Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

When I'm done writing fiction and I'm editing it and someone else is sort of, you know, there's an editor looking over it. That's when I sometimes have to think about audience, but even then I almost never change anything. Because for me, fiction is almost, it's sacrosanct. I don't think about my audience. It's truly almost magical, honestly.

When I'm done writing fiction and I'm editing it and someone else is sort of, you know, there's an editor looking over it. That's when I sometimes have to think about audience, but even then I almost never change anything. Because for me, fiction is almost, it's sacrosanct. I don't think about my audience. It's truly almost magical, honestly.

But the other things, I can tell when people are bullshitting me, when people say, I love your work. And I'm thinking, no, you don't. But you actually don't.

But the other things, I can tell when people are bullshitting me, when people say, I love your work. And I'm thinking, no, you don't. But you actually don't.

Some, yes. Good, I love that. Oh, wow. That is the most Nigerian thing I've ever come across.

Some, yes. Good, I love that. Oh, wow. That is the most Nigerian thing I've ever come across.

No, I mean, I'm sitting next to, this is like, wow. Is this what, No, I mean, this is amazing. But I think it can be a good thing, right? For someone, and usually it's my wonderful Nigerians. Oh, Chimamanda, I love your work. So I said to him once, I was like, which one have you read? He said, I've read them. I said, which one have you read? He's like, the one about Biafra.

No, I mean, I'm sitting next to, this is like, wow. Is this what, No, I mean, this is amazing. But I think it can be a good thing, right? For someone, and usually it's my wonderful Nigerians. Oh, Chimamanda, I love your work. So I said to him once, I was like, which one have you read? He said, I've read them. I said, which one have you read? He's like, the one about Biafra.

I said, okay, what happened to me? So he starts laughing. So he starts laughing. And then he tells me, I'll read it, I'll read it. And then when it's non-Nigerians, You know, usually I can tell, but then I'm slightly gentler because, you know, sometimes non-Nigerians don't know how to handle the sort of Nigerian directness. Yes.

I said, okay, what happened to me? So he starts laughing. So he starts laughing. And then he tells me, I'll read it, I'll read it. And then when it's non-Nigerians, You know, usually I can tell, but then I'm slightly gentler because, you know, sometimes non-Nigerians don't know how to handle the sort of Nigerian directness. Yes.

But I think in general, because I wanted to be read, I've always wanted to be read. And I really do feel very grateful. You know how you said people have to say that? But I am actually quite grateful to be read. But I think fame was never a thing that I sought.

But I think in general, because I wanted to be read, I've always wanted to be read. And I really do feel very grateful. You know how you said people have to say that? But I am actually quite grateful to be read. But I think fame was never a thing that I sought.

And in some ways also because I'm not on social media, because sometimes I'm still surprised. I'm just like, oh, so that person actually knows me. So I'm not, yeah, it doesn't occupy me.

And in some ways also because I'm not on social media, because sometimes I'm still surprised. I'm just like, oh, so that person actually knows me. So I'm not, yeah, it doesn't occupy me.

Yes, yes. What was it? self-preservation huh so not in a high-minded way by the way just because I know that I will get into fights with people and it will not end well so I thought so you you're the person you would reply if somebody adds to you and says I will find where you live and come to your house you know that's how we met yeah

Yes, yes. What was it? self-preservation huh so not in a high-minded way by the way just because I know that I will get into fights with people and it will not end well so I thought so you you're the person you would reply if somebody adds to you and says I will find where you live and come to your house you know that's how we met yeah

This is a gospel that needs to be preached more in America. You think in America particularly? Yes. This is not the case in Nigeria, for example. And I would argue in most of Africa. People know that you can disagree with a person and still have a relationship with them. I think what's happening in the U.S. is a kind of

This is a gospel that needs to be preached more in America. You think in America particularly? Yes. This is not the case in Nigeria, for example. And I would argue in most of Africa. People know that you can disagree with a person and still have a relationship with them. I think what's happening in the U.S. is a kind of

You know, this kind of practice of purity, this kind of, you know, you have to have these particular views otherwise. And then the moralizing of opinion. So somebody feels a certain way about something. It's not just that you think they're wrong, it's that you think that they're bad people.

You know, this kind of practice of purity, this kind of, you know, you have to have these particular views otherwise. And then the moralizing of opinion. So somebody feels a certain way about something. It's not just that you think they're wrong, it's that you think that they're bad people.