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Summary
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a renowned Nigerian author, decried Nigeria's worsening economic condition. She lamented the migration of middle-class citizens to begging and how the rejections she faced during her debut novel, Purple Hibiscus, never made her consider quitting writing.
Globally recognised Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie expressed worries over Nigeria’s economic hardship and the migration of middle-class citizens to begging.
In her exclusive interview with Channels Television’s ‘Amazing Africans’ programme, the renowned author lamented how the worsening economic crisis is pushing ordinary Nigerians into begging and desperation, which is forcing them into crimes.
“Life has become so hard in Nigeria, and I can see it. For example, people who were formerly kind of securely middle-class, not that life was rosy for them, but they got by, are now people who beg and are in need. That worries me greatly,” she said.
She emphasised that economic hardship doesn’t justify crimes; however, desperation forces them to make choices they won’t normally consider. She also noted that the biggest political judgment one can make is about the lives of ordinary people.
Furthermore, Chimamanda recounted the rejections she faced during her debut novel, Purple Hibiscus. Although she received as many as 25 rejections, she never thought of quitting because writing was a divine purpose for her.
She said, “The thought of quitting writing is never an option for me because writing is my vocation. Writing is really about what I believe I am here to do; it’s a bit spiritual.”
“I feel that is a gift that I am given, and so even if I hadn’t been published, I would still be writing today. So, the idea of giving up writing was never an option. But it (the rejection) was demoralising,” Chimamanda said.
