₦airaland Forum

letterman:
Haba, colonial era ke Americanah wasn't set in the colonial era o.

2scorehigh:
No way.

I think you're so far from the truth, Mr. OP.

Those of us who know Adichie know that she was telling her own personal story in that book using the character Ifemelu to present her own personal views on so many issues.

Thus, Ifemelu condemned "sugar daddyism" by not joining in it even when her friends did. If you recall, she even wondered why women will just put themselves into such a situation where men will be fulfilling their materialistic needs in exchange for sex.

Two, Adichie told you the simple truth: American grass is not that green. Even European grass too. Ifemelu had to 'work' as a 'sex worker' with the man who wants sexual massage just to earn a living. Aunty Uju was always busy reading so that she can acquire a certificate to earn a better living in America.

Racism is also still an issue because Ifemelu's life became easier only when she started dating a white boy. Obinze had to fake a marriage to become a British citizen but in the meantime he was using a fake identity to work just to survive... and look at the type of job he was even doing! Before then, Obinze was only good as a babysitter for his cousin. Can you imagine! That's the same obodo oyibo everybody is raving about!

So these thing happen. Trying to deny it or expecting the author who has also lived in America not to highlight such things is not justice.

Thirdly, like someone has already told you Mr. OP, the book is not really about morality. If you want to read a moral book, it's simple, read any publication from our Nigerian pastors or even better still, just write it!

Finally, I don't see how marriage was ridiculed. If anything, I think Adichie was simply promoting the idea that people should always marry the person they love. Simple.

Obinze married his wife who was just available. Wrong move. He was never satisfied in his marriage. Who told you Kosi is the type of woman every man will like to settle down with? C'mon, that Kosi is nothing but a bimbo! To be frank with you, I wouldn't marry Kosi myself because she can never give me what I want in a woman.

She's just a beautiful girl but she seriously lacked the ability to give her husband the type of challenge he wanted - the type his former girlfriend Ifemelu is always presenting to him. Kosi was just like our typical African women who may even be okay with the idea that their husband is having extramarital affairs... as long as he is rich and/or he is still bringing in the money!

Aunty Uju 'prostituted' her life. She chose money over love. Wrong move. Look what she got in the end. She lost her so called security in a jiffy the moment the Army general died. In fact, she had to 'escape' to avoid the wrath coming from the army general family. She also became a single mother for life. Even years later, when she tried to get a 'father' for her son, you will notice that the connection was not there with the man she was in relationship with.

seguno2:
Great opinion.
I must confess that I have not bothered to read the book as I was discouraged by the title and the different reviews that I had read. This OP simply confirms that I missed nothing by not wasting my money and time to buy and read the book.