A Review on The Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

As a big fan of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, I can tell you that this book is definitely a very intriguing read. It is safe to say you enter into the world of the characters when reading it. It is so well thought-off and put together that one could think it was based of the life of real individuals. While the novel is set around a real historical event — The Nigerian civil war( the Biafra war) in the 1960s , it is indeed a work of fiction. Its major theme is WAR.

Chimamanda throws light on the life of different characters exploring the experience of people during this taunting period in the country’s history.

The main characters swept up in the turmoil of the decade; Ugwu, a thirteen year old young lad full of zeal from a humble background employed by a university professor as a houseboy. Odenigbo, a math Professor at the University of Nsukka, a thorough thinker and passionate Biafran who struggles with the psychological impact of war violence. Olanna, a beautiful, educated woman from a wealthy family. The professor’s wife who let go off her silver spoon in pursuit of a love life with Odenigbo. And Richard, a shy British, living and researching art in Nigeria who is also in love with Olanna’s twin sister Kainene. Characters whose lives were shaken and overturned by war.

This book portrays complex reality of life, love and loyalty in the face of war and political unrest.

Here Adichie shows us that war is not a drama that defines the characters life but it is what disrupts them. She manages to entwine the different perspectives and aspects of war in the story. Despite the heavy subject matter of the book, she forces the reader to confront the horrific scenes of rape, indiscriminate killings, famine, displacement, starvation and death. At the same time the moments of forgiveness, repentance, love, generosity and sacrifice.

The name of the book symbolizes the Republic of Biafra- the flag with the half of a yellow sun. A nation that briefly came into being in south east Nigeria in the late 1960s. Its secession following two military coup and violence against the Igbo people, during which up to 100,000 people were killed in northern Nigeria, sparked the Nigerian Civil War, during which up to 3 million Biafrans died, mostly from starvation.

Half of a yellow sun provides the reader with an experience that ensures that such stories remain even through history. It demonstrates what it means to be human and confront different situations in your mortality and vulnerability. Fighting for a course while striving to live. Being at war within oneself in the face of political unrest.

Just a few of my favorite takes from this book;

“How do we resist exploitation if we do not have the tools to understand exploitation” Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Half of a Yellow sun.

“…my point is that the only authentic identity for the African is the tribe…I am Nigerian because a white man created Nigeria and gave me that identity. I am black because the white man constructed black to be as different as possible from his white. But I was Igbo before the white man came.”Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Half of a Yellow Sun.

EMETOLE CHIGOZIRIM PRECIOUS.