Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a renowned Nigerian novelist, writer, and public speaker. She was born on September 15, 1977, in Enugu, Nigeria, and has gained widespread recognition for her literary works, which focus on themes of gender, identity, race, and the Nigerian experience. Chimamanda is considered one of the most influential writers of our time and has become a powerful voice in the global conversation on feminism and social justice.

Chimamanda first gained international recognition with her debut novel, “Purple Hibiscus,” which was published in 2003. The book, which was set in Nigeria, explored the themes of domestic violence, patriarchy, and religious intolerance. It won the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best First Book in 2005 and was also shortlisted for the Orange Prize for Fiction.

Chimamanda’s second novel, “Half of a Yellow Sun,” published in 2006, is set during the Nigerian Civil War and follows the lives of three individuals who are caught up in the conflict. The book won the 2007 Orange Prize for Fiction and was also shortlisted for the Booker Prize.

Chimamanda’s third novel, “Americanah,” published in 2013, is set in Nigeria, the United States, and the United Kingdom and explores the experiences of a young Nigerian woman who moves to the United States to attend university. The book won the 2013 National Book Critics Circle Fiction award and was also named one of The New York Times’ 10 Best Books of the Year.

Chimamanda is also a renowned public speaker and has delivered several TED Talks that have been viewed millions of times. Her TED Talk, “The Danger of a Single Story,” which explores the power of storytelling to shape our perceptions of the world, has been viewed over 20 million times and has been translated into over 30 languages.

Chimamanda’s work has been transformative, particularly for African women, as it has challenged patriarchal and sexist societal norms. Her writing has given voice to African women and highlighted their struggles, dreams, and aspirations. Through her novels, Chimamanda has highlighted the complexity and diversity of African culture and identity, which has been essential in challenging the stereotypes that have long defined African literature. Furthermore, Chimamanda has been a vocal advocate for gender equality and has used her platform to promote feminist principles. Her TED Talk, “We Should All Be Feminists,” has been widely shared and has become a rallying cry for gender equality. She has also launched a feminist workshop series called “The Purple Hibiscus Trust” and has been actively involved in promoting women’s rights in Nigeria and beyond.

Chimamanda’s literary works, public speaking, and advocacy have had a significant impact on African literature, feminism, and social justice. Her writing has given voice to African women and challenged societal norms that have oppressed them for generations. Chimamanda has become a powerful voice in the global conversation on feminism and social justice, and her work has inspired millions of people around the world.

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House-hunting in Nigeria as a lady has to be the most daunting, physically and mentally draining experience ever. This is simply because most landlords do not like renting their houses to women, and all their reasons are annoying and awfully too generalised. However, my housing agent, Kola, says I should not blame these landlords because they have had their fair share of experiences with ladies.

The last two months have been quite challenging for me. The most common question I got was “What of your husband?”. Although the first time a landlady asked me that question, I thought she was merely concerned and naive, me went: “Oh, I’m not married yet, I still need to work some more” I didn’t add that I needed to run my master’s degree program, and so I need money, and to get the money I have to work.

I remember she showed me the small stall in front of the house that belonged to her while saying something about working-class women intimidating prospective suitors. She also mentioned that I might be unable to keep up with the rent payment, so I needed a man to help me. So Shocking! Wow! I remembered leaving the house, unsuccessfully renting the apartment, as I tried to think of which man was in my life and wondered if I had made a mistake by rejecting guys who had previously asked to be my boyfriend or marry me.

“You haven’t seen anything yet, “my colleague at the factory, Tina, said after I recounted my previous experience to her. Kola called me yesterday after work to check out an apartment in the boys’ quarter of a Chief. When he told me the Chief was my tribesman, I felt he would be happy to have me as his tenant. Some people tend to favour others because they are from the same tribe. So I quickly left work, asking Tina to cover up for me. I got there to meet Chief, the landlord and Kola whispered to me that Chief’s wife was a stout-looking woman with too much makeup on her face in a corner of the house. She did not join our conversation with her husband. I was shown the boys’ quarter, and I liked it so much that I offered to make a transfer at that moment. Trust my tribespeople, the Chief wanted cash. I promised to bring it the following day. I was so elated that I dashed Kola’s two thousand naira note. Suddenly on my way home, a car parked very near me and the stout-looking woman I met at Chief’s place came down to speak with me. Her English was incorrect, and because she mixed Igbo with it, I could pick out the point in what she said. Chief said he was no longer giving the apartment to me as someone else had paid for it. And when I asked why, she muttered some incoherent words, “Ashawo…. snatching my husband….” on and on she went till she drove off. I was so shocked. She called me Ashawo, a prostitute who wanted to snatch her husband.” I felt my cheeks wet with tears right on the road.

“Obviously, her husband never sent her. She just never wanted you.” I agree with Tina. The woman practically dragged the “women supporting women” statement in the mud. I did not bother to plead with the Chief. I knew if I eventually stayed in that house, I would face trouble from Chief’s wife every day, and at the end of it all, I was somewhat grateful.

I badly wanted to stop staying at the staff quarters in the factory. Some old baldies (my work supervisors) at the factory would not let me be. They assumed that every lady who stayed alone should be ready to have multiple relationships, and because I did not want to get into trouble with any of them, I wanted to leave the quarters.

A prayer was answered when I found a one-room apartment in a face-me-I-face-you house. It was not the kind of house you’d be proud to bring your work friends to, nor was it a place where you could peacefully nap in the afternoon. The only thing I was grateful for was that the old landlady did not ask to see my husband, but I got a long list of uncomfortable rules and regulations that I had to keep while staying in the house. I also had to put up with sharing a bathroom and toilet with six other people, mostly married women and their children. It felt better.

Story by Abiodun Ayomide

Facebook: Abiodun Olayinka

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Like most Nigerians, I had my fingers crossed. I believed we were about to break free from the chains of kakistocracy. I thought about the child I would most likely have in 4-8 years. I was happy that my child and the future generations would not endure the same story of bad leadership or longing for a better leader.

Every five minutes, I kept saying, “Peter Obi would win.” It became my mantra. I believed that I could speak dreams into becoming a reality. So, I went out to vote and lend a hand to create a bright future for ourselves and the generations to come. But what did I get in return? What did over 20,000,000 Nigerians get in return?

In the early hours of Wednesday, March 1, 2023, INEC and their cohort forced a man on us. They gave us a president whom we never voted for. We voted for a leader, but they gave us a ruler who sees the presidential seat as a prize instead of a duty.

That day was a black Tuesday for us. The usual jubilation and celebration of a new month did not hold. How could we rejoice when we just lost our country to a man who does not care about us?

Like some Nigerians, I cried. I couldn’t stop asking myself why he won despite our efforts. I wailed, wishing it was all just a bad dream. But I woke up this morning to face the same harsh reality. It is what it is; a reality. So, I decided to shake off the cloak of depression.

My life, relationship, and business cannot continue to suffer. I have picked up my life and am ready to move on to the next level. Some might call me weak, and some might accuse me of giving up too soon, but I do not care. I will walk with my head high because I know I did my part.

So, if you are like me, sweetheart, pick up your life and move on. The post-election situation in our country is akin to spilt milk, and you know what they say about that; there’s no use crying over it. Time waits for no woman, so let’s not delay. Move on! You will be fine, I will be fine, we will be fine. Chop, chop! I’m rooting for us.

Facebook: Gift Nonye Sieta

Instagram: Gift Sieta

Twitter: Gift Sieta.

LinkedIn: Gift Omesieta.

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Nigerians have been taking to the streets for over two weeks now. What started as a protest against police brutality has now grown into an outburst of general dissatisfaction with the country’s political elite.

Over the past two weeks, Nigerians have been taking to the streets as part of the #EndSARS-protest. And the movement does not seem to be slowing down anytime soon. It started in early October with nationwide demonstrations against a police unit called SARS. The Special Ant-Robbery Squad, which has been notorious for its violence, harassment, torture and even murder for a long time. But the youth driven protest, backed on social media by the Nigerian diaspora of over 17 million people, didn’t stop there. Lately, they have grown into a far more general outburst of anger about the political elite and its corruption.

The protests kicked off after a video went viral online. The video shows a SARS police officer killing a man in the streets of Lagos and driving off. Established in 1992, SARS was established as a heavily armed police unit to combat violent crime. But over the years it has grown into the symbol of police brutality.

One which has caused much unrest among the Nigerian youth. However as the #EndSARS movement has shown, Africa’s most populous country was unhappy with far more than police brutality alone. Around 60% of Nigeria’s 196 million inhabitants are under the age of 24. And the majority of them of working age do not have formal employment. This year the Nigerian government published statistics which showed that about 40% of all Nigerians live below the poverty line. A sentiment shared by former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo who in 2017 said  ‘we are all sitting on a keg of gunpowder’ when it came to the youth in his West African country.

Matters got even worse this year, with the Covid-19 lockdown harming the Nigerian economy severely. And most people failed to see much of the many millions the notoriously corrupt government promised to invest in a recovery plan. Begging the question “Where did that money go?”.

On top of the Covid crisis also came the low global oil price. This has been another substantial problem for the Nigerian government. Led by 77-year-old president Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria is Africa’s biggest oil exporter. And depends heavily on its oil revenues for its government finances. Which has meant that finding funds for living up to Buhari’s ambitious promises, made during his re-election campaign last year, has been difficult. Next to his promise to improve the security situation, especially with regards to the Islamic terrorist group Boko Haram in the north of the country. Buhari pledged to fight corruption and boost the economy. But instead the Nigerian economy shrunk by more than 6% between April and June alone, compared to the same period last year.

The notion of many Nigerians that their own government and security forces have become ever more the main threat to their security, was proven true when security forces opened fire at various groups of protesters early last week. Particularly the police violence to break out at an #EndSARS-protest. The protest which took place in the Lekki District of the country’s commercial capital Lagos caused much of a domestic and international outcry. According to human rights group Amnesty International at least twelve people were killed by police bullets at the Lekki toll gate. In a speech two days later, on October 22nd, president Buhari admitted that in total 69 people had been killed in the ongoing unrest. Of these 69 were 51 civilian’s, 11 police officers and 7 soldiers.

However, the bloodshed doesn’t seem to scare off the Nigerian youth. The success of their protests in forcing some concessions from government – a promise to disband SARS and wider police reform amongst these – has given them extra confidence. They realize a difference can be made if they remain persistent. A worrying situation for president Buhari, since the economy is not likely to get kick started anytime soon. The ‘keg of gunpowder’ has been ignited. And the only question that remains is not whether it’ll explode, but how loud and lasting the explosion will be. 

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