By James Eze
Nigerian novelist Chimamanda Adichie has scooped up awards in Germany and Sweeden as she continues the global tour to promote her new book, Dream Count.
Adichie had a spectacular outing at the 15th edition of the Harbourfront Literature Festival in Humburg, Germany where she was honoured with the “Felix Jude Prize for Defiant Thinking.”
In one of the most memorable nights of her career, Adichie was serenaded in a carefully worded laudatory speech on her rendered by former US President Barrack Obama’s sister, Auma Obama at the ceremony.
“Auma Obama, Barack’s sister, gave a moving laudation as I was awarded the ‘Felix Jud Prize for Defiant Thinking’ in Germany, Adichie recalled.
Adichie is the first recepient of the award which was part of the festival which took place at the Elbphilharmonie, in Humburg, Germany.
Adichie’s German outing was swiftly followed by her visit to Sweeden where she was declared as the preferred author of Sweedish readers and honoured with “The Mermaid Prize for a Writer Beloved by Sweedish Readers.”
The Swedish jury noted that her work had deeply touched readers in Sweeden many of whom were introduced to her work when her essay “We Should All Be Feminists was distributed to all 16-year-old high school students in Sweden.”
The award recognized her powerful storytelling and ability to “reshape global conversations on feminism, identity, and belonging”
Ms. Adichie has continued to dazzle the world with her extraordinary talent since she debuted with “Purple Hibiscus” in 2003, combining storytelling with public speaking, feminism and identity.
