Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

But anyway, so I wrote this character who is not really her because I've invented this character's past life. I've invented this character's interior life. But I have kept the one story about Nafisatu Jalloh, that's her name. The story that Nafisatu Jalloh tells about what happened in that hotel room. I've kept as close as possible to that version.

But anyway, so I wrote this character who is not really her because I've invented this character's past life. I've invented this character's interior life. But I have kept the one story about Nafisatu Jalloh, that's her name. The story that Nafisatu Jalloh tells about what happened in that hotel room. I've kept as close as possible to that version.

Because I just think that, in some ways, I think it's a way of paying tribute to her. But also, it's about so many women like her. It's about women who are powerless and who are not allowed to have dignity. The way she was, the way they talked about her, just, it wounded my African spirit.

Because I just think that, in some ways, I think it's a way of paying tribute to her. But also, it's about so many women like her. It's about women who are powerless and who are not allowed to have dignity. The way she was, the way they talked about her, just, it wounded my African spirit.

And even the interviews that, I mean, I kind of fictionalized it in the novel, but there's an interview where I'm watching and I'm thinking, they haven't done this right. English is not her native language. And so you're asking her about something so intimate and so difficult in a language that she doesn't really speak well. It cannot go well.

And even the interviews that, I mean, I kind of fictionalized it in the novel, but there's an interview where I'm watching and I'm thinking, they haven't done this right. English is not her native language. And so you're asking her about something so intimate and so difficult in a language that she doesn't really speak well. It cannot go well.

In some ways, you're setting her up to look as though she's lying. And I remember a friend of mine who said to me at the time that she had watched the interview and she said, oh, I don't believe her because she was so dramatic. She was using her hands too much. And that made me very angry as well. I thought, first of all, you don't understand there's an African world in which that is not dramatic.

In some ways, you're setting her up to look as though she's lying. And I remember a friend of mine who said to me at the time that she had watched the interview and she said, oh, I don't believe her because she was so dramatic. She was using her hands too much. And that made me very angry as well. I thought, first of all, you don't understand there's an African world in which that is not dramatic.

But also, this woman was trying, she was put in a position where she had to make up for what she lacked in sort of in her ability to express herself. So anyway, all of that is to say this character is inspired by Nafisa Tujalo, but isn't her.

But also, this woman was trying, she was put in a position where she had to make up for what she lacked in sort of in her ability to express herself. So anyway, all of that is to say this character is inspired by Nafisa Tujalo, but isn't her.

yeah yeah you know that's like yeah yeah and i should say that i agree with the character in my just utter horror yeah i remember when i came to the u.s and they would say things like oh something terrible happened like but the family got money you know somebody was shot maybe and then somebody be like oh the family got money and i'm thinking yeah but why are you talking about it like that's sort of i mean somebody died yeah you know yeah

yeah yeah you know that's like yeah yeah and i should say that i agree with the character in my just utter horror yeah i remember when i came to the u.s and they would say things like oh something terrible happened like but the family got money you know somebody was shot maybe and then somebody be like oh the family got money and i'm thinking yeah but why are you talking about it like that's sort of i mean somebody died yeah you know yeah

And also now money being speech.

And also now money being speech.

I mean, in this country. Oh, completely. Citizens United. But anyway, let's talk about Dreamcount.

I mean, in this country. Oh, completely. Citizens United. But anyway, let's talk about Dreamcount.

I think that's fairly obvious. No, is it though? I think it's a fair read. And actually, it's a reading that I agree with, which is that, yes, the book is clearly not enthusiastic about the form and even the function of American academia today. I mean, obviously.

I think that's fairly obvious. No, is it though? I think it's a fair read. And actually, it's a reading that I agree with, which is that, yes, the book is clearly not enthusiastic about the form and even the function of American academia today. I mean, obviously.

So you have a woman who's Nigerian and who doesn't know anything about that whole thing, who comes looking for something better than she is. So she's come from a life in Nigeria that she thinks she kind of wants to atone for in a way. And so America becomes this, I want to find something noble and beautiful and good and honorable.

So you have a woman who's Nigerian and who doesn't know anything about that whole thing, who comes looking for something better than she is. So she's come from a life in Nigeria that she thinks she kind of wants to atone for in a way. And so America becomes this, I want to find something noble and beautiful and good and honorable.