The second chapter Political Instability and its Myriad Conflicts in the Select Novels of

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie discusses the causes and effects of Nigeria’s political upheaval. This
political conflict in Nigeria is analysed in her three novels Purple Hibiscus (2003) Half of a
Yellow Sun (2006) and Americanah (2013). All the three novels which are set in different periods
of time, since independence till date, voice out the political instability in Nigeria. This political
instability, the causes and effects that leads to internal and external conflicts of Adichie’s
characters are analysed.
The fourth chapter Mutation: An Analysis of Religion and Culture in Nigeria in the Select
Novels of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie examines the impact of colonialism in Nigeria which has
tampered with Nigeria’s traditional religion and culture. The introduction of Christianity and the
coming of missionaries destroyed Nigeria’s traditional beliefs and faith. The chapter throws light
on the sweeping transformations in Adichie’s characters that occur due to the European influence
in the novels Purple Hibiscus (2003) Half of a Yellow Sun (2006) and Americanah (2013). In
Purple Hibiscus (2003) The chapter highlights the internal and external conflicts undergone by
Adichie’s characters due to the introduction of Catholicism.
The final chapter of sums up the discourse. The chapter encapsulates the essence of the
multi-dimensional conflicts that are present in Nigeria with respect to Adichie’s novels. The
study further highlights the impact of these conflicts on Adichie’s characters who suffer
internally and externally, despite the numerous conflicts experienced by the characters who
refuse to accept defeat and display the will power to survive.
 Chapter – II
Political Instability and its Myriad Conflicts in Select Novels of Chimamanda Ngozi
Adichie
Achebe once stated that “I am saying that Nigeria can change today if she discovers
leaders who have the will, the ability and the vision” (Szeman1). The political system in Nigeria
still remains chaotic as many lust for power. The endemic corruption, religious turmoil, ethnic
disorder overlap contributing to Nigeria’s political conflict. “Within six years of independence’
writes Adichie, ‘Nigeria was a cesspool of corruption and misrule” (Emenyonu 142). The
Independence thus achieved in 1960 was a fragile one, unified under a federal constitution in
which politically conscious ethnic groups vied for control of the central government through
ethically based political parties. (Falola 137).
Nigeria is one of the largest populated countries in Africa with a population of around
210 million in 2021. Nigeria comprises of numerous traditional states and ethnic cultures. The
colonization of the country destroyed the peace of the Nigerians. The genesis of the modern State
began during 1914 when Lugard who set up an administrative system, where they imposed
indirect rule and therefore amalgamated the Southern Nigeria protectorate with Northern Nigeria
Protectorate. On 1st October, 1960 Nigeria gained independence from the colonial rule and in
1963 became a Republic. Nigeria fell into the hands of the corrupt leaders which led to several
military coups and eventually led to the Biafran War. From then on, the country experienced a
lot of turbulence and unrest in Nigeria’s politics until 1999 where the state achieved a firm
democracy.
In order to trace the historical background of Nigeria’s government and leaders, a revisit
to the pre-colonial Nigeria (1500 - 1800) is essential. Pre-colonial Nigeria was a diverse land
comprising of more than 250 ethnic groups and had its own governing system. In the pre-
colonial Nigeria, each clan had their own leaders who had a very unique way of ruling people.
Each clan had their own traditional political system, rules and regulations. The clans followed
them rigidly and lived harmoniously practicing their culture and beliefs. The land lost its peace
and identity with the intrusion of the Britishers into Nigeria. Toyin Falola opines that
“Colonialism in Nigeria was harsh, tragic and brutal” (Falola TPA 58).
The colonial era (1800 - 1960) marked a boom in slave trade with Europeanization and
had helped Great Britain to expand its rule in Africa in 1884. Apart from hiring slaves, the
natural resources available in Africa charmed the colonizers immensely. The British became
interested in Palm oil, Palm kernel and cotton and therefore they established trading, and to
facilitate the trading they developed infrastructures. Sokoto situated in the North became the seat
of the Britishers as they found it more civilized, it became a platform for exploring South
Nigeria. The beginning of the war in Europe promoted the colonial government to begin a
massive reorganization of Nigerian society. The land faced a drastic decline in the economy and
the policies drawn by the government which catered to the interests of the elite.
Significant transformations took place in Nigeria with the western political institution
departing from Nigeria and leaving behind its traces in Nigeria political- power dynamics. The
government began centralizing several aspects of the economy which left the civilians dependent
on the colonizers. The colonizers imposed their alien language on to the native Nigerians which
upset the people. Christianity played a vital role as it contributed largely to Nigeria’s political
diplomacy and promoted the converted Christians to gain better opportunities while those who
refused to convert remained below the poverty line. The Britishers brought about many changes
in Nigeria in all fields including politics. Politics in Nigeria during colonialism and after
independence is underscored by violence.
The Britishers preferred the North, the place where the Hausa- Fulani dwell and always
dominated as they felt that they were superior to the negroid Southerners with the motive of
holding indirect rule. Achebe in Things Fall Apart affirms that the peaceful relationship among
the Nigerian clans were marred by the colonizers who tampered their harmony. The south
comprised of tribal people who dwell in an adverse climate. The Yoruba were the majority in the
southwest while in the southeast, the Igbo existed in Republican communities. They did not have
Kings to rule and hence the British created ‘warrant chiefs’ who ruled indirectly. According to
the white journalist Richard, the governor- general, joined the North and the South and his wife
chose a name and this is how Nigeria was born. The Britishers believed that they were the proud
architects of Nigeria claiming that they rescued Nigeria from its uncivilized conditions. They
brought Missionaries to redeem the Nigerians because they believed that the ways and the
culture practiced by the Nigerians were paganistic.
The Britishers decided to give freedom to the Nigerians after a thorough study made by
them. Nigeria was formed by the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorate by the
British in the year 1914. The failed British imperial policy that amalgamated Nigeria’s multiple
nationalities and sub nationalities into a single nation is seen as the genesis of Nigeria’s
postcolonial problems.
Sir Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, the First Nigerian Premier of the Northern Nigeria, called it
‘the mistake of 1914’. The North resisted the westernization of Nigeria by the British, with its
education, science and technology while the South were not in favour with the North which
instigated the war. In short, the people of the North and the South had nothing in common to
bind them together which resulted in political friction and conflicts. “However, the African
politicians, who appeared as benevolent patriots bringing the colonial maltreatment to an end,
did little or nothing to change the status quo and improve the condition of the ordinary people”
(Enenyonu 146).
Since the advent of independence in Nigeria there is a palpable tension in the air. Adichie
states in her novel Half of a Yellow Sun “At Independence in 1960 Nigeria was a collection of
fragments held in a fragile clasp” (155). Nigeria’s dream of a secular state crumbled due to the
imbalance in the political system fused with corruption in politics. The leaders became greedy
for power and wealth and thus remained aloof to the common peoples’ need. The leader’s
selfishness left the country devasted economically and the people lived in poverty. The country
lacked basic amenities like medical facilities, water scarcity, sanitation, transport, toilets etc.
Falola in her book The Power of African Cultures states that “After independence, the ethnic
cleavages are consolidated, leading to civil wars in Nigeria, Sierra, Liberia, Chad and other
places” (119).
Many ethnic groups want their own political movement which leads to the desire of each
group to have a country of their own viz. the Muslims captured the government and in the south
the Christians tried to create a new country and call it Biafra. “Once the “enemy” – the colonial
power - disappeared, Africans turned against each other” It is obvious that the Muslims wanted
to undo the westernization of Nigeria which led to mass killings. Adichie writes in her novel:
The North was wary; it feared domination from the more educated South and had
always wanted a country separate from the infidel South anyway. But the British
had to preserve Nigeria as it was, their prized creation, their large market, their
thorn in France’s eye. To propitiate the North, they fixed the pre-Independence
 elections in favour of the North and wrote a new constitution which gave the
North control of the central government. (HYS 155)
The southerners were against the Muslims who stuck to their ideologies which led to the
culmination of the lethal war. The sectarian war was further fueled with the Southerners who
declared Independence on 30th May 1967. This in turn led to the civil war that spread over a
period of thirty months and Adichie brings out the horror that took place during this period in her
novel Half of a Yellow Sun.
The South, too eager for independence, accepted this constitution. With the
British gone, there would be good things for everyone: ‘white’ salaries long
denied Nigerians, promotions, top jobs. Nothing was done about the clamour of
the minority groups, and the regions were already competing so fiercely that some
wanted separate foreign embassies. (HYS155)
Much has been written on the Nigerian Civil War- much more than on most other
conflicts in postcolonial Africa (Heertan 11). The ghastly Biafran War was fought between the
Igbo people and the Nigerian Federal troops. Half of a Yellow Sun gives a panoramic view of the
extreme violence, struggles, poverty and economic crises faced during the Biafran War. Majority
of the incidents, events quoted and the leaders names mentioned in Adichie’s novel are
documented facts. The Biafran War or the Nigeria Civil War that took place from 6th July, 1967
– 15th January, 1970 was fought between the secessionist state of Biafra and the Government of
Nigeria.
“But the northerners turned on Igbo civilians living in the north and unleashed waves of
brutal massacres, which Colin Legum of The Observer was the first to describe as a pogrom”
(Achebe 27). The pogrom brutally destroyed the lives of Nigerians especially the Igbo people
who were massacred mercilessly. The inner- state affairs became chaotic and desirous of holding
power and the Northerners’ will to have one state and one economy all over Nigeria. As a result,
the Secessionist Igbo wanted an independent state which resulted in heavy political turmoil and
causalities which is illustrated in Adichie’s novels.
The violence and the trauma born out of the war can be mapped similar to the
Holocaust war. The war became the first postcolonial conflict to engender a
global surge of humanitarian sentiment and activism. (Heerten 2)
The novel Half of a Yellow Sun displays the political conflict caused by the Nigerian
leaders which also paved the way for the Biafran War. Nothing can shake the Igbos faith; they
are very confident and determined that they will emerge victorious. The novel traces the
Biafrans’ will power, pride and patriotism through the Igbo characters like Odenigbo, Olanna,
Kainene, and Okemo. Every character in the novel is dedicated to bring out the political
violence, the venal politicians and the armed conflicts that they experienced during the Biafran
War which triggered due to colonial aftermath.
The novel traces the cause and impact of the political upheaval twined with education,
love, motherhood, sisterhood, relationships and betrayal. Each character is seen battling with
one’s inner self and with the outside effects of the war. The novel also throws light on the
external political conflicts which affects the characters’ inner- self. Political disturbance and the
Biafran War have an adverse effect on everyone – men, women, children, politicians and
soldiers. Achebe states in his book The Education of a British Protected Child “At the end of the
thirty-month war, Biafra was a vast smoldering rubble” (Achebe 28). The narration oscillates
between the early sixties and the late sixties explaining the tension and the struggle faced by the
twins, Olanna and Kainene and their family members. The family is always on its heels fleeing
from one place to another trying to save themselves.
The novel revolves around the twin sisters Olanna and Kainene through whom the
political conflicts, war implications and violence are unearthed by the author. Adichie even
through the minor characters narrates the impact of the war and its adverse effects on the
Nigerians. The Biafra War, being the central focus and theme of the novel, explores the internal
and external conflicts that each and every character experience during the war. The author gives
both male and female perspectives of the war through the shift in narration from Olanna to Ugwu
and then Richard. Much information about the war and its growth is unraveled by the author
through all conversations made by the characters.
Odenigbo debates with his friends and discusses information on the political chaos and
violence attached to it. He also adds information to his discussion that the Prime Minister and the
Premiers are missing as per the BBC announcement. This announcement makes the world
believe that it is an Igbo coup that began the war. Odenigbo while discussing with his friends
blames the leaders for being irresponsible and fixes charges on them for the cause of the Biafra
War. He moves on to say that one of the leaders had passed feces in his trousers before they shot
him dead. Adichie does not fail to add original details of the war. He mentions Sardauna who hid
behind his wives for safety, ironically, he was the leader of the Northern People’s Congress and
the brain behind acquiring Nigeria’s independence. He is one of the major political icons in
Nigeria. Most of the time the conversations are spiced up with heated arguments on politics and
mixed statements from his friends usually leaves everyone cold. Sometimes Odenigbo worries
that even his friends are petty minded that leaves him angry and speechless.
The civilians are aware of their leaders’ immoral action and the author quotes an example
of a taxi driver who informs Olanna that Sardauna is not killed but has escaped to Mecca by the
grace of Allah. Leaders are not firm in their ideologies which makes the common people suffer.
Politics begins to change immensely when the first coup happens which triggers multiple coups
in Nigeria. Consequently, frightening violence and mass killings become a regular feature in
Nigeria.
Adichie through Okeoma sketches the incompetent leadership that leads to various
conflicts in Nigeria. He is a friend of Olanna and Kainene who often visits Odenigbo and Olanna
sharing information regarding the developments in the political situation. He reports that Gowon
who heads the Nigerian Civil War, agrees for confederation in Aburi and at present wants a
unitary Government for Nigeria and therefore his military has massacred the Igbo officers. The
tension amidst the people builds up with series of unpleasant political occurrences that leads the
Igbos to suffer. ‘Aburi’ came up often in their conversations:
Okeoma would say that Gowon should have followed the agreement he and
Ojukwu signed in Aburi, or Professor Ezeka would say that Gowon’s reneging
after Aburi meant that he did not wish the Igbo well, or Odenigbo would
proclaim, “On Aburi we stand”. (HYS 114)
Political conflict is outrageous in Nigeria that leaves the civilians betrayed and mangled.
The Nigerians are bait to the corrupt political leaders who lust for pomposity, power and money.
Okeoma’s voice thunders with disappointment “But how can Gowon make such a turnaround?”
(HYS 114). Everyone adores the Biafra leader General Ojukwu for organizing protests and
admire his confidence. The taxi drivers refuse to take money from the soldiers. Similarly, the
villagers offer whatever little they have to the soldiers in order to help them fight the war as they
look forward to being free and enjoy their life in their new formed state Biafra.
 Adichie, in the novel captures the essence of the war tension at every point without fail.
The Igbos begin their retaliation in a very peaceful manner by signing a petition. The political
dissatisfaction and the want of a separate state lead the staff and students to send in a
representation letter signed by the Nsukka Biafrans. “WE, UNIVERSITY STAFF, DEMAND
SECESSION AS A MEANS OF SECURITY typewritten at the top and a patchwork of varied
signatures at the bottom” (HYS 115). But before the petition is dispatched the secession is
announced by the Igbo leaders who are so confident about the victory and in fact make the Igbos
also confident that they will emerge victorious. Odenigbo believes that the announcement by
itself is their first success. “Odenigbo singing off-key, a song he has made up - “This is our
beginning, oh yes, our beginning, oh yes…” – while Baby laughed in blissful incomprehension”
(HYS 116).
At the center of Nsukka campus in Freedom Square, a rally is led by all the lecturers and
students holding placards, shouting slogans and singing at the top of their voices. The
demonstration of a coffin holding Nigeria’s name is paraded and later buried representing the
plight of the political chaos in Nigeria. Odenigbo speaks on the podium about Biafra’s victory
and its future prospects. “Biafra is born! We will lead Black Africa! We will live in security!
Nobody will ever again attack us! Never again!” (HYS 116). Gradually as the war progresses this
confidence is lost by the Nigerians as the leaders are not loyal and strong in their constructed
ideologies.
Adichie in her writings never misses out a chance of highlighting the chaos in Nigerian
politics experienced by the civilians. The incident where the students burn the effigies of Gowan
exhibits the amount of hatred developed between the Government and the younger generation.
Adichie captures even the minute details of the political drama that keep Nigerian civilians’ life
at the edge. She introduces Ojukwu, the leader of the East Nigeria who mesmerizes his people
with his calm speech and stirs fire in the Biafrans. The author gives a brief glance of the
character Ojukwu in her narration and goes on to describe his stature, his hair going bald and his
ethnic loyalty. Adichie writes about Ojukwu in the novel that he captured the attention of the
Biafrans as he had a charisma that everyone liked him instantly. “Everything about him sparkled,
his groomed beard, his watch, his wide shoulders” (HYS 122). Ojukwu delivers a heroic speech
where he warns the Biafrans of all the implications that the civil war will bring
Ojukwu raised his hands again and the chanting stopped. “If they declare war,” he
said. “I want to tell you now that it may become a long-drawn-out war. A long-
drawn- out war. Are you prepared? Are we prepared?”
“Yes! Yes! Ojukwu, nye anyi egbe! Give us guns! Iwe di anyi n’obi!
There is anger in our hearts! (HYS 123)
The Federal Government on its part gives orders to take action against the rebels which
comes as a surprise to Kainene’s boyfriend, Richard, whereas Kainene is aware of the motive
behind the Federal Government and is already well prepared to meet the consequences. As they
have a large produce of oil, Kainene knows that the Federal Government will not allow the oil to
slip from their hands. Despite being aware of the fact and the condition of Nigeria she places her
full trust in Ojukwu. Achebe writes in his essay The Education of a British-Protected Child:
My feeling towards Nigeria was one of profound disappointment. Not because
mobs were hunting down and killing in the most savage manner innocent civilians
in many parts of northern Nigeria, but because the federal government sat by and
let it happen.
 An air of discontent with the world can be sensed in the soldier’s words to Richard at the
check post. His suspicion can be seen in the statement that he passes on looking at Richard’s
colour “Are you sure you are not an agent of the Nigerian government? It is you white people
who allowed Gowon to kill innocent women and children” (HYS 130). The statement clarifies
the amount of distrust the Eastern Nigerians have for the rest of the world who remain as
spectators watching the Igbo genocide.
Struggles pertaining to external environment and man commence with the Biafran War.
During the late sixties Ugwu recounts that his master Odenigbo stands listening to the radio that
announces the first coup that has taken place in Lagos. Olanna panics as her parents reside at
Lagos and fears that her parents might have been killed during the coup and tries to contact them
desperately. Odenigbo consoles Olanna saying that the “civilians are safe” indirectly drawing
attention to Ugwu’s point of view that politicians will be politicians. The negative shift in the
political layout is felt as the radio keeps announcing non-stop about the coup. Colonel Ojukwu
takes over as the leader of the Igbos and a new country is to be emerged and named after the
Atlantic Bay, Bight of Biafra.
Ugwu is unable to understand much of the political conflict yet is able to grasp a few
ideas and facts from the frantic political conversations exchanged between his master and his
friends. Adichie through Ugwu portrays the condition of the uneducated who remain ignorant of
the underlying truth hid in the Nigerian political scenario. Olanna tells Ugwu that the
government has been overtaken by the military forces.
Ugwu’s statement ‘politicians are politicians’ is self-explanatory which encompasses all
the transgressions of the politicians. He feels sorry for the politicians who were killed during the
coup and says “but politicians were not like normal people, they were politicians” (HYS 126).
Adichie employs Ugwu’s innocence to voice out the spiraling political chaos of Nigeria. Ugwu
learns from his master Odenigbo who explains to Ugwu that tear gas is used by the police to stop
a tiny brawl that has cropped up in the Western House of Assembly. Ugwu while conversing
with Harry expresses his wish to purchase tear gas which he comes across in the newspapers. He
wants to use it on Nnesinachi when he goes home to make her pass out. The author gives a
glimpse of the confusion in Nigeria’s politics and how the innocent and uneducated Nigerians
remain aloof of what is happening in the country. Chinua Achebe states “The Nigerian problem
is the unwillingness or the inability of its leaders to rise to the responsibility, to the challenge of
personal example which are the hallmarks of true leadership” (1).
Richard, a white journalist from London, stays in Nsukka University to document the
political conflicts taking place in Nigeria in his book The World Was Silent When We Died.
Adichie deliberately introduces Richard into the novel in order to give a White’s point of view of
the ghastly war and the horrifying truth. He writes in his book how the British solider –
merchants slyly take over the palm oil trade. Richard is taken to a party by Susan where he finds
the ex- colonial administrators and business people namely “John Halt the Kingsway and GB
Ollivant and Shell- BP and United African Company” (HYS 53). They laugh and mock the
Nigerian political scenario and sarcastically pass a comment that the Nigerians are not capable of
handling the country by themselves. The Nigerians even before the British could step into the
country were capable of managing their clans much better when compared to the British. The
Britishers fail to understand that it was them who have left the Nigerians confused and chaotic
and mock at them without a conscience.
Richard respects Igbo culture and language which made him visit Nigeria and explore its
culture. Another reason is that he falls madly in love with Kainene which makes him show more
concern for the Igbos. Richard is seen as a saviour by many as they think his writings might
capture the attention of the world to the terrorizing war that was happening in Nigeria
persecuting millions of Igbos. Madu, one of the top officials encourages Richard to write an
article on the everlasting spirit of the Biafrans because Madu knows that the world would listen
when a White writes.
Other countries remain silent spectators while the Igbo people are engulfed in the
miseries of the Civil war. Richard writes about the massacre in his book Biafra which invokes
mixed feelings from all over the world. As the other countries feel that Nigeria is Britain’s
responsibility, they deny intervention and watch the genocide silently. America thinks that Biafra
is not it’s botheration while the Canadian Prime Minister questions the existence of Biafra.
Soviet Union sends arms to Nigeria without hurting the feelings of Britain and America. China
does not help much and France sells a few arms to Biafra but does not render much political
support. Even Rhodesia and South Africa think that the Black run government will remain an
immense failure and refuse to help them. The other Black African countries feared that Biafra
might lead to other secessions and therefore support Northern Nigeria.
Since the Biafra war does not capture the attention of the other countries, the missionaries
and the Red Cross come to its aid. In the Book of Republic of Biafra: Once Upon a Time in
Nigeria: My Story of the Biafra, Onyema Nkwochawith says that “if the aid by the Catholic
Agency of International Aid and Development (CARTITAS) has not flown in, things would have
been more fatal hopelessly hopeless for Biafra than was generally perceived” (Nkwohcawith
302).
During the war, the relief centres play a vital role as they give out stock fish, egg white,
egg yolk and cornmeal. These food supplies are sent to the relief centres by the Christian
churches and missionaries and the dispersing of these supplies are always monitored by the
Biafra militia. They flog people who refuse to stand in line and torture their own people like
slaves. The relief centres distribute a meagre amount of food stuff while the larger part of the
supplies vanishes. The megalomanic leaders of both sides remain blind to the situation and fail to
help their own people and hard heartedly watch them die.
Olanna’s baby is sick and is able to eat only egg yolk powder which is distributed by the
relief centres. Olanna regularly runs to the relief centre trying to earn the first position in the line.
She becomes familiar with her newly learned martial arts of pushing and tugging, fighting and
artfully dodging the soldiers and missing the floggings as her thoughts are only engaged in
saving her baby from malnutrition. Sometimes the vans reach the relief centres but most times
the supply is blocked by the military who steal the food. Frederick Forsyth writes in The
Guardian that the Joint Church Aid was formed in 1969:
The relief planes flew through the night dodging Nigerian MiG fighters, to deliver
their life- giving cargoes of reinforced milk powder to a jungle airstrip. From
there trucks took the sacks to the missions, the nuns boiled up the nutriments and
kept thousands of children alive. (Frederick Forsyth)
A ruthless gesture by the militants is evident and the Northern rulers make sure of
blocking the food supplies and leave the Igbos to die out of starvation. Mrs. Muokelu states
about the cruel act of killing through starvation in the novel “Gowon sent them to bomb Awgu
Market in the middle of the afternoon while women were buying and selling. He has refused to
let the Red Cross bring us food, refused kpam- kpam, so that we will starve to death. But he will
not succeed. (HYS 199). Another instance of a woman throwing herself next to her baby’s corpse
cursing Gowan for bombing the place expresses how leaders remain insensitive towards human
rights.
The most prominent organization that came out of the Biafra camping is Medecins Sans
Fronties (MFS), founded by the young French doctors who served the French Red Cross in
Biafra as they wanted to remain autonomous free from political and religious influences. Le
Comité de Lutte contre le Génocide au Biafra to advocate the cause of starving Biafrans.
These transformations are connected to a new political imagination that evolved
around notions of human suffering. Perceived as the first major postcolonial
humanitarian crisis, Biafra is decisive step in the re-imagination of the Third
World within a postcolonial world order. These new politics could be expressed
in the de- politicizing language of human rights- but did not necessarily need to
be. (Heerten 2)
Starvation is an ancient tactic of war which killed people at large and the northern
Nigerians execute it well. Blockade is another strategy in war where supplies and relief materials
are cut off for the civilians and a large number of people die. The Nigerians in the north follow
the same strategy in the Biafra war killing people, as most of the time food and medicine
supplies never reach the needy because the soldiers blocked the supplies. On the other hand, the
Biafran soldiers block and steal the food supplies as they themselves are starving.
Once while returning from the relief centre Olanna is attacked by a few soldiers who
snatch away the food which she had been given at the relief centre. Olanna stands helplessly
while being attacked by the soldiers when leaving from the relief centre. The soldiers take away
the corn beef from her basket as meat is a luxury to both the parties. Olanna is unable to retaliate
as they are more in number and therefore, she is forced to give away the meat. Olanna feels
betrayed and angry that her own people do not protect her.
Out of frustration she wants to strangle them but her inner strength is so low that she
breaks out crying. Food is valuable and vital and its scarcity almost turns everyone into a
zombie. Another incident that takes place at the relief centre is when a woman carrying a baby is
disappointed that the trucks with the food supplies do not turn up that day. She hands over her
baby to one of the soldiers and demands him to feed the child until the truck carrying food
supplies arrive. Her anxiety and anger ebbs out as a result of frustration and betrayal. The
Biafran soldiers themselves act cold blooded as they block the road and steal the food.
The Biafran soldiers monitor the road and are rude in their behavior. They use nails
studded planks, cut tree trunks and hold a long piece of wood shaped like a gun dressed in
Khakis and block the roads. Besides starvation and road blockades the enemies also stop the
medical supplies. The Nigerian children suffer from Kwashiorkor as there is a shortage of food
in the country. Even visiting hospitals for the diseases does not help. The Vandals add to their
trauma as they poison the milk which has been distributed by the relief centres and many die.
Mama Oji says “And did you not hear that all the children in Nnewi died after drinking relief
milk? The vandals had poisoned it” (HYS 339).
People at health centres have to wait in long queues for a longer period hopelessly as for
most of the time there are no medicines. When Baby falls sick, Olanna visits Dr. Nawala. She
notices the uncleanliness and unhygienic hospitals when Olanna takes the baby to Albatross
hospital. She finds people scattered everywhere sitting on the dirty, smelling floors and the air is
putrid with the stench of urine combined with penicillin. The doctor informs her that they have
run short of antibiotics. Olanna glances at the empty medicine cupboard sympathetically and
with a great amount of anxiety becomes tense as she knows that Baby will die without
medicines. It is not surprising to hear the title of Richards book The World Was Silent When We
Died. Richard’s title is so apt that the world chooses to remain aloof or rather pretend to be blind
to the sufferings undergone by the Biafrans.
Lasse Heerten who gives an account of Alan Hart a journalist who records the war
between the Secessionist troops and the Federal troops. As he leaves the place, he
is approached by Father Doheny, an Irish Priest who takes him to a make shift
hospital where he witnesses the most horrifying scene and of children dying from
starvation and malnutrition. Alan releases the pictures of the malnutrition and
dying children to the world and Biafra gains international attention (103).
Olanna is constantly battling with her inner self as she worries about Baby not having
enough to eat. Her haunting fears of her baby falling as a victim to Kwashiorkor makes her
shudder. When baby develops a terrible cough, her heart sinks at the thought that her baby might
not survive through the war. She wonders if any mishap takes place, she might be found guilty
and accused for not caring for Baby by her biological mother, Amala. The very thought makes
her nervous and desperate.
Baby’s suffering is the voice of the millions of children who die during the war from
starvation. Since the beginning of the war food becomes scarce, she fears that baby might
develop Kwashiorkor. Kwashiorkor is a severe protein malnutrition disease that affects millions
of children. The disease makes the children look like wandering skeletons with huge pot bellies
and has poor immune system and fragile hair. By the end of the war, many children die, just like
during the Vietnam War when thousands of children suffered from Kwashiorkor and died. David
Rose records that children suffering from the disease require more of proteins which they lack.
Once Baby begs her mother to buy roasted lizard to eat. Olanna is upset over the situation and
turns her down. “Baby was crying to be allowed to eat a lizard” (HYS 352).
Kainene shows Olanna a dirty yellow tablet informing her that those are protein tablets
for children who lack food. Kainene stuffs a tablet into a child’s mouth further informing Olanna
that there are no sufficient supplies of protein tablets and it will be difficult to save children in
the coming days. Kainene is in deep conflict within herself as she is unable to save the dying
children since she is running short of protein tablets. Children eat rodents due to food scarcity;
they catch rats and roast them as a meal.
Olanna learns from Mrs. Muokelu that for most of the time the Federals block the relief
vehicles sometimes, while other times they are not sure whether the Igbo militia hijack the lorry.
People sleep in front of the Relief Centres for many days but the lorry carrying supplies does not
arrive and Olanna recounts how the military takes pleasure in seeing the disappointed starving
faces. Frederick Forsyth in his article to The Guardian says that:
Karl Jaggi, head of the Red Cross, estimates a million children die, but that at
least half of a million are saved. As for me, sometimes in the wee small hours I
see the stick- like children with the dull eyes and lolling heads, and hear their
wails of hunger and low moans as they died.
The author narrates the goriness of the war through the minor characters too. Adanna
although a minor character, approaches everyone for food to save her dying child from
Kwashiorkor but it is sad that everyone she asks are in the same plight themselves. One day,
Adanna prepares meat in the house which surprises the entire neighborhood as no one in the
colony could afford to buy meat during the war due to its high price. The entire neighbourhood
suspects that she has killed her own pet dog Bingo to feed her child. Disturbing images like
Adanna killing her own pet dog to feed her child to save her from Kwashiorkor is scary and sad.
Scarcity of food makes people isolate themselves from one another as they do not want anyone
to share the meager amount of food stuff. “The success of the blockade led not merely to
shortages but to malnutrition and starvation, such that ‘in December 1968, it was reliable
estimated by the International Committee of the Red Cross that some “14,0000 people were
dying every day in Baira’” (Emenyonu 133).
Olanna receives a parcel containing a few essential and some chocolates from Mohamad.
She hides it from the others in the camp as she is not in a position to share it with them. People
are ready to kill each other for a bite of food. Mrs. Muokelu and Olanna usually go to the relief
centers together but soon avoid each other as they do not want to share the little that they receive
from the relief centers. When it comes to food, Olanna and Mrs. Muokelu are highly vigilant and
hence there is a brief breach in their friendship. Food scarcity remains a threat to the people that
makes them aggressive and even pushes them to an extent of killing each other. Protecting food
from the other members in the camp during the war is quite a herculean task. Olanna’s is always
attentive on safeguarding the food and food products.
David Rose in his book Standing Orders writes about the Refugee camps which depends
on foreign aid and there are quite a few numbers of refugee camps. People starve without food
and many die without food and water. Some people cultivate a little vegetable and there are
thieves who would uproot everything. If the robber is caught, his treatment is completely
different. They treat them badly, beat them even sometimes end up killing them. When Kainene
goes to the refugee camp she finds them mistreating a man for invading the crops that they have
grown. She saves the man and learns that he is not a robber but just a starving soldier who
escaped from the war front and is very hungry.
The strongminded Igbos often display their solidarity in the form of songs, wishes and
prayers. The Civil War stirs the patriotism of the Igbos and makes them feel proud to be
identified as Igbos. They often sing aloud and Olanna sincerely teaches the children the Biafran
anthem. They face the war with valor and with great patriotism. “Olanna watched as Odenigbo
sang lustily” (HYS 275). The minute the air raid stops Special Julius comes out of his hiding
place singing a patriotic song where everyone else also joins him.
Biafra win the war.
Armored car, shelling machine,
Fighter and bomber,
Ha enweghi ike imeri Biafra! (HYS 275)
The Igbo civilians do not complain about their sufferings instead they reveal courage and
determination during the adverse crisis. Nikiruka says “I want to kill the vandals miss” (HYS
281). Olanna is dumbfounded by her perfectly right statement and informs Odenigbo who
recognizes Olanna’s effort in teaching the child patriotism. Adichie etches the Biafran details so
carefully that she gives even the pronunciation of ‘Biafra’ through the character Eberechi. While
Eberrchi converses with Ugwu laughs at a non-native of Africa pronouncing Biafra saying that it
is Bee-afra and not Ba-yafra.
At myriad occasions, Adichie’s patriotism echoes in her writings. Through the character
Olanna, the author describes the Biafran Flag and the symbolic representation of its colours and
drawings. The colour red symbolizes the blood of the Igbo brothers and sisters massacred in the
North, Black symbolizes mourning and green signifies prosperity. The half of a yellow sun
drawn on the flag represents Biafra’s glorious future. Olanna takes pride in teaching her students
about the Biafran Flag. At another occasion she speaks about the colours of the flag held by
Odenigbo during the rally. The author’s patriotism for Biafra keeps reflecting in her writings.
 Kainene, a strong character in Half of a Yellow Sun undergoes inner conflict as she knows
that the Biafrans have very slim chances of winning. Every Igbo believes that eventually they
will one day win the war including Kainene who later reveals to Richard the miserable plight and
bleakness of Biafra’s victory. Madu who returns from the north informs Kainene that Mr.
Ojuwuku had no real plans for Biafra’s victory. The soldiers are untrained which makes Biafra’s
victory questionable and the chances of winning the war remains remote. When Madu and other
officers inform Ojuwku that they are running short of arms and are in need to step up on their
fighting skills, he simply turns them down saying that they are trying to overthrow him. While
the leaders are unprepared to save the land the civilians exhibit solidarity in protecting their
nation instead of fleeing to other countries.
Even Olanna’s mind ponders over the decreasing possibilities of winning the war. Her
mind keeps juggling back and forth one day she holds on to hope feeling strong and happy that
Biafra will win while other days she comes to face reality that Biafra is losing. Although she
knows that Baby does not care for luxuries, she wants to apologize to her baby for not providing
sufficient good things.
Kainene and Olanna choose to remain in their own country although they have the
opportunity to flee to London with their parents, this explains their love for Biafra. It comes with
a colossal price because they are not even sure whether they would survive the war. Every
second living through the war is like a miracle to Olanna and Kainene. Kainene make efforts to
save her people in the Refugee Camp especially the children while Olanna shows her love for
Biafra by choosing to educate the children exhibiting their patriotism.
Olanna along with Odenigbo make sure that the children receive education. In the camp
she takes the help of Ugwu and Mrs. Muokelu to teach the children. She does not want the war to
stop her from teaching. At the same time, she does not want the children to lose their education
either. Even when the school is bombed, she keeps the children in the backyard and teaches
them. Her passion and concern for the Igbo children amidst the holocaust and the armed forces
are quite challenging. When the war becomes grave, the air raids and bombing become heavy,
she has to give up on teaching not that she does not want to but there are no children to teach as
they are running to the relief centres to get food and are scared of the air raids.
Both the Igbos and the others face extreme violence and trauma during the Biafran war.
The treacherous war vestiges have adverse effects on the physical, mental and emotional health
of the Igbos. People witness ghastly killings and create fear and panic as a result, they detach
themselves from the world. In the heavily packed, panic- stricken crowded train, Olanna watches
with horror the decapitated head of a child dripping with blood kept inside a calabash. She notes
that the child has thick black hair patiently plaited with care and feels sad and horrified at the
severed head.
Olanna is deeply disturbed by this incident and falls ill. She is unable to overcome the
incident. Throughout the novel she keeps ruminating over this gory scene. When she meets
Ugwu, she narrates the horrifying incident that she experienced on the train. Dr. Brenda Cooper
says that hair is a blended metaphoric metonym which stands for the irrational vicious violence
(Cooper 140). With the train incident, Adichie records the timestamp of the Biafran war. The
commencement of the war is marked with the severed head of the child in the gourd where the
child possesses very thick black plaited hair and notes the ticking of time during the war is
recorded with Olanna combing her baby’s hair which has turned thin, fragile and red indicating
malnutrition. Children encounter most of the sufferings during the armed conflict.
 Kidnapping young children and young men became a regular feature during the war. Mrs.
Muokelu tells Olanna that the soldiers carry away children to work on the fields to cut yams for
them and in the evening when they return, they have huge cuts on their hands. Thus, she warns
Olanna to keep her baby very safe. As a result, Olanna becomes paranoid not willing to let her
child and Ugwu out of her sight. A constant fear grips Olanna’s heart as the war continues and
turns dreadful as days pass by. Despite her cautiousness she loses Ugwu who goes missing. She
searches for him frantically for several days. Every time she comes across a dead solider, her
heart skips a beat fearing it might be Ugwu. Missing Ugwu disturbs Olanna a lot. The news of
his death shatters her as Ugwu has been like a family member and above all a good friend to her
and even consoles her at times of calamity.
Political conflict leads to mass butchery of the Igbo people leaving each and every Igbo
in a state of fear, shock and depression leading to inner conflicts. It is disturbing to watch
people’s bodies strewn all over the roads, airports etc. It is more distressing to watch their own
kith and kin dying in front of their eyes. Olanna witnesses her Uncle Mbazzei and his family
brutally attacked and lying dead on the road soaked in their own blood. She is unable to
overcome the terrifying images that have negative effects on her health both physically and
psychologically.
The mass Igbo exodus is perfectly orchestrated by the Federal Military. Millions of
people are displaced due to the war where people have to leave their houses and properties. They
are unable to carry much of their belongings and their hearts sink as they leave their own houses.
Odenigbo is sure that the Federals will not enter Nsukka but is proven wrong. The troops enter
Nsukka and Odenigbo has to flee from the place along with Olanna, Baby and Ugwu carrying
few clothes and money to Abba. On the way they pitifully watch the crowd walking with babies
swung to their backs and boxes on their head while men drag their cycles. Ugwu watches the
scene with an aching heart as he is able to relate the scene to his people and place which is also
facing similar circumstances. Ugwu remains paralyzed as he is completely helpless and will not
be able to join his family due to intense shelling. Ugwu sticks to his master’s family as it is not
safe for him to leave and decides to go with them.
Displaced people are unsure of meeting their kith and kin. Olanna and Kainene are not
sure whether they will make it through the war to meet their parents. There is no evidence of her
parents leaving Nigeria or them living in the country. Towards the end of the novel Kainene goes
missing for days together while Olanna and Richard remain hopeful that Kainene will return
some day. The uncertainty of Kaniene’s return is a traumatizing experience for Richard. Every
second living through the war for Richard and for the refugees in the camp is so unpredictable
that people shudder with fear and despair.
Edna recounts an incident to Olanna that has taken place in her home town where four
girls were persecuted brutally in action and one of the children happened to be her niece’s friend.
Edna is unable to digest the fact that the girl who she had seen only six months ago is now dead.
There is an uncertainty of being alive during the war as shelling, air-raids and attacks which have
become a regular phenomenon.
Once in the camp, while Ugwu along with a few people are working on the school roof, a
woman suddenly bursts out crying and narrates how she lost her children while returning from
the market. Due to the vandals causing riots at the junction and how she has to run and hide for
safety along with her child on her hip. She has left back her other children in her house and is not
able to return to her house where she has left them and is now unaware of their whereabouts. She
is unable to go back and check for her children and she has to stay with the only dress that she
was wearing on the day of the riots stands stranded with no money and also without her other
children. Ugwu is taken aback by the incident and stands aghast with a morose look confused at
the entire political chaos that has left the civilians in such a miserable condition. The leaders are
inefficient in controlling the vandals as they were very busy making money. They fail to guard
their own civilians especially the women and children who are left to fend for themselves and
live in fear without protection and safety.
Sexual violence encompasses a wide range of offences including rape, sexual assault,
genital mutilation, trafficking and forced marriages. During times of conflict there is a
recognized increase in the rates of sexual violence against women and girls. In Countering
Sexual Violence in Conflict by Jamille Bigio and Rachel Vogelstein indicates that Sexual
violence in conflict zones can be employed as a deliberated tactic to terrorize civilians (Bigio et
al.4). The victims are left either traumatized, dead or killed by the soldiers. The 2016 report of
the UN Secretary - General on Conflict -Related Sexual Violence defines the term “conflict-
related sexual violence” as:
Rape, sexual slavery, forced prostitution, forced pregnancy, forced abortion,
enforced sterilization, forced marriage and any other form of sexual violence of
comparable gravity perpetrated against women, men, girls or boys that is directly
or indirectly linked to a conflict. (UN Secretary – General)
The picture of Pregnant Arize’s death haunts Olanna throughout the novel. Odenigbo
reminds Olanna how Arize was gang raped and killed by the religious fanatics who cut open her
stomach after raping her. Odenigbo says “They raped pregnant women before they cut them up!
(HYS 191). When Olanna makes love with Odenigbo she is reminded of Arize’s stretched belly
being cut open. Olanna is unable to forget the traumatizing incident.
Ugwu, the houseboy who hails from Opi, lives at Odenigbo’s place. He is treated well
and is given space to voice out his opinion. Ugwu is forced to join the army and thus becomes a
killer. For the most part of the novel, Ugwu is found battling with his adolescent feelings and is
found lusting after girls, he rapes an Igbo bar girl who looks at him with hate as he does not
show empathy towards his own Igbo sister. Igbo women do not find safety with their own men
and with the enemies also. Women during the war underwent sexual violence from both the
armies and remain voiceless and suffer silently.
Ugwu who is almost killed in the war returns to his house. He witnesses Aunilika his
sibling avoiding him and later learns that she was gang raped by the vandals. Nnesinachi narrates
to Ugwu about Anulika’s rape where five vandals had beaten her and raped her and left her
almost dead and her eye was left damaged due to the beatings. The war makes the men display
their power and authority over women and girl children. Men from both the armies and the
vandals rape women folk mercilessly. The leaders are a constant failure which is visible in the
way they care for the civilians. Adichie in the novel notes the causative factors that leads to
corruption and improper leadership:
Our enemies are the political profiteers, the swindlers, the men in high and low
places that seek bribes and demand ten per cent, those that seek to keep the
country divided permanently so that they can remain in office, the tribalists, the
nepotists, those that make the country look big for nothing before international
circles, those that have corrupted our society. (HYS 123)
They are inefficient in managing situations and their greed leads to the death of thousands
of lives during the war time. The leaders themselves took advantage of the women and girl
children during the war. Women suffer sexual conflicts during the war which affect them
psychologically. “Women’s responsibilities during and after armed conflict are formidable. They
hold families and communities together through their key roles in food production, economic
activities, caring for children and other family members” (Bennett, Bexley, & Warnock, 1995).
Adichie exposes the craftiness of the politicians and generals who exploited women for
their carnal pleasure. Since one of the officer’s help Ugwu’s girlfriends Eberichi and her family
during the war crisis, Eberichi is sent to sleep with the officer by her own family members as a
token of respect. The officer hardheartedly consumes her and demands her to lay on top of him
for rest of the night without moving. Eberichi narrates this incident to Ugwu and says how she
watched him the whole night without moving or sleeping. The General’s lewd and lascivious
behavoiur represents most of the men’s behaviour during the war. The women thus have to take
up daunting tasks of sheltering their families from shelling, providing food and protecting their
dignity which is challenging during the war time. Women and children suffer the hardest during
the armed conflict. They have to feed the children and therefore have to run to the relief centres,
protect the children from abduction and most times they run carrying their children to the
bunkers whenever they hear the air -raid siren.
Ugwu from the beginning of the novel has had a lot of questions and he never
understands the war and its implications. His world is confined to Odenigbo his master’s family
and his biological family at Opi. As the novel proceeds Ugwu watches and learns the political
scenario in Nigeria’s politics and becomes a part of the Biafra army brings causes dilemmas and
inner confusions in him. Ugwu’s questions pertaining to politics is answered by Odenigbo and
Olanna. When he is taken away by the military, he fears that he will never be able to see his
master’s family and his own family. He keeps imagining Eberichi and his master’s home he
wants to escape the battalion but is unable to do so. As an outcome of his disturbed mind, he
engages himself with erotic thoughts which serves as a temporary escapism. Each character faces
different kinds of desolation.
In Hosseni’s novel A Thousand Splendid Suns the author speaks about air raids and
civilians’ bodies strewn all over the place and parts of the bodies hanging from trees and houses,
Similarly in Half of a Yellow Sun civilians experience air- raids that leave them unsure of their
lives and they run helter- skelter to the bunkers leaving behind their belongings. When the
bombarding is over people go in search of their family members as they are displaced during the
air-raids.
Air- raids are traumatizing exercises carried out on the civilians killing them mercilessly.
The air -raids have an adverse effect on the civilians which causes air-raid neurosis. Olanna
begins to imagine bombs falling from the sky into the compound which makes her panic.
Bunkers are built to escape from the air- raids, lying in the bunkers is a petrifying experience
because of the darkness and dampness in the bunkers. Running to the bunkers is another phobia
for Olanna. She imagines the entire bunker collapsing and burying them in the mud. Olanna also
suffocates and imagines snakes and poisonous insects crawling all over her inside the bunkers.
She is also terrified by the air raid sirens which makes her jittery. Olanna trains baby to
run to the bunker and also teaches her to lie on her stomach with her hands enfolded around her
neck. She also educates her to take cover in case she has no time to run to the bunker. Her mind
is constantly haunted by the ariel bombardment. She becomes so obsessed with the air raids that
any little sound she hears makes her run to the bunkers carrying baby. Olanna once hears the
sound of a plane while talking to Mrs. Moukelu, she immediately jumps on her heels to run to
the bunker for safety. She is then informed by Mrs. Muokelu that somebody has closed a door
and it is not the sound of an air raid siren. Olanna sits down on the floor and stretches out her leg,
she was exhausted from fear (HYS 278).
Olanna’s wedding is destroyed by the air raids turning the happy occasion into a
mournful one. Olanna’s wedding dress, a symbol of purity, in no time turns into a danger symbol
as the soldiers might spot the white dress as a target. Olanna running with tears along with the
baby screaming with dust rising like smoke and later her realization that they are all alive is heart
wrenching to read. All the guests are disturbed, they do not say much as all are equally shocked
as Olanna.
Seconds before Odenigbo and Olanna could cut their wedding cake the area thunders as
the sky breaks open with an air raid destroying the entire wedding celebrations and the village.
“People run for safety screaming Jesus Jesus!” (HYS 202). The enemy planes drop more than
five bombs at a stretch flying very low creating panic and killing people. Baby screams on
hearing the thundering noise made by the air craft and Ugwu feels the ground pulsing and his
whole body vibrates and thinks his ears would pop out from the shelling. Out of fear he urinates
staining his dress because he witnesses the ghastly killings unravelling in front of him. After the
air- raid dead bodies are left strewn everywhere which leaves everyone speechless. The physical
pain and ordeal during the air raid has affected the people in the long haul.
The air raid on the day of Odenigbo and Olanna’s wedding leaves Ugwu distressed as he
witnesses a naked body of a woman lying burnt next to a car. Eastern Nigeria is on fire. Since
they bomb the primary school, airports, houses, churches and markets. “Those heathens have
bombed our school,” Mrs Muokelu said. The air raid at Port Harcourt leaves Kainene horrified
where she witnesses Ikejide’s body running without his head on his bloodied neck. Richard’s
cook Harrison calmly picks up the head and puts it inside a plastic bag after the air- raid. Achebe
in his poem Air Raid elucidates a similar horrifying incident that occurs during the Biafra War in
Enugu state calling the combat aircraft ‘the bird of death’. The goriness involved in the killing of
Ikejide leaves Kainene in a complete state of shock and although she is portrayed as a bold
character, the air raid leaves her emotionally devasted. The air raids created depression that crept
into the people which could not be erased for the rest of their lives nor from history of Nigeria.
In spite of being a multi - ethnic country where people lived in harmony, the colonial
upshot and the independence that followed the colonial rule gradually leads to the Biafran war
where Northerners and the Igbos constantly exchange hatred through armed violence. Even after
fifty years of the war, the armed conflict even today torments the Igbos emotionally. “When the
Nigeria Civil War was internationalized in a transnational sphere of humanitarian politics the
Nigeria Civil War- a political conflict – was transformed into ‘Biarfa’ a humanitarian crisis”
(Heerten 9).
The war affects jobs and unemployment that makes men psychologically affected.
Families battle without money and food which make them agitated and restless. Ugwu recounts
the number of people who are left homeless, children become skin and bones due to starvation.
Many homeless people come knocking at the door seeking for jobs in exchange for food. Many a
time Olanna serves garri soaked in water as they themselves have very little money since they
did not receive their salaries due to war.
The death rate surges day by day and the war does not seem to end. The politicians
remain cold and fail to render financial help to the dying civilians. The back yard of the refugee
camp is filled with thousands of dead bodies buried in shallow graves that emit rotten smell. As
days move on smell from the carcasses become stronger making it difficult to breathe. Uncanny
images of flies perched on the smelly wounds and bed bugs attacking people leave them with big
pink rashes. The Government and the country are in shambles and lack of medical facilities and
the unavailability of doctors result in the death of soldiers and citizens. Genocides and execution
become the order of the day and violent conflicts become predominant as there is no one to
oppose or question the politicians.
Men, especially young men, cannot walk unaccompanied on the road as they are
immediately captured by the soldiers and enlisted into the Biafran army. Ugwu fails to listen to
numerous warnings given by Olanna and therefore as an outcome of his disobedience, Ugwu is
captured by the soldiers and is taken away to become a Biafra War soldier. Through Ugwu the
ugly side of the army is brought out by Adichie. The officer’s insensitivity to the needs of the
soldiers is brought out in the novel by the fact the soldiers are supplied meagre amount of food
while the higher officials manage to eat better food than the soldiers. They lack proper
accommodation and most of the time the soldiers go to bed on half empty stomachs. They sleep
in school classrooms on the floor devoid of bedding amidst the bugs and other insects.
Ugwu recollects an incident where a goat is brought to the camp and the soldiers are in
high spirits thinking that it is to feed them until they discover that the lean goat meat is
exclusively for the officers. Chinua Achebe in his book The Trouble with Nigeria says that “the
trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership” (1). The basic need ‘food’ is
deprived to the soldiers who become mentally disturbed by the injustice meted out by the
officers. Yet the soldiers do not slack in their duty but are too ridged and arrogant in their
behaviour. The soldiers stand at the check post to monitor the movement of the enemy and
civilians. The ghoulish behaviour of the soldiers is revealed in an incident where the soldiers halt
a car driven by a couple on the road by the check post intimidating them to go back. But the
couple refuse to turn back as they are desperately in search of their child which annoys the
soldiers. They torture them brutally not caring for the real feelings of the civilians. They hit the
man brutally and he falls to the ground while his wife cries and begs for mercy. This kind of
confusion and ill-treatment are the byproducts of the war and lack of unity among the top
officials.
Through the eyes of Ugwu, the author reiterates the fact that the soldiers remain scape
goats and lose their life as they have no formal army training. The leaders nestle in a comfortable
place and watch their innocent people die. Ugwu’s humble cry and confessions of the war
occupy most of the chapters of the novel. Ugwu witnesses a lot of bloodshed and ghastly
killings. His fear and anguish grow each day as the war progresses and he is certain that he will
not survive the war. The bombing is so heavy that Ugwu’s intuition predicts that the chances of
Biafra winning the war is less. During the war he suddenly hears a voice that thunders
‘Surrender’, Ugwu blacks out in pain as he is badly injured and later finds himself in the
hospital.
The war serves a leitmotif in the novel as it has a very great impact on the characters of
the novel Half of a Yellow Sun who are engulfed in fear by the war. Every character experience
mixed emotion during the war as their world is distorted. Olanna’s confidence of Biafra winning
the war in the beginning of the novel gradually diminishes towards the end of the novel. All the
characters are disturbed and mentally tired of the war that they lack strength to talk to each other.
Olanna teeters between tears and thoughts due to the damning effects of the war.
The war has made her fragile and slow after her witnessing the horrifying death of her
uncle’s family. As a result, she undergoes depressing moments. Throughout the journey she
stands frozen amidst the smell of urine and blood on the train. On her return from the train
station, her health fails particularly her legs. The pain tears her apart although she masters the art
of surviving throughout the novel. When she is unable to walk Dr. Patel who examines her
declares that it is her mind that stops her from walking. The disturbing images haunts her
throughout the novel even while making love with her husband she imagines Arize’s pregnant
stomach being ripped apart. Her mind is always detached with thoughts of her uncle’s family and
the head that was kept in the calabash. Olanna undergoes a psychic derangement for a short
period and turns paranoid. She experiences Dark Swoop for the first and time and tries to
describe it to Odenigbo:
A thick blanket descended from above and pressed itself over her face, firmly,
while she struggled to breathe. Then, when it let go, freeing her to take in gulp
after gulp of air, she saw burning owls at the window grinning and beckoning to
her with charred feathers. (HYS 156)
Olanna’s relationship with Odenigbo begins to drift apart as the war has made him
psychic. In the beginning of the war, she watches her husband’s change weight as he becomes
thin and the intensity of his sexual passion has also decreased. She notes that her husband’s
shoulders have reduced and his body weight has decreased. Her inner worries are that their
happy talks have reduced and the intellectual conversations are made no more which leaves her
alienated. Odenigbo is lost in his own world and becomes sluggish in his actions. When Olanna
informs him that they are running short of cash, he does not show any concern. She gets
annoyed as he stops caring much for his home.
He is mentally torn apart as he is aware that Biafra will never come into existence.
Therefore, he slowly begins to withdraw himself from the world as he is always found
preoccupied. His drinking habit adds to her trauma as he comes home late and does not
participate much in the family decisions. In her frustrations, she gives up all her hopes on him.
The war causes numerous neurotic and traumatizing moments for Olanna. Somewhere
hailing from an elite class to becoming a middle class and then as a pauper due to the war,
Olanna loses herself in the process. Every single day she grows hopeless and is constantly
battling with her life. Although she is exhausted, often she does not give up on her surviving
instincts and the urge to protect her family undoubtedly that makes her an outstanding character
in the novel.
Looking back at the events Olanna in Half of a Yellow Sun encounters physical and
mental disturbances during the war. She plays the role of a good daughter, wife and mother
performing the balancing act during the war. She tactfully manages the situation in spite of the
void created by her husband and the horrifying war. When Olanna’s family is unable to pay their
house rent, they move into a block where there are nine families staying together with a common
bathroom. Olanna, Odenigbo, Baby and Ugwu stay in a single room and the toilet is common
one and used by everyone. There is no hygiene or sanitation as Olanna stands staring at the dirt
on the bathroom floor. Life turns hard for Olanna as she battles out to save her family during the
war.
Economic crisis caused by the war poses as a great challenge to the Nigerians. Salt and
meat are highly priced. Unemployment led people to steal other people’s goods. Many women
and children go seeking for menial jobs in return for food. Petrol price increases due to the war.
Petrol becomes scarce as the military has stopped the production of petrol. Hiding cars under
palm fronds and managing to get petrol by Odenigbo is risky task during the war. Therefore,
petrol is sold in black heavily priced. Once Olanna happens to notice sign boards in the petrol
bunk stating “No Petrol”. She forgoes all her money and purchases petrol at black market price.
She narrates how maggots crawl all over the place where the petrol is stored hidden. When she
reaches home, she wraps it up so neatly and hides it from others. Olanna spends her last money
to purchase petrol as it is required to escape by car during shelling.
The novel Purple Hibiscus is set in 1990s which traces the political upheaval, the loss of
law and order in Nigeria. Adichie supplies real historical facts on the military coup, police and
journalists intertwined with fiction. The novel gives a glimpse of the corrupt leaders, Ibrahim
Bangida and Sani Abacha and the atrocities faced by the people of free Nigeria at the hands of
their government. Normal existence becomes impossible. They pay bribes, they are tortured and
cruelly killed, strikes and riots became common everywhere, and economic crisis is at its peak.
Adichie has introduced the character Ade Coker a journalist in the novel based on a true
journalist Dele Giva and Ken Saro- Wiwa a writer and environmental activist who wrote and
protested against environmental abuses. He was a member of Ogoni people and lived in
Ogoniland situated in Niger Delta which was the epicenter for oil extraction and Niger Delta
suffered a lot of environmental damage. Since he was a threat to the government he was arrested
and executed under Sani Abacha’s rule.
In the novel, the two characters involved in Journalism are Papa Eugene and Ade Coker.
They face obstacles and are illtreated for unravelling the governments’ inappropriate moves and
corruptions in Nigeria in the Standard newspaper. The soldiers destroy the Standard Newspaper
office and the printing machines. It is once again sad to watch the freedom of the press at stake.
The Nigerian Government is more of a dictatorship rather than a democratic one. Papa Eugene
always praises the brilliance of his editor as his critical writing in the Newspaper brings the
corruption to light. The editor of the paper Ade Coker is killed by a letter bomb by the Head of
State bearing the State Seal. Ade Coker’s loss comes in as blow to Papa Eugene.
Adichie has crisply outlined Nigeria’s political conflicts in Purple Hibiscus. Through the
Standard Newspaper run by Papa Eugene and his accomplished editor Ade Coker who fearlessly
reports the crimes and corruption that have grown rampant in Nigeria. Kambili announces to her
family that a new government is formed as a result of the coup being announced on the radio by
a general with a Hausa accent. Papa instructs Ade Coker to cover the coup in detail which puts
Coker life in danger.
The Nigerian Civil War is quite different from the other wars that took place in the world.
The impact of the war was so great that people remember and speak of it even after
commemorating fifty years. In Purple Hibiscus Eugene narrates to the family that a coup always
begins a vicious cycle. He recounts the 1960s coups were bloody and terrible. “Coup begets
coups” (PH 24). Papa states that Military men are constantly found overthrowing one another as
they are obsessed with power and corruption. Corruption is very common in Nigeria which is
noted by Achebe “Corruption in Nigeria has passed the alarming and entered the fatal stage; and
Nigeria will die if we keep pretending that she is only slightly indisposed.” (Nwankwo 6).
Kambili remembers her father mentioning that all the politicians are corrupt and the Standard
Newspaper has exposed numerable stories on Nigerian leaders involved in unprincipled
activities.
It is sad to watch that when a journalist pin points the mistakes of the Nigerian
government he is immediately sacked. Life as a journalist is very difficult in Nigeria and the Ade
Coker’s life is an instance. Jaja overhears the conversation between Ade Coker’s wife and his
Papa. He reports the conversation to Kambili where he expresses his sorrow on Ade Coker being
arrested by the soldiers. Both of them sympathize with Ade Coker for the horrible treatment he
would receive in jail.
 The life of a journalist is very difficult in Nigeria as they have to face the wrath of the
government which is harrowing. When Ade Coker is taken into custody for the second time by
the soldiers, Jaja and Kambili are in their aunt’s place at Nsukka. Mama Beatrice informs Jaja
and Kambili the tension hovering over their house as the soldiers have entered the nondescript
rooms of the Standard Newspaper and have destroyed the printers and furniture. This dark event
is a warning for those who try to bring out the underlying corruption in Nigerian politics to the
surface will have to face death. They have taken away every copy of the newspaper and sealed
the office. The people tell Papa that the incident looks similar to incidents that took place during
the Nigeria Civil War. The author draws a comparison of how Nigerian politics and its leaders
remain unchanged and follow the same suit from the day they had gained independence. Ade
Coker’s writing exposes the harsh truth and reality that Nigeria is facing with the politicians and
is thus blown to death. His killing is orchestrated by the Nigerian politicians themselves. The
Head of State sends a package to Ade Coker and as he opens it, the package blows off killing
Ade Coker in front of his family. Leaders are so cautious not to lose their power and Ade Coker
is a threat to them as he writes the truth hence, they eliminate him from the world.
Keeping an average Nigerian from being corrupt is like keeping a goat from eating yam”
(Achebe 50). From the day Nigeria gained its independence the plight of the journalist and
freedom of speech is prohibited in Nigeria. The Other Side of Truth a novel by Beverley Naidoo
reiterates the plight of a writer in Nigeria who is killed mercilessly. The novel features the life of
a journalist which is similar to Ade Coker. The story is narrated by Sade Solaja a 12-year-old
girl. Sade’s father, Folarin Solaja, is a journalist who openly criticizes the corrupt regime. In the
process of killing the writer they accidently kill his wife. Out of fear Uncle Tunde says “To them
your just another trouble making pen pusher” (chapter 1) “For goodness’ sake, Folarin, look at
what they’ve just done to Ken! The whole world was shouting “Saro - Wiwa must not hang. But
did His Excellency Commander- in – Chief, General Abacha, and his soldiers care? Of course
not!” This threatening scenario in the journalistic world in Nigeria prevails even today. The
freedom of press is still at the cross roads in Nigeria, Jones Abiri the editor of The Weekly
Source has been arrested in the year 2019 for reporting the economic sabotage and terrorism.
Adichie in her short story American Embassy once again writes about a journalist’s life
where the journalist flees to America after being targeted by the government for writing against
them in the newspaper. His wife and son as planned are supposed to join him in America but
sadly his son Ugonna is shot dead by the foes. His wife is threatened at gun point about the
whereabouts of her husband and is asked “Why you marry a troublemaker?” (American Embassy
132). As the journalists bring to light the plight of Nigeria being distorted by the corrupt
politicians, they are immediately done away out of fear that they might create negative
propaganda against them by their writings and they might lose theirs power and image.
Children are much more mentally matured for their age in Nigeria. They speak, discuss,
share information on politics in school as they mostly watch horrifying killings as they grow up.
Jaja and Kambili discuss the issue of three men being executed publicly for drug trafficking. The
media covers the disturbing image of sensitive issue of executing three men. Jaja remembers his
friends narrating the incident of the three men being executed publicly and their bodies tied up to
a pole and Jaja recalls that the victim’s body quavered on the pole even after the gunning
stopped. Children discussing politics at an early age becomes normal in schools. Children are
stolen of their childhood and youth as they grow up watching violence, riots, demonstration and
bloodshed.
 Kambili shares her opinion on this issue, and says that she too has heard in the class that
one of her classmates’ mothers switched off the television and taught them that it is wrong to
watch a fellow human being killed. She expresses her surprise on her failing to understand how
the onlookers gather to watch the brutal killing. People are scared of their leaders who chose to
be silent spectators. If they dare to question the government, they know that they will also lose
their lives. Kambili remembers watching soldiers lined up in the market beating and stamping
men and women mercilessly. The leaders never show compassion instead mistreat them. They
aligned people with both their hands tucked behind their heads and are interrogated by them.
Kambili is haunted for many days by a particular incident that took place one day in the market.
She witnesses a woman rolling in the dirt, screaming and howling with her dress falling apart
exposing her underwear. Kambili feels sorry for her and wants to help the woman but she cannot
stand by the woman as she knows the result of such action would cost her life.
While returning from Abba, Kambili and the entire family are being diverted by the
policemen because of an accident. Kambili and Jaja watch the bloodied corpse crushed to half of
its size as they heard Papa narrate that the policemen set up road blocks in order to extract money
from motorists. Kambili is more engrossed in thoughts pondering over the dead man’s family.
The leaders and soldiers’ behaviour creates a negative impact on the children. Kambili and Jaja
represents another generation being silenced with fear by the leaders.
Unemployment and poverty are evident from Aunty Ifeoma’s statement that “there is no
use of getting a degree as it is difficult to get a job after graduation.” Aunty Ifeoma blames the
military for oppressing people and for destroying the country. “Look what this military tyrant is
doing to our country” (PH 75). Aunty Ifeoma explains the condition of Nsukka University which
for the most of the period is facing strikes. The leader’s negligence is much evident when she
complains about spending nights in the fuel station amidst mosquito bites to buy fuel. But the
waiting is in vain as they do not get any fuel to go back home. The leaders fail to take action and
neglect their people who have to battle out their own problems alone.
The economic crisis surges so badly that the Federal Government washes its hands off
saying that they have no money to pay the lecturers, which is another reason why people leave
the country. Nigeria with its rich resources in abundance ironically has the highest rating in
poverty. The government does not show any progress in the country and the land remains
underdeveloped. Adichie merges class conflict along with political conflict as both are parallel to
each other. She draws a comparison for class conflict by placing Eugene as the upper class and
his sister Ifeoma in the middle class and Eugene’s father immersed in poverty. The author has
created various stances to elucidate the class conflict in her novels.
Water scarcity has become a perineal problem in Nsukka and the government shows least
concern in solving the problem. Ifeoma also says that in Nsukka one does not flush when one
urinates as water supply remains shut off for many days. In order to save water, the family waits
for everybody to use the toilet and flush it with one bucket of water.
Aunty Ifeoma’s family functions on single earning and she has to provide for a family of
four. Most of the time they have nothing much to eat. Kambili narrates on how her plate for
lunch in Nsukka comprises of half a piece of drumstick and a piece of chicken and every day
they eat the leftovers in the night. Kambili compares aunty Ifeoma’s house to her house
remembering the enormous amount of food on their table while at her aunt’s house only meagre
amount food is served. The author draws the reader’s attention not only to the insensitiveness of
the leaders but also to their lack of vision for their country. Kambili observes the class disparity
in Nigeria and the Government which does not work towards building the nation.
 Students are always found rioting, burning cars and striking at Nsukka University, Obiora
tells Jaja that the riots are regarding electricity and water which has been cut for the past one
month, due to which the students are unable to study for examinations and hence wants the
exams to be rescheduled. But the authorities have denied rescheduling the exams. Since the
strike is on, no one could predict when the University would open. One of the students is pushed
to make a drastic decision of discontinuing her studies and chooses to get married as she is not
sure whether the university would open up and that she does not want her boyfriend to wait
indefinitely. The riots always keep the people in a state of unrest and the leaders always gives
deaf ears to the riots. Drop outs begin to increase and students unrest gain momentum and the
entire University is immersed in riots and remains in a chaotic state.
Medical centres and Laboratories are usually closed due to demonstrations that take place
in Nsukka causing civil disturbances. Doctors go on long strikes which affect the people at large
especially during emergencies. Aunty Ifeoma fumes over the fact that she is unable to meet the
doctor and the lab staff as they are all on strike and that no one is available to give treatment to
Papa Nnukwu who is ill. The only solution left is to visit a private hospital which hikes prices
during strikes and generally it is tough for people to spend money. Aunty Ifeoma, therefore,
takes him to an unhygienic laboratory where the equipment looks ancient and unsterilized. As
Ifeoma narrates, Amaka goes back to her past where the medicine for malaria is boiled in a
smoky kerosene stove by a nurse. The fact is that the overall development has come to a halt in
the country that even the medical facilities remain expensive and as a result poor people are
unable opt for good medical facilities. The government’s responsibility is to give priority to
medical amenities and hospitals, but Nigeria lacks medical services which once again leaves
people angry and silent as they are unable to voice out their grievances to the leaders as that
would mean asking for death. Aunty Ifeoma is confused and tensed for not being able to save her
father’s life. Affluent Nigerians are able to afford good medical facilities but the lower-class
people are not able to afford.
Papa Eugene’s driver Kevin who is on the way to Nsukka to drop Jaja and Kambili in
their aunt’s place is stopped by a corrupt policeman. Knowing the policeman’s intention, Kevin
pulls out a ten- naira note and flings it to the policeman. The policeman mockingly salutes Kevin
and allows him to pass through. Kambili knows that if Kevin had to be with Papa, he would not
have bribed. Instead, he would have spent long hours showing the car papers. Kambili recalls her
father’s words “We cannot be part of what we fight, he often told us” (PH 111). Thus, Adichie
gives an overall view of corruption in Nigeria through Kambili’s thoughts. Kambili is aware of
bribery and is able to sense her father’s teaching and Kevins’s actions. She gets confused over
Nigeria’s political corruption as she is torn between her father and Kevin’s action.
Nigeria is the second largest country to own export income inflow and one cannot refute
the fact that it has the largest natural resources. “The richest in all of Sub-Saharan Africa with
vast deposits of crude petroleum, uranium, tin, gold, timber and rubber” (Badru 3). Economic
crisis dates back to colonial rule where the colonialists were more engrossed in exploiting the
land while the natives did not gain much. “During colonial time the abundance of natural
resources led to several clashes between the major colonial masters, especially the British,
French and Germans” (Badru 3). Nigeria received infrastructures from the Britishers which was
constructed for the sake of British trading. Nigeria’s economy has declined so much since
independence and is unable to compete with other countries. The economic crisis continues even
after independence due to the various factors like internal political conflicts and military coups
and the civil war that lasted for thirty months. Increase in crime rate, mismanagement of funds
by the government, fiscal neglect by the military, robbery, thievery, bribery, unemployment,
rural migration, poverty, religious clashes and ethnic disparity have added to the country’s crisis
at large.
Soon after independence the disparity between the elites and the poor grew
slowly. The middle- class elite came into vogue. Political and economic changes
led to social changes as cities grew, gender roles shifted, and a new class of
middle- class elites emerged that was both indebted to and frustrated by the
colonial system. (Falola 134).
The strategies developed by the leaders and the elites keep them cushioned and cozy
while the poor remain in poverty. In Purple Hibiscus it is pathetic to see Papa Nnukwu eating
plain fufu that is almost dry. Similarly, when the Achikie s visits Abba for Christmas, people
flock to help Mama Bertice just to take the leftover food to their houses.
Aunty Ifeoma’s brooding over the increasing rates of daily commodities hints at the
severe economic crisis prevailing in Nigeria. One must not forget class conflict where the elite
are not much concerned regarding the inflation of the rates. Political and cultural domination,
like the imposition of English language, dress, education, religion and law were not goaling in
themselves but by integrating Nigerian into Britain to facilitate exploitation.
Oil played a central role in Nigeria’s economy which had actually attracted the colonizers
to invade Southern Nigeria. Production of crude oil grew from 46,000 barrels per day (bpd) in
1961 to 600,000 bpd in 1967. In Half of a Yellow Sun Odenigbo, while travelling, watches a farm
with neatly aligned cassava and corn. Adichie through Ugwu speaks for the nation saying that
the government should focus more on agriculture and irrigational technology which can feed the
entire nation. He further stresses on the fact that the agricultural boom in Nigeria can stop their
dependence on the colonial countries and imports. This would end corruption at the upper level
and create employment for everyone in the country. This can also reduce stealing and
unemployment in the country and will no longer be an underdeveloped country.
Adichie highlights the importance of oil through the character Kainene. The novel speaks
about the oil boom and Kainene’s involvement in expanding the business. Through the FNDP
and other development initiative, the economy grew at a steady rate between 1960 and 1966
(Falola 163). With commencement of the Civil War, Nigeria lost its economic growth drastically
and the civilians were left in poverty.
Poverty is seen widespread in Nigeria and class system has enabled poverty to flourish in
the county. Characters like Ugwu, Amala and Eberichie are born into poor families and are
exploited by the elite and bourgeois. Due to poverty, they have lost their childhood and
happiness and at a very young age they are sent away to take up domestic work and hence have
to stay away from their homes for the major part of their lives. Ugwu goes to work at a young
age to Odenigbo’s house while Amala works in Odenigbo mother’s place.
Ugwu is emersed in poverty and hence he is permitted to visit his home only twice. Once
when he visits his sick mother and for the second time when he comes back alive from the war.
He is dejected to see that there has been no development in his hometown. His family lives
crammed into a small hut. They do not have enough money even to visit hospitals. He even loses
his mother as he is not economically sound enough to visit a hospital. Ugwu’s girlfriend Eberichi
is sent by her own parents to sleep with superior officer merely to save the family from poverty.
Nobody cares for the feeling of the girl because it meant nothing compared to hunger and
poverty. The officers the politicians often take advantage of the poor people especially women.
Odenigbo’s mother makes use of Amala’s poverty in tricking her into having an affair with her
son, Odenigbo and she ends up pregnant giving birth to baby girl. Amala is unable to voice out
her feeling as she completely depends on the mistress for money and food.
Olanna’s Uncle Mbazi’s house has two rooms with torn sofas and every night they have
to clear the sofas to lay mats on the floor to sleep. Their dining tables are infested with
cockroaches’ eggs all over it. Olanna’s cousin Arize wonders whether her neighbours even know
how meat would taste as they could not afford to buy meat. Arize says “I don’t know whether
her poor children even know what meat tastes like” (HYS 41).
The war adds more to the economic crisis as there is shortage of food medicines and
education. Olanna rushes to meet Mama Oji to order for medicines as she is the only woman who
knows where to buy genuine medicines in the black market. She recalls how people sell chalk
powder for the sake of earning money. The reason behind people taking up illegal business is
that there are no other means of earning.
The currency uproar in Nigeria left the Biafrans grieving without money. Nigerian
government announces demonetization and therefore the Biafran currency loses its value. Radio-
Biafra announces the changes which comes in as a shock to the Biafrans as they will have to go
penniless. The mental and physical trauma are revealed by Olanna who stands in the bank for
four hours in queue fighting and dogging the militia in order to change the money. She goes
home and shows the cover that has meagre money and she also informs Odenigbo that the
salaries have been stopped. Even though the war has made living difficult, Olanna rises to the
occasion adapting herself accordingly. Olanna is timid and kind hearted by nature and the war
has made her resilient and smart. Olanna recalls the good old days where they throw away excess
soup with meat as they do not want to consume the left overs and in the present it is vice versa.
She regrets wasting food and knows its importance when she comes back empty handed from the
relief centres on most of the days.
Mrs. Ezeka, wife of the Director of Mobilization in Biafra shares their plan of escaping
from Nigeria to London with their Nigerian Passports. More than her statement of leaving
Nigeria on a Nigerian passport her mocking statement with a smirk that the Britishers fail to
recognize Biafra passport hurts Olanna badly. She shows the bunk built by her husband in the
back yard and Olanna is dumbstruck on looking at the bunk which has smooth floor, two beds
and furnished underground room.
The political system favours the elites and helps them to flee the country using the loop
holes. Olanna’s inner feeling at Professor Ezeka’s house is a jaw dropping moment. She watches
the luxuriously furnished spacious room in surprise. The way she narrates the house and the
characters shows the painful torment going on inside her. The pink fat baby with the satin ribbon
is an unbelievable sight as she has only seen children like skeletons with pot bellies stuttering
about. The painful betrayal stings her heart while her mind is actively engaged at the luxurious
life lived by
Mr. Ezeka and family during the massive crisis. When the entire land fights poverty for
the sake of the war, the upper- class basks in riches. The upper- class does not care much for the
middle – and low -class people but focus on feathering their own nests.
The novel Americanah captures the political layout in Nigeria. Corruption and riots at
Nsukka are expressed through the protagonist Ifemelu. Ifemelu like Kambili also captures the
essence of the riots that takes place in Nsukka. The university is constantly on strikes causing
tension among the students and the professors. The students turn violent and involve themselves
in creating ruckus by burning cars and breaking bottles and even nicknamed the Vice Chancellor
of the University as Goat. Ifemelu and her father desperately listen to the radio every day eagerly
desperately waiting for the strike to end. Unfortunately, the strike lasts for too long, thus
destroying the education and the future of the students and also leave the professors without
salaries. Ifemelu’s father states that “The strike was nationwide” (Am 60). Even Olanna in Half
of a Yellow Sun narrates the culture of violence displayed by the students at Nsukka destroying
public property. This forces the citizens to leave the country in search of better opportunities.
Thus, Nigeria loses its best human resources due to the corrupt politicians.
Ifemelu witnesses the ghastly riots conducted by the students at Nsukka University and
wonders at the government’s stubborn silence on the ongoing havoc. The government remains
arbitrary and fails to resolve the problems that Nsukka University faces. They have no intentions
of granting salaries to the professors at Nsukka. The teachers also leave the country in search of a
better life and thus the quality of education begins waning. Unemployment is another major
crisis in the country that leads the Nigerians to risk their life and migrate globally in search of
economic opportunity. The brain - drain leaves Nigeria’s future bleak. Although the novel
covers more of American politics, Adichie also touches on Nigerian politics.
The novels Half of a Yellow Sun and Americanah are set in different era but reveals the
violence that takes place in Nigeria. Nsukka is no different from other places. It has been facing
riots, never-ending strikes and destruction of public property at large and the Governments has
never shown any interest in solving the crisis. According to Aunt Ifeoma, the Government delays
salaries and has least intentions of probing into the matter. Nigeria is an economically sound
country yet civilians remain in poverty due to leadership mismanagement.
Students’ education is affected due to the riots and lack of electricity making it difficult
for students to graduate. Women are leaving their education to get married as they are not sure of
when the University might open, and thus number of drop outs increases. Adichie throws light
on the riots and strikes which destroy the entire nation. Ifemelu and her father become impatient
as the strike does not end. Every student in the campus wants the strike to end as it affects their
education and is ruining their career.
As seen in Purple Hibiscus class system has destroyed many good opportunities and
pushes the children to remain in poverty while the children belonging to the upper class lack
emotional stability and live in isolation. One of the reasons for the tethering problem experienced
by Kambili and Jaja when they meet their cousins, is that they are unable to speak to them freely
due to demarcation of class. Amaka often speaks about the class difference between them and
her cousins. “Maybe it is not as good as the fancy rice she eats at home,” Amaka said. (PH 120)
Lack of opportunities and peace in Nigeria forces the Nigerians especially the middle
class to migrate to other countries. In Americanah, Obinze’s mother hopes that her son will
migrate to United Kingdom or America to have a better quality of life. She instills this desire in
him even when he is studying in school. There is a lot of pressure from his mother and he moves
to England where he encounters many racial and economic issues and is unable to resolve them
and he is deported to Nigeria. During his stay in England, he compares the toilets in England that
are cleaner to Nsukka where the toilets are very unhygienic. The difference between the
developed countries and the underdeveloped countries is drawn out by Adichie through Obinze.
Ifemelu, on the other hand, undergoes inner turmoil when she travels to America leaving behind
her loving family and her boyfriend. Ifemelu’s dilemma rises at the last instant as she does not
want to leave Nigeria while her parents urge her to leave in order to seek better education and
economic opportunities as Nigeria has nothing left to offer her. Thus, the political confusion in
Nigeria pushes its own people to leave the country. Obinze and Ifemelu who return from abroad
to Nigeria carves a position for themselves in Nigeria. Obinze becomes an entrepreneur and
owns big cars establishing a place for himself in the society. It is not that Nigeria lacks in
opportunities but it is the absence of dynamic and visionary leaders to guide the country.
The Nigerian Government commemorates its Biafran War heroes and other armed forces
who served in peace operations every year on 15th January which is known as Armed Forces
Remembrance Day. The political instability continues till this day and there is unrest and
ongoing clashes between the regions, farmers and herdsmen, to end SAARS, Boko haram etc.
From the advent of Independence, the Nigerian people suffer enormously which is focused in
Adichie’s novels. Both men and women are hurt due to the impact of the authoritative
government and living in a male driven society has caused double oppression for the women.
Adichie gives great importance to her characters who suffer internally and externally due to their
biological sex. The weightage of suffering differs for men and women and thus Adichie traces
the sufferings and conflicts faced by both male and female who are forced to follow the societal
norms.