Volume V Issue I January-March 2025

Name of Author : Sharmin Sultana

Title of the paper : The Quest for African Identity in Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichies Half of a Yellow Sun

Abstract: This paper intends to explore the issue of the envisioning of African identity by Chinua Achebe and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. A review of the theoretical literatures on national identity formations gives an insight into how these two writers from two different generations negotiate with the idea of African identity. Chinua Achebe seems to promote the precolonial Igbo culture which had been erased out by the colonial intrusion. For him, the time winning traditional culture is still at the core of the unique African identity. Adichie, on her part, is much impacted by Achebes vision of the African identity, she seems to be more outspoken in asserting her Igbo identity. This paper argues that the conception of identity in both Achebe and Adichie assumes rather a cultural overtone in which their ethnic affiliation significantly contributes to carving out their vision of the African identity. However, while Achebes focus is on restoring the cultural memory and identity of the Igbo people, Adichie also relates the issue of African identity to the immediate political tensions and conflicts at the national level.

Keywords : Achebe, Adichie, African Identity, Cultural, National

DOI :

Page Number : 13-18