Anambra State Government has lauded writer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie for being voted the best Women’s Prize for Fiction winner in the last quarter of a century.
Chimamanda’s novel Half of a Yellow Sun has been voted the best book to have won the Women’s Prize for Fiction in its 25-year history.
Chimamanda, who won the Orange Prize in 2007, was chosen in a public vote from a list of all 25 past winners that included distinguished writers as Zadie Smith, the late Andrea Levy, Lionel Shriver, Rose Tremain and Maggie O’Farrell.
A statement signed by Mr. C. Don Adinuba, Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, said Anambra State is in a celebratory mood over the exploits recorded by the prolific Chimamanda.
“Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State who had hosted Chimamanda Adichie on occasions believes that the world-famous author inspirits the Anambra essence of committed intellection, saying the award came at a time the whole world is celebrating Chinua Achebe’s 90th birthday even though posthumously.
“The government and people of Anambra State believe that it is a matter of when, and not if, Chimamanda Adichie will win the esteemed Nobel Prize for Literature,” Adinuba said.
Published in 2006 and set in the mire of the Nigeria-Biafra War, Half of a Yellow Sun explores doomed love in a time of war, ethnic allegiances, class, race and female empowerment.
An excellent novel of critical and commercial success, Half of a Yellow Sun has received global acclaim and was made into a film starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Thandie Newton in 2013.
