On today’s edition of writers showing love to other writers, acclaimed Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie recently took to social media to demonstrate her love and admiration for the Kenyan legend Ngugi wa Thiong’o.

Adichie shared her thoughts in a 1:57 minute video uploaded to her Facebook page, in which she details her discovery of Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s work through his debut novel Weep Not Child in her secondary school and later Petals of Blood. She describes both experiences as “lovely” pointing out the romance, political astuteness, and the ability of the books, in the words of Roman poet Horace, “to instruct and delight.”

The book, Adichie said, was an introduction to an Africa outside of Nigeria for her. She went on to read other works of his, including his memoirs, which left her feeling “a sense of affection, admiration and respect” for Thiong’o’s work and life.

She described Thiong’o as “one of the most important writers working today”, adding that she felt proud to be part of a modern generation of African writers that look up to Thiong’o and consider him a guiding light.

Watch the video here.