Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Research Articles

Ambiguous AI: Lossy Compression, Model Collapse, and Intercultural Sensitivity

This paper examines the intersections of artificial intelligence (AI), cultural representation, and intercultural sensitivity, critiquing the impact of lossy compression and model collapse on cultural expression in AI systems. The study introduces “intentional patiency” as an alternative framework, conceptualizing AI not merely as an active agent but as a cultural receptor, and in turn, producer. AI systems often rely on compression algorithms that strip away cultural complexities, rendering nuanced traditions as simplified, stereotypical artifacts. Drawing on frameworks from Ted Chiang’s metaphor of lossy compression to Wendy Chun’s critique of noise, the essay explores how AI’s data optimization selectively filters cultural diversity, perpetuating dominant narratives while silencing marginalized voices. Model collapse in generative systems demonstrates while also exacertabting the pitfalls of homogenous data to reduce cultural representations to monolithic “single stories,” echoing concerns raised by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. To address this issue, this essay advocates for an interculturally sensitive AI development paradigm, incorporating cultural expansion and ethical safeguards to mitigate cultural erasure. Through the concept of “ambiguous AI,” a paradigm rooted in probabilistic engagement and intentional patiency, the essay seeks to reframe AI’s role as a nuanced participant in cultural discourse, promoting culturally adaptive architectures.

A portrait of white progressivism: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah

ABSTRACT This article explores Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s novel Americanah (2013) as a work that intentionally engages “whiteness”. Specifically, it argues that Adichie’s novel trains its attention on white progressives in the USA – those segments of the white American community who are not overtly racist and who might even see themselves as empathetic allies and partners to the Black community. In doing so, it claims that Americanah surveys the range of practices, behaviours, and discourses of white progressives that quite often reproduce harmful (though perhaps unintended) effects like race evasion, racial defensiveness, paternalism and saviorism – habits that are deeply rooted in the way white Americans see themselves and others in society and that are difficult to address and dislodge. The article concludes that the novel is pessimistic about the possibility of any sustained and meaningful understanding and unity of social and political purpose between Black and African people and white progressives.

Exploring Identity and Social Dynamics in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Americanah

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's novel Americanah intricately weaves a narrative tapestry exploring themes of identity, race, and belonging. Through the protagonist, Ifemelu's journey from Nigeria to the United States and back, the novel provides profound insights into the complexities of identity formation in a globalized world. This research paper delves into Adichie's exploration of identity construction, particularly focusing on how societal structures, cultural contexts, and personal experiences shape individuals' understanding of themselves and their place in the world. By analyzing key characters, narrative techniques, and socio-political contexts, this paper aims to unravel the multifaceted layers of identity portrayed in the novel and its implications for contemporary discussions on race, immigration, and social dynamics.

Gender Representation in Postcolonial African Literature

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess the gender representation in postcolonial African literature. Materials and Methods: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: The study found that authors often critique patriarchal structures and colonial legacies that have influenced gender dynamics. Female characters in these narratives are depicted as resilient and multifaceted, challenging traditional roles and seeking empowerment. Works by writers such as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Tsitsi Dangarembga highlight the struggles and triumphs of women navigating postcolonial societies, reflecting broader themes of identity, autonomy, and resistance. Additionally, postcolonial African literature often explores the intersectionality of gender with race, class, and ethnicity, offering a nuanced understanding of the lived experiences of African women and men in a rapidly changing world. Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: Postcolonial theory, feminist literary theory and queer theory may be used to anchor future studies on assessing the gender representation in postcolonial African literature. Supporting emerging authors through literary grants and mentorship programs is essential for promoting diversity and inclusivity in literary production. Promoting gender-inclusive literary awards can incentivize authors to explore and challenge traditional gender norms in their works.

Negotiating Masculinity and Cultural Identity in Americanah: An Analysis of Hegemonic Norms in Nigerian Diaspora Literature

This article delves into the presentation of masculinity and cultural identity in diaspora literature, honing in on Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Americanah. The study seeks to understand how cultural expectations and power dynamics contribute to the construction of masculinity within Nigerian diasporic communities, utilizing Connell's theory of hegemonic masculinity. Furthermore, it seeks to examine the impact of cultural fusion on the development of masculinity and cultural identity in male main characters in the chosen novel and to investigate how the intersections of race, gender, and immigrant background converge to influence the formation of masculinity in Americanah. Through a thorough examination of the male characters, the research delves into their engagements with dominant norms while striving to establish their sense of self and connection. The primary discoveries underscore the complex interplay among race, gender, and the immigrant background in moulding not only personal but also communal identities. The investigation pinpoints occurrences of defiance and rebellion against the prevailing masculine norms, while also exploring the potential for cultural amalgamation to redefine conventional ideas of masculinity. This scholarly inquiry enriches the comprehension of the intricate dynamics surrounding masculinity and cultural identification, providing valuable perspectives on the nuances of diasporic encounters and their influence on identity formation within diasporic literary works. In addition, this learned analysis creates opportunities for more inquiries into the relationships among sex, ethnicity, and individuality in contemporary literature, ultimately propelling the awareness of different plots within migrant communities.

Identity Formation and Acculturation in Smith’s White Teeth and Adichie’s Americanah: Critiquing the Immigrants’ Generational Experiences

This paper examines the relationship between identity formation and acculturation in Zadie Smith’s White Teeth and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah by unpacking the behaviours and experiences of the first-generation immigrant characters Samad (White Teeth) and Ifemelu (Americanah), and the second-generation immigrant characters Millat (White Teeth) and Dike (Americanah). These two generations of immigrants represent two-fold aspects of acculturation process. For the first-generation immigrants, integration serves as a vital acculturation strategy. However, the second-generation immigrants experience an in-between condition because of their weaker ties to their home country and culture, coupled with the experiences of discrimination in their new cultural environment. To analyze these themes of acculturation within the novels, this study integrates John W. Berry's and David L. Sam's concepts of acculturation, acculturation strategies, and acculturation stress. Additionally, Stuart Hall's concept of cultural identity is borrowed to elucidate the notions of culture and identity within the narratives. Furthermore, Homi K. Bhabha’s notion of hybridity is employed to examine the in-between state of second-generation immigrants in the novels. By highlighting the connection between identity formation and acculturation in the novels, this study underscores the importance of understanding the complexities of identity formation and acculturation among immigrants across generations in diverse cultural contexts.

Social Identities and Social Conflict Eruption in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Half of a Yellow Sun

Social Identities and Social Conflict Eruption in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Half of a Yellow Sun

Africa's Portrayal in African-American Writing

The depiction of Africa in African-American literature constitutes a nuanced and dynamic exploration, unveiling the intricate rapport between African-American writers and the African continent. Over centuries, Africa's portrayal has assumed myriad forms, serving as a symbolic homeland, a locus of struggle, and a wellspring of cultural inspiration. Imbued within these representations is a profound quest for identity and a yearning for belonging. Prestigious African-American authors, including Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and Maya Angelou, adeptly interlace African culture, folklore, and history into the tapestry of their works. In so doing, they delve into themes of heritage, resilience, and cultural pride, presenting Africa not merely as a nostalgic ideal but as a vibrant tapestry of traditions intricately shaping the African-American experience. This representation transcends sentimentality, offering a palpable connection to ancestral roots and cultural heritage. Yet, the portrayal of Africa in African-American literature transcends idyllic visions of a distant homeland. Renowned authors such as Toni Morrison, Chinua Achebe, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie confront the harsh realities of colonization, slavery, and oppression in their narratives. In their hands, Africa becomes a complex terrain of struggle and resistance, where characters grapple with the enduring legacies of colonialism and the intricate dynamics of post-colonial identity. The representation of Africa in African-American literature reflects broader historical and political dynamics. During the Harlem Renaissance, there was a surge of interest in Pan-Africanism, as African-American writers actively sought connections with counterparts on the continent in the fight against racism and imperialism. This period witnessed an embrace of African art, literature, and culture, as writers sought to reclaim and celebrate their African heritage.

Blogs, tweets, and Insta: Digital paratexts in the postcolonial cultural industry

Exploring the work of Hanif Kureishi, Amitav Ghosh, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Teju Cole, and nayyirah waheed, this essay examines digital parataxis in the work of South Asian and Black diaspora writers. These writers create content on social media to engage audiences in complex ways, not exclusively motivated by marketing and literary celebrity. The social media content they produce are best understood as digital paratexts that become new, essential texts of their oeuvres and identities, irreducible to market logics and creating inroads with audiences in and beyond the postcolonial cultural industry. Through their work, this essay offers a framework for understanding the digital paratexts that postcolonial writers are producing as an integral part of world literature.

Re-Fashioning Femininity and Motherhood in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s “Zikora: A Short Story”

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is one of the postcolonial writers who has made her literary contribution by introducing Nigerian culture to her readers in English. This paper aims to present a re-fashioned postcolonial perspective on the understanding of femininity and motherhood in Nigerian culture and to demonstrate how the perception of these concepts has evolved over generations as illustrated by the mother-daughter relationship in Adichie’s “Zikora: A Short Story” (2020). “Zikora” deals with various issues directly related to the situation of Nigerian women, such as single motherhood, polygamy, sexism and the preference for male children. The article draws on African feminism to explore womanhood as an identity and to emphasise the role that contact with a foreign culture plays in women's self-determination and development as individuals. In the story, the eponymous character is a single woman whose expected child is not wanted by her father. In the final stages of labour, Zikora reflects on her mother's relationship with her father and how she had to stay in the polygamous marriage just because she did not bear her husband a son. This study also shows that “Zikora: A Short Story” is a boldly written story that draws attention to the many injustices faced by Nigerian women in a patriarchal society.

The problem of identification in Ch. N. Adichie’s “Half of a Yellow Sun”

The article deals with the novel “Half of a Yellow Sun” (2006) by the African-American writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. The writer shows different components of the identification process in the modern multicultural world. The main historical event of the novel is the Civil War of 1967-1970, which took place due to political and ethnic struggle. It was caused by numerous attempts by the southeastern provinces of Nigeria to secede and form the Republic of Biafra. The novel shows how the interethnic conflict between the Hausa and Igbo peoples, and later the war, influence not only the fate of the characters, but also the peculiarities of their identification process. This process is represented by three components: ethnic, national and gender. Kainene and Odenigbo, whose ethnicity is formed and recognized with the emergence of a new republic, feel, first, not as Nigerians, but as Igbos. Therefore, they take an active part in the Civil War. British interest in the war is shown through the characters of Susan and Richard who demonstrate typical colonial attitudes towards Africans. However, Richard’s interest in African culture contributes to the process of realizing the ethnic identity of Ugwu who chooses a member of the African community for his role model. Olanna, representing a new generation of Nigerian women, destroys the traditional forms of gender relations in Nigerian reality.

A FORMAÇÃO EX-CÊNTRICA DE KAMBILI EM HIBISCO ROXO DE CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE

Postmodern aesthetics can be understood by its significant deconstructive content and this is observed in the dilution of artistic and literary standards, especially when issues of race, class, gender, or even nation are highlighted. It is through the deconstruction of paradigms that this research is directed, by analyzing the work of the Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie entitled Hibisco Roxo (2011) in which she narrates the formation process of the teenager Kambili and the shy resistance cultivated in the girl that in the end points out for their possible emancipation. In this way, we analyze how the process of formation and de-formation occurs in its trajectory, which in addition to deconstructing the standard formation of perfectibility propagated by the traditional literary model, the Bildungsroman (Formation Novel), subverts it to the ex-perspective -centric of a girl, Nigerian and suffering from the sad legacies of colonialism and patriarchy. To do this, we will base ourselves on studies on the Bildungsroman and the chronotopic change undergone by the literary genre in the works of Bakhtin (1992), Cristina Ferreira Pinto (1990) and Wilma Patrícia Maas (2000); on the concept of eccentricity we are guided by the studies of literary critic Linda Hutcheon (1988) and on Emancipation we draw on discussions present in Kant (1783) and Adorno (1995).

The Danger of a Single Story of Women: Challenging Perpetrator-Dominated Discourse through Internal Focalization and Polyvocality in Adichie's Half of a Yellow Sun

ABSTRACT: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's 2006 novel, Half of a Yellow Sun , utilizes a nonchronological, polyvocal narrative structure to depict a group of people's lives before and during the Nigeria-Biafra War of 1967-70. Throughout its structure, the novel centers questions of authorial rights and suitability, as it through its internal metatext, "The World Was Silent When We Died," problematizes who authors stories of Biafra. Through a narratological investigation of the novel's implementation of polyvocality and internal focalization, I argue Half of a Yellow Sun refuses to provide an easily accepted authorial choice that atones Ugwu of his participation in rape. Instead, the narrative devices expose his projection toward sexual assault and reveal his misogyny toward women. The novel simultaneously condemns and accentuates the harming effects of male-dominated discourse where perpetrators control the narrative and exclude and/or skew the experiences of women victims of sexual assault as it calls for a diversity of voices.

A Critical Discourse on Self Discovery in Alice Walker’s Now Is the Time to Open Your Heart and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah

Alice Walker and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie are renowned female writers from different backgrounds, countries and as such, different ideologies. They share a lot in common as their novels revolve around women, their struggles, challenges and experiences in life. Alice Walker concentrates on African-American women while Adichie focuses on the experiences of Africans, especially women who left the shores of Africa to the western world, their struggles, challenges encountered for being black and being a woman which Bell Hooks regards as “double tragedy”. This study is a comparative analysis of the self discovery in their novels: Now is the time to open your Heart by Alice Walker and Americanah by Chimamanda Adichie. It examines how the female protagonists: Kate and Ifemelu re-discover themselves and carve out a niche for themselves despite the challenges they face in their various journey in life. This study attempts to disabuse the minds of those who believe that women should be regarded as objects to be played with; rather they are subjects as could be ascertained from the lives of the characters, especially, the protagonists. Effort will be made to examine their pitiable experience which ranges from racism, segregation, humiliation and exploitation. Womanist and Post-colonial theories have been employed in this study to ostensibly facilitate a link between the experiences of Africans in Diaspora and the American system of government.

Digital Diasporas and Gendered Narratives: A Transnational Feminist Exploration of Americanah

This article examines the interplay between digital diasporas and gendered narratives within Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah. It employs Chandra Talpade Mohanty’s transnational feminist framework to analyze the protagonist, Ifemelu’s, experiences across both physical and digital realms. The study highlights how digital platforms function as vital spaces for identity negotiation and community engagement, facilitating a complex dialogue between Ifemelu’s Nigerian heritage and her American experiences. By integrating theoretical insights from Mohanty, the analysis emphasizes the intersectionality of race, gender, and class, enriching our understanding of diasporic identity formation.

War and the Question of Identity: A Study of the Novel Half of a Yellow Sun and the Movie The Wall

This study examines the complex correlation between warfare and individual identity as depicted in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's literary work, "Half of a Yellow Sun." and a movie entitled “the wall”. The novel explores the effects of the Nigerian-Biafran War on personal and group identities, providing a captivating narrative within this historical context. The movie also tackles the issue of identity by providing viewers with situations pertaining to the issue of identity formation. This research aims to explore the impact of war on the transformation and reinterpretation of identity, encompassing ethnic, national, and personal ties. It achieves this by closely analyzing the experiences of the individuals involved. This paper explores the characters' reactions to the societal disruption resulting from the war, scrutinizing their efforts to navigate their sense of self amidst the presence of aggression and forced relocation. Furthermore, this study critically examines the influence of memory, trauma, and storytelling on the development of the characters' changing perception of their own identity. Through an exploration of these thematic elements, a more profound comprehension of the ways in which war may both shatter and form identities is attained, thereby illuminating the intricate nature of human experiences within periods of conflict.

Navigating Identities in Flux: Exploring Diasporic Black Identity Issues in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah

This paper critically explores the concept of identity in diaspora literature through Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah, highlighting the identity crises and rebuilding efforts of the African diaspora within a postcolonial context. It examines the challenges faced by these individuals, such as racial discrimination, isolation, and prejudice in Western societies, and how they impact their quest for belonging. Utilizing identity theory, the study analyzes the experiences of characters like Ifemelu, Obinze, Uju, and Dike to understand their struggles with cultural displacement and the search for identity in either their homeland or abroad. Adichie’s narrative emphasizes the importance of maintaining cultural identity and self-confidence against the backdrop of global diaspora challenges. The paper concludes by recognizing Adichie’s significant impact on altering global views of Africa and her efforts to enhance African cultural pride, positioning her work as a key contribution to the discourse on diaspora and identity. Through Americanah, Adichie offers a profound insight into the diasporic experience, promoting a richer, more nuanced understanding of cultural diversity in our interconnected world.

You as a stylistic vector of otherness: from self-ascription to enactment in Kincaid (1988), Adichie (2009) and Azumah Nelson (2021)

Abstract Based on a theoretical pragmatic model (Sorlin, Sandrine. 2022. The stylistics of ‘you’. Second-person pronoun and its pragmatic effects. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press), this article compares the use of the second-person pronoun in three different narratives written by Black writers: Jamaica Kincaid’s essay, A Small Place (1988), Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s short story “The Thing Around Your Neck” (2009) and Caleb Azumah Nelson’s first novel Open Water (2021). It highlights how the racial nature and assumed universality of you is exposed in the texts and argues that the pronoun works as a powerful vector of otherness, bringing the (white Western) reader to experience racism in most intimate terms. The three texts propose varied stylistic constellations that draw on the flexibility of the pronoun in terms of potential reference, entailing different positionings of audiences, going from “self-ascription” (Wechsler, Stephen. 2010. What ‘I’ and ‘you’ mean to each other: Person indexicals, self-ascription, and theory of mind. Language 86(2). 332–365) to “enactment” (Caracciolo, Marco. 2014. The experientiality of narrative. Berlin: De Gruyter; Popova, Yanna B. 2015. Stories, meaning and experience: Narrativity and enaction. London & New York: Routledge). The article also evidences how the inter/intra-personal pronoun triggers a blurring of traditional stylistic and narratorial labels and lines. Lastly, from an enactive perspective that sees reading as an intersubjective participatory act where meaning emerges in the very interaction between a teller and a reader, this article sees communicating as an act of coordination based on the metaphor, communicating is dancing, inspired by Azumah Nelson’s rhythmic novel.

A Comparative Feminist Study of Subalterns in Adichie's Americanah and Darzink's Song of a Captive Bird

The present study explores the issues of oppression and gender identity in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Americanah and Jasmin Darznik's Song of a Captive Bird. This study examines Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak's subaltern theory that views how women suffer from oppression and gender identity in a patriarchal society. The postcolonial feminist research method is employed in the study to analyze how the two female authors present the struggle of women living in patriarchal cultures. From different views, this study uses close textual analysis to examine the narratives of Ifemelu and Farrokhzad and their respective struggle with societal expectations about gender roles. The findings of the study indicate that both authors address the issue of oppression and gender identity through their respective narratives. The authors' works show how gender norms and expectations limit women's opportunities and agency in Nigerian and Iranian societies. This study also highlights how patriarchal culture contributes to the anguish of Nigerian and Iranian women, creating additional barriers to their empowerment and fulfilment. This study concludes that the works of both female writers provide valuable insights into the struggle of women living in patriarchal societies and call for a re-examination of gender roles and societal expectations to promote gender equality and empowerment.

Depression in the Face of Racism: A Socio-Psychological Analysis of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie ’s Short Story “The Thing Around Your Neck

The short story “The Thing Around Your Neck” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie encapsulates the escapade of a migrant American Visa Lottery winner from Nigeria. A poor Nigerian, her image of America used to be influenced by some socio-cultural stereotypes promoted by Hollywood and various types of political and commercial media institutions. Soon, she finds no truth in what she used to believe about America as an economic heaven. She learns about America’s immoral give-and-take policy from her surrogate uncle who makes sexual advances towards her. She finds higher education extremely expensive and engages in the rat race to support herself as a waitress at a restaurant, a part-time student, and a breadwinner for her family in Nigeria. Constantly subjected to acute depression and loneliness, she feels stifled and suffocated in bed every night. Thanks to her white American lover, she recovers from it. Yet, so sensitive in mind, her body reacts to even the slightest emotional disappointment by getting frozen and irresponsive. Often, her dark complexion proves highly detrimental to her happiness as a black American. Although she is accepted by her lover’s parents, in her daily life, she experiences insults from both blacks and whites she meets in the streets. Such realities appear dark and negative and repulse her faith in the so-called sophistication of the American people. However, by the time she decides to visit Nigeria to commiserate with her mother bereaved by her father’s demise, her white American lover proves to be an inseparable tour de force.