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I hate it when people attribute my popularity to Beyonce –Chimamanda

Published

8 years ago

October 11, 2016

Chimamanda Adichie hits back at critics bashing her for berating Hillary Clinton

Nigerian novelist, nonfiction writer and short story writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie says she resents it when people attribute her popularity to American Pop star Beyonce.

The MacArthur genius grant recipient who has lent her voice to various issues such as the global refugee crisis, the need to advocate for underrepresented cultures, and the necessity for feminism in Nigeria and around the world says the question she gets the most during interviews is about Beyonce, who sampled her (Adichie’s) TED talks, in the song titled Flawless, which was released about three years ago.

Speaking in a recent interview, the author who has been called “the most prominent” of a “procession of critically acclaimed young Anglophone authors said; “In the first place: of course Beyoncé asked permission to use my texts, and I did give her permission. I think she’s lovely and I am convinced that she has nothing but the best intentions. In addition, Beyoncé is a celebrity of the first order and with this song she has reached many people who would otherwise probably never have heard the word feminism, let alone gone out and buy my essay.”

Continuing, Chimamanda added that; “But I was shocked about how many requests for an interview I received when that song was released. Literally every major newspaper in the world wanted to speak with me about Beyoncé. I felt such a resentment (laughs loudly). I thought: are books really that unimportant to you? Another thing I hated was that I read everywhere: now people finally know her, thanks to Beyoncé, or: she must be very grateful. I found that disappointing. I thought: I am a writer and I have been for some time and I refuse to perform in this charade that is now apparently expected of me: “Thanks to Beyoncé, my life will never be the same again.” That’s why it didn’t speak about it much.”

“Her style is not my style, but I do find it interesting that she takes a stand in political and social issues, since a few years. She portrays a woman who is in charge of her own destiny, who does her own thing, and she has girl power. I am very taken with that.” Chimamanda added.

By Ahmed Boulor…

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