Adichie giving a lecture
Earlier this year, author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie wrote for online magazine Guernica about the educational system in Nigeria. Adichie is the author of the acclaimed novel Purple Hibiscus, her first book. Her second novel, Half of a Yellow Sun, received just as much attention as her first. Her most recent book is a collection of short stories titled The Thing Around Your Neck.
Her piece for Guernica, “Why Are You Here?” is a compelling story about her visiting different schools in Nigeria and the defensive atmosphere that permeates the educational system before an election. The private and public schools she visits are in stark contrast with each other.
As usual, Adichie’s narrative voice is strong and captivating. Her beautiful prose and satisfying conclusion to the story can only leave readers with a desire to learn more about the educational system in Nigeria. Adichie’s place in literature is well-earned; we can only hope that she will continue to write for a long time.
Creative Commons Love: Commonwealth Foundation on Flickr.com
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