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Profile: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

BBC Radio 4 - Profile, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

The award-winning author who has found herself at the heart of a social media firestorm

The award-winning author who has found herself at the heart of a social media firestorm this week for an online essay she wrote complaining the platforms have become too toxic.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is one of Nigeria’s foremost literary voices. Her writing is noted for its touching examination of homeland, identity and feminism. For more than a decade she has been coaching and mentoring promising young authors through her yearly workshops in Lagos, bringing a new generation of African writers to mainstream attention.

On the subject of transgender people and feminism, Chimamanda Adichie has been criticised by some on social media for comments she made in a 2017 TV interview, in which she said "my feeling is trans women are trans women".  She was branded transphobic and there were calls for her to be banned from book events.  

This past week, she has hit back, writing a furious online essay slamming some of her critics and arguing that social media platforms have become too toxic.

Mark Coles talks to friends and family about the award-winning writer whose outspoken nature has seen her drawn into a social media firestorm.

Presenter: Mark Coles
Producer:  Sally Abrahams
Researcher: Matt Murphy and Sowda Ali
Editor: Alex Lewis

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

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