Postcolonial Studies: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Hello, this blog is part of a Sunday reading assignment given by Dilip Sir. In this blog, we will discuss the ideas presented in Chimamanda Adichie's videos. Click here
for more information.
Video 1 :- Talk on importance of story/literature
1. Early Influence of British/American Children’s Books
Growing up in Nigeria, Adichie was an early reader immersed in Western stories. As a result, she unconsciously wrote characters who were white and spoke of snow and ginger beer—despite never having experienced those things herself.
2. Discovery of African Literature
Her perspective shifted when she discovered African writers like Chinua Achebe and Camara Laye. Suddenly, characters with her skin tone and lived experience started appearing in literature—and she began writing stories she could recognize.
3. Danger of the Single Story
When a story is repeatedly told about a person or place—without counter-narratives—it can flatten the complexity of human experience. Adichie describes how her perception of her houseboy Fide’s family was shaped solely by poverty, until she saw their talent when visiting them.
4. Personal Encounters with Stereotypes
In the U.S., her roommate assumed Adichie couldn’t speak good English, refered to “tribal music,” and was surprised by her pop music taste. This highlighted how deeply ingrained single stories about Africa can be.
5. Power Dynamics in Storytelling
Adichie introduces the Igbo word “nkali”, meaning "to be greater than another," to illustrate how stories are a form of power. Whoever controls the narrative can define what becomes the central story—often with lasting consequences.
6. Critique of “Authentic African” Stereotypes
A professor criticized her novels for not being “authentically African” because her characters were educated and middle-class. Adichie suggests that those definitions are limited and often shaped by stereotypes.
7. Self-Reflection and Own Single Story
Adichie also admits to initially embracing a single story herself—about Mexicans as abject immigrants—until she visited Mexico and recognized the richness and everyday humanity she had ignored.
8. Broader Impacts of Single Stories
She emphasizes that single stories are not always false, but they are incomplete. They limit our understanding, emphasize difference over commonality, and ultimately rob individuals or cultures of their dignity.
9. Toward a Balance of Stories
Adichie advocates for multiple, diverse stories: about successes, resilience, joy, innovation—not just catastrophe. She cites examples like Nigerian publisher Muhtar Bakare, passionate readers, Nollywood’s creative energy, and everyday entrepreneurial spirit. She and her publisher have launched Farafina Trust to support libraries, workshops, and literature access in Nigeria.
10. Stories as Restoration
Ultimately, Adichie reminds us that stories can both wound and heal. Rejecting the single story allows us to embrace depth, empathy, and a richer, more human understanding—what she calls “a kind of paradise.”
Video 2 :- We Should All be Faminists
Adichie illustrates how societal expectations box us—boys into restrictive masculinity and girls into diminishing themselves to appease men.
Boys are taught to suppress vulnerability and equate worth with toughness.
Girls are trained to be overly accommodating—"shrink themselves" to avoid threatening men.
2. Outdated Gender Roles
She points out that while leadership once required physical strength, today's world values creativity and intelligence—traits where gender makes no difference. Yet, gender stereotypes persist.
3. Everyday Examples of Gender Bias
Adichie provides real-life anecdotes to reveal subtle sexism:
A woman entering alone is assumed to be a sex worker.
Waitstaff addressing men while ignoring women in mixed groups, reinforcing invisibility.
4. Marriage Expectations & Female Limitations
She criticizes how women are conditioned to prioritize marriage above all—sometimes sacrificing careers, property, or even authenticity to avoid intimidating men.
5. Double Standards in Behavior
Adichie highlights the divergent expectations:
Men comfortably show dominance and are seen as assertive.
Women risk being labeled intimidating or unfeminine if they assert themselves.
6. Questioning “Bottom Power” & Cultural Norms
She challenges the idea that women exercising sexual power (“bottom power”) is real empowerment—instead, it often legitimizes dependency on male privilege. She emphasizes that culture isn’t immutable—people can reshape it.
Video 3 :- Talk on importance of Truth in Post-Truth Era
Chimamanda Adichie’s speech revolves around the value of truth as a guiding principle in life. She insists that sincerity with oneself and with others is essential, even though it may not always bring external rewards. What honesty does offer, however, is a sense of inner peace and dignity.
She underscores the need for self-awareness and the acceptance of one’s own flaws. Drawing on her personal experiences, Adichie admits that her earliest writings were not strong, but facing that reality allowed her to grow and ultimately achieve success. For her, mistakes and setbacks are not failures but opportunities to learn and improve. She calls on graduates to lead with integrity and to recognize truth as a central quality of strong leadership.
Adichie also points to the role of literature in shaping empathy and broadening perspective. By reading widely, she argues, one can develop deeper insight into others and make wiser choices. She acknowledges that telling the truth can be difficult—particularly in political or public settings—but stresses the importance of speaking honestly with courage.
Sharing her own battles with procrastination and anxiety, she highlights that self-doubt can coexist with confidence and can, in fact, help propel success. She encourages graduates to pursue their individual journeys rather than conforming to traditional expectations of success.
Ultimately, Adichie urges her audience to see truth as the foundation of a meaningful life: to admit imperfections, to embrace learning through failure, and to use literature and empathy as tools for navigating challenges and leading with wisdom.
References :
Harvard University. “Author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Addresses Harvard’s Class of 2018.” YouTube, 23 May 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrAAEMFAG9E.
TED. “Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: The Danger of a Single Story | TED.” YouTube, 7 Oct. 2009, www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9Ihs241zeg.
TEDx Talks. “We Should All Be Feminists | Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie | TEDxEuston.” YouTube, 12 Apr. 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg3umXU_qWc.
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