“… more women will follow” – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie on Being the First Woman to be Made a Chief in her Hometown

On December 30th 2022, celebrated author and public speaker Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie was conferred a chieftaincy title by Igwe Leonard Nwankwo Ezeh, the monarch of her hometown Abba in Anambra State, Nigeria.

The conferment took place at the 45th Ofala Festival and 80th birthday celebration Igwe Ezeh, the king of Abba. Chimamanda received the title of “Odeluwa” (the one who writes for the world), similar to her father James Nwoye Adichie‘s title “Odelora” (the one who writes for the community).

Today, Adichie shared a video of the moment she was adorned with the traditional red cap and hand fan with her name and title inscribed on it.

In the caption of the video, she wrote: “I am the first woman in my hometown to be made a chief, and it makes me happy to know that more women will follow.”

“Culture does not make people, people make culture,” she continued in her Instagram post, adding that “Cultures thrive when they best serve and reflect the people. Ours must become a culture that celebrates achievement, whether it comes from a man or a woman.”

For Chimamanda, the highlight of the ceremony “was the sight of many children on the dusty road, laughing and waving and shouting ‘Odeluwa!’ Amongst them, I hope, were little girls with their hearts full of dreams who feel encouraged to keep trying, to keep going.”

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and husband Dr Ivara Esege

Guests at the event included Labour Party presidential candidate and former Anambra governor Peter Obi; the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe; Executive Governor of Anambra state, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo; Executive Governor of Edo state, Godwin Obaseki, among others.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Obi of Onitsha Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo (2nd from right) of Anambra State

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Governor Godwin Obaseki (2nd from left) of Edo State

Watch video below:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (@chimamanda_adichie)

This title is the latest in a long list of awards and recognitions the globally celebrated author has received from indigenous and International organisations.

Chimamanda has received 16 honorary doctorate degrees from some of the world’s best universities, including Yale University, University of Pennsylvania, the University of Edinburgh, Duke University, Georgetown University, and Johns Hopkins University.

Earlier in October 2022, she became the first African woman to receive the W.E.B Du Bois Medal, Harvard University’s highest honour in the field of African and African American studies. Also, in October 2022, at the BBC New Broadcasting House in London, Chimamanda delivered the landmark first BBC Reith Lecture for 2022. The lecture, which debuted on November 30th 2022, is being broadcast on BBC Radio.

See more photos from the ceremony below: