Renowned Nigerian author Chimammanda Nogzie Adichie has revealed why she is yet to file for American citizenship.
Chimamanda is yet to acquire her green card which guarantees citizenship despite living with her husband and daughter in the United States of America.
During an interview with the Africa Report about colonialism, feminism and pop culture, the activist cited the fear of missing out on the embarrassment associated with traveling on a Nigerian passport as her main reason.
However, Chimamanda noted that the incident of her father’s adduction in 2015 has led to a change of mind and she’ll consider becoming a US citizen in the near future.
She said:
“For a long time I didn’t want to become a US citizen because I believed that part of the experience of being Nigerian is experiencing the humiliations of travelling on a Nigerian passport.
I changed my mind about US citizenship after my father was kidnapped in 2015 and it was the American embassy in Lagos and not the Nigerian government who helped my family, and even sent a therapist to my father after he was released. I now plan to become an American citizen at some point, but I guess I’m still delaying it.”
Speaking further, the Americanah author went on to note that she is a proud African and Igbo woman who relishes being an ambassador of herself than that of her country.
“I am an ambassador for myself. I don’t represent Nigeria; there are things about Nigeria I don’t like, but at the same time I am very very proud of my Nigerian identity. I was born and raised in Nigeria, which I didn’t leave until I was 19. I’m proud to be Nigerian, I’m proud to be African, I’m proud to be Igbo. I would not be who I am today if I wasn’t all of those things. So, it’s very important to me.”
Speaking to the Africa Report, the award-winning Nigerian author expresses her views on subjects close to her heart, from feminism and identity to colonialism and leadership on the African continent.
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