Chimamanda Adichie, the award-winning author, has been honoured with a chieftaincy title in Abba, Anambra state.
On Friday, the novelist was named the Odeluwa of Abba, her hometown. ‘Odeluwa’ translates to “The one who writes for the world’.
In the now-viral photos, Adichie could be seen dressed in Igbo traditional attire while holding a traditional fan with the inscription “Odeluwa Abba”.
According to the “certificate of the honorary title”, the honour was informed by her positive contribution to the community.
“Chief Mrs. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is now the Odeluwa of Abba in recognition of her contribution to the development and welfare of the Abba community,” the certificate reads.
Adichie, who is a writer and feminist, is best known for her themes on politics, culture, race, and gender.
She has received global recognition and won numerous awards and prizes.
In 2020, Adichie stirred mixed reactions after she said she didn’t consider herself an ambassador of Nigeria.
“I am an ambassador for myself. I don’t represent Nigeria. There are things about Nigeria I don’t like. But, at the same time, I am very very proud of my Nigerian identity,” the author had argued in an interview.
Later in that year — following civilian protests against police brutality and the shootings at the Lekki toll gate — Adichie wrote in a New York Times article that there was a feeling Nigeria could burn to the ground under President Buhari’s rule.
“The government of President Muhammadu Buhari has long been ineffectual, with a kind of willful indifference. Under his leadership, insecurity has worsened,” she said.
“There is the sense that Nigeria could very well burn to the ground while the president remains malevolently aloof.
“The president has often telegraphed a contemptuous self-righteousness, as though engaging fully with Nigerians is beneath him. Twelve hours after soldiers shot peaceful protesters, Mr. Buhari still had not addressed the nation.”
In 2016, Chimamanda stated that Buhari wasted the chance to make “real reforms” in the early days of his government.
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