by where she came from. Even in marriage Efuru has always been known firstly as Efuru, the daughter of Nwashike Ogene. The fact that it matters now is because of how much Western influence has seeped into African life that many of the things we call our culture is not really our culture. Just and go read Igbo history well. Because I am sure that if you were transported back then you will muzzed to know that many of the things we call culture are not our culture. Thirdly, it is Ms and not Miss. Miss is for the unmarried. Ms is any female. She kept her name because she loves her name. It has been the name she has used in many of her landmark achievements and will not change it because of a man who can come in and walk out of her life.