Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

A major voice in contemporary English-language literature, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is also a powerful advocate for feminism. Born in Enugu, in southeastern Nigeria, she draws on her roots to fuel her work, which focuses on history, identity, and oppression. An academic career spanning Africa and the United States shaped her critical perspective. In Purple Hibiscus (2003) and Half of a Yellow Sun (2006), she spoke out against structural violence and colonial legacies, winning the Commonwealth Writers' Prize and the Orange Prize for Fiction. Her essay We Should All Be Feminists (2014) became a global manifesto, influencing pop culture and inspiring a new generation of activists. A committed speaker, she campaigns for gender equality, girls' education and social justice, denouncing oppression through her speeches and writings. Her fight goes beyond literature, as evidenced by her support for the #EndSARS movement against police violence in Nigeria. A MacArthur Fellow, she has received honorary doctorates from several universities.