Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - Book Report/Review Example

Lecturer Book Review Half of a Yellow Sun Half of a Yellow Sun is a novel which was written by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and published by Alfred A. Knopf in 2007. In this 448-page novel, Ngozi uses the story of Ogdenibo, Olanna, Kainene, Ugwu and Richard Churchill to present the story of the turbulent Nigeria immediately before, during and after the Biafra War. After leaving his remote Delta Village for the highly metropolitan Nsukka, Ugwu joins the family of Prof. Odenigbo as a houseboy. Here, he gets an opportunity to be exposed and freely interacts with Olunna (Odenigbo’s mistress), Kainene (Olunna’s twin sister) and Richard (A white, Kainene’s boy friend). These people live together and share a lot of experiences before the war. However, this comes to an abrupt end when the civil war breaks and starts tormenting those in the southern towns of Nigeria including Nsukka. Later, as the story unfolds, Richard is forced to separate his sweetheart when he eventually opts to flee back to his motherland (Kellaway). In this novel, Ngozi uses characters from all walks of life to help her in demonstrating how plural society is. Before the outbreak of the war, these characters enjoy a pleasurable life together. Ugwu, a mere village boy is brought into the house of Odenigbo, a high profile university math professor. Regardless of his humble background, Ugwu demonstrates his culinary skills and emerge as an excellent pepper soup, boiled herbs, spicy chicken and rice cook. At the same time, he gets an opportunity to be enrolled at the university. This was happening in a society in which people believe that the “Greatness depends on where you are coming from.” On the other hand, Olunna, a daughter of a shipping magnate local chief abandons her affluent family to join her sweetheart in the dusty noisy university. On the other hand, Richard comes all the way from Britain to live comfortably integrate in this society. I would lie to point out that Ngozi was well-guided in her work. By using characters drawn from all social classes, she is sensitizing the readers on the actual nature of the society. There is a very good lesson that can be learnt from each of these characters. The manner in which they presented themselves shows a high level of maturity, consciousness and tolerance. For instance, had Prof. Odenigbo been concerned about his status, he would not mingle with the illiterate and ‘uncivilized’ village boy. However, his tolerant attitude enabled him to freely interact with him, employed and enrolled him at his workplace. The same tolerance can be said of Olana and Churchill who, regardless of their high social status, readily accepted to welcome the underprivileged people into their lives. This is a clear depiction of the diversity of the society which should not be used to discriminate upon other people, but tolerated to bring everyone together. In this novel, the author brings out the theme of ethnicity. As already highlighted, the entire story revolves around the 1967-1970 Biafra War which tore Nigeria a part. Evidently, this war erupted from the ethnic tensions which had ensued in the southeastern part of the country in which the setting of this story was done. If it were not for tribal animosity, it would not have erupted. However, since the Fulani, Yoruba and Hausa were perceived to be discriminating against the Igbo people, the ultimate result would be war. Instances of ethnicity are evidenced in the novel right from the beginning. For instance, Odenigbo used to host lots of dinner parties in which issues of ethnic concern were deliberated upon. Later, when the war erupted, individuals were targeted based on their ethnic identity (David 37). For instance, when Olanna is caught in the North, she fails to make it back to her people. As a southerner, she had to be held and vigorously interrogated by the northern authorities. Later, on her way back, aboard a treain, she reports encountering ‘a liquid – urine – was spreading on the floor of the train. Olanna felt it coldly soaking into her dress.’ Surprisingly, the government later proved this when it cut humanitarian aid to the dissents who were obviously Igbo ethnic majority. The other major theme discussed in this novel is nationality. As already explained, the story incorporated characters from different nations; a part from the rest, Churchill is a foreigner who has only gotten a chance to be in Nigeria courtesy of the grant given to him in Britain. On the other hand, all the other characters are from within the Federal Republic of Nigeria. All the elites who meet at Prof. Odenigbo’s house discuss the issues of national building. They are concerned about the establishment of a new nation which will give them a new identity. However, because of his nationality, Churchill refutes the claim that he can tell the story of the Biafra War as a local (Chimamanda 46). This is confirmed by Ugwu who asserts that, because of his nationality, he can not actually write the story of the Biafra War from that perspective. As the war progresses, the government sticks to the spirit of nationality to deny any support to the new secessionist country. Even if it leads to hunger and deaths, the only thing that matters is the prevention of separation and promotion of the unity of the larger Nigeria. In her attempt to shed more light on the Nsukka society, Ngozi makes it clear to the readers how love can be used to complicate such a community inhabited by people from different racial, ethnic and gender backgrounds. The revolutionary ideologies of Prof. Odenigbo and his houseboy Ugwu depict the rebellious nature of the Africans. At the time of the story, Nigerian (just like other African states) had just attained their political independence from the European colonizers. Thus, the ideas of these characters can be used to represent African interests. Meanwhile, the Europeans are quite critical about African attempts. For instance, Churchill behaves as if “it was like somebody sprinkling pepper on his wound: Thousands of Biafrans were dead, and this man wanted to know if there was anything new about one dead white man. Richard would write about this, the rule of Western journalism: One hundred dead black people equal to one dead white person.” This is sees when Churchill becomes resentful at the ensuing Biafra War. To show that this was purely an African crisis, Churchill flees back to his country leaving his girlfriend and other close accomplices in hunger and distress. This is a clear indication that the whites do not represent African interests. I would like to point out that this is a very insightful novel. In delivering her message to the readers, the author makes it to be like a history. By choosing the setting of the story in Nsukka, the author is committed to sensitizing the readers on the actual events that were going on during the deadly Biafra War. Just like Olonna, Odenigbo and Ugwu who are confined into the refugee camps, many of the southern people are in a dire need for humanitarian aid (Alexander 119). However, as secessionists, they are not granted any support by the main government. From this incident, the author succeeds in educating the audience on the dangers of war especially to the civilians. Although they never had a hand in this war, each of these characters suffers a great deal. From here, the readers can learn that war brings physical, psychological and emotional distress to the victims. The story is quite appealing to the readers because the author used different literary styles in her writings. Even if it takes the form of a novel, a large section of the book is composed of real examples which show a clear picture of the turmoil that Nigeria underwent in the later parts of 1960s. Besides, Ngozi makes her work more brilliant by the use of stylistic devices which are appropriate to audience. First, she uses a very simple language. Secondly, she arranges her work in a chronological manner that makes it logical and sensible to the readers. Finally, even if the novel covers stories which can seriously elicit emotional responses from the readers, she is very keen on whatever she says at any given time. Meaning, whenever there is any situation which can raise tension, she carefully handles it by a careful choice of language and expressions. For instance, the experiences of these characters in the refugee camps are quite sorrowful. However, she does not allow the reader to tear tears while reading this bit (Kellaway). In conclusion, I would like to agree with the fact that Half of a Yellow Sun is an invaluable novel which covers all the details of the Biafra War. It is a remarkable novel that really brings a clear and powerful picture of the modern African society. The dramatic interactions between the local and foreign characters demonstrate how complex the contemporary society is. In fact, it is a product of deep research which is stylistically presented after an impressive selection of its characters which made the story real and appealing. Indeed, this is a must read book for anyone who is willing to know much about the Biafra War that disintegrated Nigeria in the late 1960s. Works Cited Alexander Madiebo. The Nigerian Revolution and the Nigerian Civil War; Fourth Dimension Publishers, 2007. Print. David, D. Laitin. Hegemony and Culture: Politics and Religious Change among the Yorubas. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2001. Print. Kellaway, Kate. "Review: Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie". London: The Guardian, 2006. Print. Chimamanda, Ngozi Adichie. The Thing Around your Neck. London: Fourth Estate Publishers, 2009. Print. Read More