Image Source: The Guardian
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is back in the spotlight after her interview with The Guardian was published on Saturday, February 15. The day after Valentine’s. In the piece, she talks about what she thinks of cancel culture, her experience with writer’s block, and a few tidbits about the two ten-month-old boys she managed to keep hidden from public knowledge.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Speaks on Cancel Culture
For the last seven years, Adichie has been away from the public eye following backlash over her opinion on whether transgender women could be categorised as real women. At the time, she stated that someone who has lived as a man with male privileges cannot equate their experience with a woman who has lived her entire life without those privileges.
After facing accusations of transphobia and being “cancelled” online, the 47-year-old feminist recently told The Guardian that there’s a need to stop cancel culture, calling it “bad” and stating, “We should stop it. End of story.”
Adichie Talks About New Book and Struggle with Writer’s Block
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie also spoke about a challenging period when she battled with writer’s block. She said, “There are expressions like ‘writer’s block’ I don’t like to use because I’m superstitious.” However, she admitted that she had many years where she felt “cast out from my creative self,” unable to reach the part of her that imagines and creates. While she could still write nonfiction, she noted that “that’s not what my heart wanted.”
The difficulty of reconnecting with her creative self was compounded by the grief of losing her mother. However, she later found inspiration in her mother’s memory, leading to the creation of her new novel Dream Count. This novel explores the bond between mother and daughter and the strength of a woman finding her voice.
The book is expected to be released next month by Fourth Estate and can be purchased at £20.
During the interview, she spoke of how her husband would say that she “becomes a different person” whenever she gets into writing. She compared the feeling to an absolute high, although she doesn’t do drugs. Adichie explained that when she is in her creative zone, time passes without her realizing it. Afterward, “the rest of the day is joyful floating.” She added, “I’m so much fun to be around. And that is not always the case.”
Adichie Briefly Comments on Her Twins
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her husband, Dr. Ivara Esege, welcomed their twin boys about ten months ago. The two already have a daughter who is currently nine years old. Despite being a public figure herself, Adichie has chosen to keep her children’s identities private to protect them.
“I want to protect my children. I’m OK with having them mentioned, but I don’t want the piece to become about them.”
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, born in 1977, in Enugu, Nigeria, is an award-winning author, who has published popular works like Purple Hibiscus, Half of a Yellow Sun, and Americanah. As a feminist, she is also known for her influential TED Talks, including We Should All Be Feminists.
