Afropolitan narratives and empathy: Migrant identities in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah and Sefi Atta’s A Bit of Difference

What is it about?

The article analyzes two novels of migration by Nigerian women authors in the context of Afropolitanism: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah (2013) and Sefi Atta’s A Bit of Difference (2013). It is argued that Afropolitanism obscures the reasons why migration from Africa to the West has been increasing in the decades since independence, rather than decreasing. In comparing the two novels, the article focuses on empathy towards and solidarity between fellow Nigerians, which has been seen by Nigerian philosopher Chielozona Eze as crucial for building African civil society and functional state.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

My findings show that Afropolitanism has wide a meaning depending on who is speaking.