information about Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie'
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie was born on 15 September 1977 in Enugu, Nigeria, the fifth of six children to Igbo parents, Grace Ifeoma and James Nwoye Adichie. While the family's ancestral hometown is Abba in Anambra State, Chimamanda grew up in Nsukka, in the house formerly occupied by Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe. Chimamanda's father, who is now retired, worked at the University of Nigeria, located in Nsukka. He was Nigeria's first professor of statistics, and later became Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University. Her mother was the first female registrar at the same institution.
Chimamanda completed her secondary education at the University's school, receiving several academic prizes. She went on to study medicine and pharmacy at the University of Nigeria for a year and a half. During this period, she edited The Compass, a magazine run by the University's Catholic medical students.
At the age of nineteen, Chimamanda left for the United States. She gained a scholarship to study communication at Drexel University in Philadelphia for two years, and she went on to pursue a degree in communication and political science at Eastern Connecticut State University, where she also wrote articles for the university journal, the Campus Lantern. While in Connecticut, she stayed with her sister Ijeoma, who runs a medical practice close to the university.
Chimamanda graduated summa cum laude from Eastern in 2001, and then completed a master's degree in creative writing at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore.
It is during her senior year at Eastern that she started working on her first novel, Purple Hibiscus, which was released in October 2003. The book has received wide critical acclaim: it was shortlisted for the Orange Fiction Prize (2004) and was awarded the Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best First Book (2005).
Her second novel, Half of a Yellow Sun (also the title of one of her short stories), is set before and during the Biafran War. It was published in August 2006 in the United Kingdom and in September 2006 in the United States. Like Purple Hibiscus, it has also been released in Nigeria.
Chimamanda was a Hodder fellow at Princeton University during the 2005-2006 academic year, and earned an MA in African Studies from Yale University in 2008; her thesis was entitled 'The Myth of "Culture": Sketching the History of Igbo Women in Precolonial and Colonial Nigeria'. In 2011-2012, she was awarded a fellowship by the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Harvard University, which allowed her to finalize her third novel, Americanah. The book was released to great critical acclaim in 2013.
Chimamanda is married and has a daughter. She divides her time between Nigeria, where she regularly teaches writing workshops, and the United States.
feminist speech
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's talk revolves around the theme of gender equality and feminism. She shares personal anecdotes and observations to highlight the importance of challenging traditional gender norms and stereotypes. Here is a summary of her talk:
1. Introduction:
Adichie mentions her brother Chuks and best friend Ike as part of the organizing team for the event.
2. Acknowledgment:
Adichie introduces her niece Kamzia Adichie and proudly recognizes her presence in the audience.
3. Okuloma:
Adichie remembers her friend Okuloma, who passed away in a plane crash and was the first to call her a feminist.She reflects on how he labeled her as a feminist during an argument when she was about fourteen.
4. Misconceptions about Feminism:
Adichie discusses the misconceptions about feminism she encountered in Nigeria, where some believe it's a Western concept .She talks about the negative stereotypes associated with feminism, such as hating men or African culture.
5. Childhood Story:
Adichie shares a childhood story about a school test to become a class monitor, illustrating early gender bias and expectations.
6. Gender Norms and Expectations:
Adichie discusses the ways society enforces traditional gender roles and norms .She highlights how girls are often taught to be subservient, hide their ambitions, and prioritize marriage.
7. Impact of Gender Expectations:
Adichie explains how gender expectations limit both men and women, stifling their true selves and potential. She criticizes the notion of "bottom power" for women, which reinforces subservience to men.
8. Changing Gender Norms:
Adichie advocates for raising children to focus on abilities and interests rather than adhering to strict gender roles. She calls for a shift in mindset and attitudes to create a more equal society.
9. The Power of Culture:
Adichie challenges the idea that culture cannot change and emphasizes that people create and shape culture. She shares her interest in her family's cultural heritage and traditions.
10. Embracing Feminism:
Adichie proudly identifies as a feminist and defines feminism as believing in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes .She encourages more people to reclaim the word "feminist" and work towards gender equality.
11. Conclusion:
Adichie acknowledges her brother Kenny as an example of a supportive and masculine feminist. She emphasizes the need for everyone to acknowledge and address the gender problem and work together to do better.
Harvard University - importance of Truth in Post-Truth Era'.
In her address to the Harvard Class of 2018, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie emphasizes the importance of truth and honesty in one's life. She begins by discussing the significance of one's name and how intent and context matter when assessing people's actions. Adichie encourages the audience to consider the difference between malicious intent and honest mistakes.
She goes on to discuss the current political climate in the United States and the challenges of discerning and confronting lies. Adichie highlights the need for individuals to protect and value the truth, even in a culture of outrage and calling out. She emphasizes the importance of context and intent when addressing issues of truth.
Adichie shares personal stories of her own struggles with lying and the regrets she has when she didn't have the courage to embrace the truth. She stresses that telling the truth may not always lead to favorable outcomes, but it allows individuals to maintain their integrity and self-respect.
The speaker recounts a story about her encounter with an established writer and how she initially lied about having read his work. She later realized the importance of honesty and authenticity in her interactions with others.
Adichie advises the graduates to make literature their religion, encouraging them to read widely and understand the human story. She calls on them to be courageous in speaking the truth, especially in polarized environments, and to acknowledge that ignorance is an opportunity for learning.
She discusses the assumptions people may make about Harvard graduates, both positive and negative, and reminds them that their privilege comes with a responsibility to effect positive change in the world. Adichie encourages the graduates to challenge the status quo, champion new storytellers, and make media about truth rather than profit.
She acknowledges the fear of failure and the pressure to measure up to Harvard's expectations but reminds the graduates that self-doubt and self-belief are essential for growth. She advises them to think of literature and its diverse narratives when facing self-doubt.
Adichie concludes by emphasizing that the world is calling for their contributions and encourages them to be courageous and tell the truth in their endeavors.
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