Acclaimed Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has opened up about her continued amazement at the global love and support she receives from readers, revealing that she’s still astonished by the powerful connections people feel to her work.
In a recent interview on Arise TV, the 47-year-old literary icon expressed genuine disbelief at the speed with which her book events sell out—often within 24 hours—and the sheer number of people willing to pay just to hear her speak.
“I have never lost my sense of wonder,” Adichie said. “It is not false modesty. It’s true that I go through these things thinking, ‘Really? Why?’ That 1,000 people paid money just to see me still shocks me.”
Despite her international acclaim, Adichie remains deeply moved by the emotional bonds her readers form with her stories. She described the experience of hearing strangers relate to her words as both humbling and profound.
“There is always a part of me that thinks—why me? But it’s beautiful to see the connection people make. I’m touched by how readers from completely different backgrounds see themselves in my work. They come up to me and say, ‘This was me.’”
One such encounter that left a lasting impression on the novelist took place during a tour stop in Copenhagen. Recalling the moment, she said, “A woman came up to me, looked me in the eyes, and said, ‘You make me feel stronger.’ It brought me to tears.”
Adichie’s influence stretches far beyond literature. Over the years, she has become a global voice for feminism, identity, and African narratives. In 2019, she made history as the first Nigerian to receive the United Nations Foundation’s Global Leadership Award.
Her accolades also include being named among Time magazine’s ‘100 Most Influential People,’ New Yorker’s ‘20 Under 40’ list, and New African magazine’s ‘100 Most Influential Africans.’
