Who Is Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie was born on September 15, 1977, making her 48 years old in 2025. She is a prominent Nigerian writer and author known for her impactful novels that explore themes of identity, feminism, and post-colonialism. Adichie has gained international acclaim for her works, including Half of a Yellow Sun, Americanah, and Purple Hibiscus. With a strong academic background, she has been a vocal advocate for women's rights and equality.
| Occupation | Playwright |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | September 15, 1977 |
| Age | 47 Years |
| Birth Place | Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria |
| Horoscope | Virgo |
| Country | Nigeria |
Popularity
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Adichie stands at a height of approximately 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm) and weighs around 150 pounds (68 kg). Her body measurements reflect her robust and healthy figure, though specific details about her measurements are not widely publicized. She often exudes confidence in her attire, embracing both traditional and contemporary fashion rooted in her Nigerian heritage.
While completing her Hodder and MacArthur fellowships, Adichie published short stories in various magazines. Twelve of these stories were collected in her third book, The Thing Around Your Neck, published by Knopf in 2009.
The stories focus on the experiences of Nigerian women, living at home or abroad, examining the tragedies, loneliness, and feelings of displacement that result from their marriages, relocations, or violent events.
The Thing Around Your Neck was a bridge between Africa and the African diaspora, which was also the theme of her fourth book, Americanah, published in 2013.
It was the story of a young Nigerian woman and her male schoolmate, who had not studied the trans-Atlantic slave trade in school and had no understanding of the racism associated with being Black in the United States or class structures in the United Kingdom.
It explores the central message of a "shared Black consciousness", as both of the characters – one in Britain and the other in America – experience a loss of identity when they try to navigate their lives abroad.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
As of 2025, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is reportedly single. She previously was in a relationship with her husband, Ivara Esege, with whom she shares a daughter, but the couple has since parted ways. Adichie is known for maintaining a low profile regarding her personal life, focusing primarily on her writing and activism. While she has had several notable relationships in the past, she values her privacy and chooses to keep new romances away from the public eye.
The Biafran War broke out in 1967 and James started working for the Biafran government at the Biafran Manpower Directorate. Adichie lost her maternal and paternal grandfathers.
After Biafra ceased to exist in 1970, her father returned to the University of Nigeria, while her mother worked for the government at Enugu until 1973, before becoming an administration officer at the University of Nigeria, and later the first female registrar.
Adichie stayed at the campus of the University of Nigeria, previously occupied by Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe. Her siblings include Ijeoma Rosemary, Uchenna "Uche", Chukwunweike "Chuks", Okechukwu "Okey", and Kenechukwu "Kene". Adichie was Catholic, and her family's home parish was St. Paul's Parish in Abba.
Adichie's father died of kidney failure in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, and her mother died in 2021.
Net Worth and Salary
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's net worth is estimated to be around $2 million in 2025. Her income primarily comes from her successful writing career, including book sales, royalties, and speaking engagements. Additionally, Adichie's influence in the literary world and her various projects have contributed to her financial stability. She is also known for collaborating with organizations and brands focused on social justice and equality.
Adichie accepted an invitation to speak in London in 2012, at TEDxEuston, because a series of talks focusing on African affairs was being organised by her brother Chuks, who worked in the technology and information development department there, and she wanted to help him.
In her presentation, "We Should All Be Feminists", Adichie stressed the importance of reclaiming the word "feminist" to combat the negative connotations previously associated with it.
She said that feminism should be about exploring the intersections of oppression, such as how class, race, gender and sexuality influence equal opportunities and human rights, causing global gender gaps in education, pay and power.
In 2015, Adichie returned to the theme of feminism at the commencement address for Wellesley College and reminded students that they should not allow their ideologies to exclude other ideas and should "minister to the world in a way that can change it. Minister radically in a real, active, practical, 'get your hands dirty' way".
She has spoken at many commencement ceremonies, including at Williams College (2017), Harvard University (2018), and the American University (2019).
Adichie was the first African to speak at Yale University's Class Day, giving a lecture in 2019 that encouraged students to be open to new experiences and ideas and "find a way to marry idealism and pragmatism because there are complicated shades of grey everywhere".
Career, Business, and Investments
Adichie's career spans over two decades, during which she has produced several critically acclaimed novels, essays, and short stories. She continues to be an influential figure in literature and public speaking, often invited to speak at various international forums on feminism and cultural identity.
In addition to her literary efforts, Adichie engages in philanthropic activities that align with her advocacy for education and women's rights. She has also made some strategic investments in cultural initiatives that aim to uplift and promote African literature and arts.
Scholar Matthew Lecznar said that Adichie's stature as "one of most prominent writers and feminists of the age" allowed her to use her celebrity "to demonstrate the power of dress and empower people from diverse contexts to embrace [fashion] ... which has everything to do with the politics of identity".
Academics Floriana Bernardi and Enrica Picarelli credited her support of the Nigerian fashion industry with helping put Nigeria "at the forefront" of the movement to use fashion as a globally-recognised political mechanism of empowerment.
Toyin Falola, a professor of history, in an evaluation of scholarship in Nigeria, criticised the policy of elevating academic figures prematurely. He argued that scholarship, particularly in the humanities, should challenge policies and processes to strengthen the social contract between citizens and government.
He suggested that the focus should shift from recognising scholars who merely influenced other scholars to acknowledging intellectuals who use their talents to benefit the state and serve as mentors to Nigerian youth. Adichie was among those he felt qualified as "intellectual heroes", who had "push[ed] forward the boundaries of social change".
Adichie's book Half of a Yellow Sun was adapted into a film of the same title directed by Biyi Bandele in 2013. In 2018, a painting of Adichie was included in a wall mural at the Municipal Sport Center in the Concepción barrio of Madrid, along with 14 other historically influential women.
The 15 women were selected by members of the neighborhood to give a visible representation of the role of women in history and to serve as a symbol of equality. The neighborhood residents defeated a move by conservative politicians to remove the mural in 2021 through a petition drive of collected signatures.
Social Network
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is active on various social media platforms, where she engages with fans and shares her thoughts. Her official accounts include:
- Twitter: @ChimamandaReal
- Instagram: @chimamanda_adichie
Adichie uses fashion as a medium to break down stereotypes, and in 2018 was recognised with a Shorty Award for her "Wear Nigerian Campaign".
She has a successful speaking career: her 2009 TED Talk "The Danger of a Single Story" is one of the most viewed TED Talks; her 2012 talk, "We Should All Be Feminists", was sampled by American singer Beyoncé, as well as being featured on a T-shirt by Dior in 2016.
Adichie's awards and honours include academic and literary prizes, fellowships, grants, honorary degrees, and other high recognition, such as a MacArthur Fellowship in 2008 and induction into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2017.
Education
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie pursued her higher education in the United States, receiving a degree in Communication and Political Science from Eastern Connecticut State University. She later attended Princeton University, where she obtained her Master's degree in Creative Writing. Adichie's educational background greatly influences her writing style and narrative voice, showcasing her ability to address complex cultural themes with intelligence and eloquence.
In conclusion, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie remains one of the most influential literary figures of our time, and her journey continues to inspire millions around the world.
Born into an Igbo family in Enugu, Nigeria, Adichie was educated at the University of Nigeria in Nsukka, where she studied medicine for a year and half.
She left Nigeria at the age of 19 to study in the United States at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and went on to study at a further three universities in the U.S.: Eastern Connecticut State University, Johns Hopkins University, and Yale University.
