Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Adichie has written many well-received novels, of which I had read two prior to Americanah; Half of a Yellow Sun and Purple Hibiscus.  Adichie is Nigerian and her novels have been stories of Africa, specifically her homeland of Nigeria.

Purple Hibiscus, published in 2003, was this author's first novel.  It is centered on a wealthy family living in postcolonial Nigeria.  It tells the story of their disintegration within a setting of political chaos, economic instability and social upheaval, primarily through the eyes of a fifteen-year-old girl. While it is a powerful story and an enlightening one set in a fascinating country, it was really just a precursor to the powerful story published three years later. 

Half of a Yellow Sun, published in 2006, tell the absolutely gut-wrenching story of a Nigerian intellectual family caught in the throes of the Nigerian-Biafran War.  Adichie, who is of the Igbo people, feels that her novel offers the "emotional truth" of this war and the heart-breaking story of the civilians caught up it.  You may recall reading about and seeing pictures of the million starving Biafrans who attempted to create a country apart from Nigeria (ultimately a failed attempt).  If you've not read any of Adichie's novels, start with this one.  It has stayed with me for many years. 

Americanah is Adichie's recently published novel and it's very, very good.  The story moves back and forth between Nigeria and America.  It is primarily the story of teenage sweethearts growing up in Nigeria: Ifemelu and Obinze.  They share a plan to leave Nigeria and attend college in America; Ifemelu succeeds in doing so but through a disastrous chain of events Obinze gets no further than England and then eventually is deported back to Nigeria.  

Years pass; Ifemelu is a successful writer and blogger in America and Obinze has become a wealthy businessman in Nigeria.  Much of the novel centers on Ifemelu's blog which focuses on race in America and the differences/prejudices/lives of non-/American Blacks and American Blacks.  Her blog posts are incorporated into the novel and give great insight into her character and point of view.  Eventually Ifemelu returns to Nigeria and she and Obinze once again meet...

But Americanah is much, much more than love story.  It is a powerful commentary on being black in the 21st Century in America, England and Africa told through the words of fully developed characters that we come to care about.  Adichie leaves us with much to think about.

Lines to remember:  

Some black women would rather run naked in the street than come out in public with their natural hair.  Because, you see, it's not professional, sophisticated, whatever, it's just not damn normal.  When you DO have natural Negro hair, people think you "did" something to your hair. Actually, the folk with the Afros and dreads are the ones who haven't "done" anything to their hair.  You should be asking Beyonce what she's done. (We all love Bey but how about she shows us, just once, what her hair looks like when it grows from her scalp?)

My rating ***