Jump to content

List of awards and honours received by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A shoulder cut portrait of a black woman, smiling
Adichie during the presentation of her book, Americanah, in 2015

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a Nigerian author. She has won numerous accolades for her works, including general literature prizes and academic honours. Her short stories have garnered multiple awards including the O. Henry Award for "The American Embassy"[1] and BBC National Short Story Award for "That Harmattan Morning".[2] Adichie's first novel, Purple Hibiscus, won the Best First Book category of the Commonwealth Writers' Prize,[3] and the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award for Best Debut Fiction in 2005.[4] Since the paperback publication of her second novel Half of a Yellow Sun in 2007, The Guardian reported that it had sold only 187,000 copies, yet won the Women's Prize for Fiction – which was then the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction – for which it competed against a book by a Man Booker Prize winner (Kiran Desai's The Inheritance of Loss) and a US bestseller (Anne Tyler's Digging to America).[5] Along with Ernest Hardy, Harryette Mullen, and Alberto Ríos, she also won the PEN Beyond Margins Award.[6] Her third novel, Americanah, won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction in 2013. Her short story collection, The Thing Around Your Neck, was nominated for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize in 2010[7] and her book-length essay Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions won the PEN Pinter Prize, and the Grand Prix de l'héroïne Madame Figaro [de; fr] for its French translation. Adichie's fourth novel Dream Count was longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction in 2025.[8]

Adichie's early career awards include The Future Awards Africa for Young Person of the Year and MacArthur Foundation's "genius grant", both in 2008. In 2013, she was listed in the "100 Most Influential Africans" by New African; CNN named her among the "Leading Women of 2014"; Time named her in its 100 Most Influential People in 2015; the fashion magazine Vanity Fair listed her in the "International Best Dressed List" of 2016. In November 2019, she became the first Nigerian and first African woman to receive the United Nations Global Leadership Award for which she was cited as "using literature and storytelling to connect with people across generations and cultures on issues of gender and racial equality and being a leader on the frontlines of global progress";[9] in September 2019, she was awarded the "Prism of Reason", a citizens' award, in Kassel, Germany for "her literary contributions and her advocacy for human rights and diversity".[10] Later awards include the Action Against Hunger humanitarian award in 2018 for her "significant contributions in the humanitarian field"[11] and the Belle van Zuylenring [nl] in 2020 for her "contributions to humanity through her literary works and her public engagements which have played huge roles in effecting change and a better understanding of issues such as identity and feminism". In 2022 Adichie rejected the Order of the Federal Republic, a national honour by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Academic bodies have bestowed multiple honours on Adichie. She has received honorary degrees from many universities, among them Eastern Connecticut State University, Yale University, Johns Hopkins University, University of Edinburgh, Duke University, Georgetown University, and the University of Johannesburg. In 2022, Adichie was awarded the W. E. B. Du Bois Medal, Harvard University's highest honour.[12] Her other honours include election into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences[13] and American Academy of Arts and Letters, both in 2017.[14]

Literature

[edit]

Source:[15]

General literature
Year Work Award Category Result
2002 You in America Caine Prize for African Writing — Shortlisted
The Tree in Grandma's Garden Commonwealth Short Story Competition — Highly
Commended
That Harmattan Morning BBC National Short Story Award — Won
Half of a Yellow Sun David T. Wong International Short Story Prize — Won
2003 The American Embassy O. Henry Award — Won
2004 Purple Hibiscus Booker Prize — Longlisted
Hurston/Wright Legacy Award Debut Fiction Won
John Llewellyn Rhys Prize — Shortlisted
Orange Prize for Fiction — Shortlisted
YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults — Selection
2005 Commonwealth Writers' Prize First Book (overall) Won
First Book (Africa) Won
2006 Half of a Yellow Sun National Book Critics Circle Award Fiction Finalist
2007 Anisfield-Wolf Book Award Fiction Won
British Book Awards Richard & Judy Best Read of the Year Shortlisted
Commonwealth Writers' Prize Best Book (Africa) Shortlisted
Hurston/Wright Legacy Award Fiction Finalist
James Tait Black Memorial Prize Fiction Finalist
Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction — Won
PEN Beyond Margins Award — Won
2008 International Dublin Literary Award — Longlisted
2009 International Nonino Prize — Won
The Thing Around Your Neck Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award — Longlisted
John Llewellyn Rhys Prize — Shortlisted
2010 Commonwealth Writers' Prize Best Book (Africa) Shortlisted
Dayton Literary Peace Prize Fiction Runner-up
2015 Half of a Yellow Sun Women's Prize for Fiction Best of the Best — Won
2013 Americanah Chicago Tribune Heartland Prize — Won
National Book Critics Circle Award Fiction Won
New York Times Book Review Ten Best Books of 2013 Won[16]
BBC Top Ten Books of 2013 Won[17]
2014 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence Fiction Finalist
Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction — Shortlisted
Maine Readers' Choice Award — Longlisted
2015 International Dublin Literary Award — Shortlisted
2017 Dear Ijeawele Grand Prix de l'héroïne Madame Figaro [de; fr] — Won
2021 Notes on Grief Goodreads Choice Awards Memoir & Autobiography Nominated
2023 Indie Book Awards (UK) Non-Fiction  Won
2025 Dream Count Women's Prize for Fiction — Longlisted

Career awards

[edit]

Source:[15]

Career awards
Year Award Category Result
2008 Future Awards Africa Young Person of the Year Won
MacArthur Fellows Program Genius Grant Won
2015 This Day Awards New Champions for an Enduring Culture Nominated
2014 Forbes Africa Award Person of the Year Nominated
MTV Africa Music Awards Personality of the Year Nominated
2015 Forbes Africa Award Person of the Year Nominated
Girls Write Now Awards Groundbreaker Honoree Won
2016 Silverbird Special Achievement Award — Won
2017 Bard College's Mary McCarthy Award — Won
Harper's Bazaar Women of the Year Won
New African Woman Awards Woman of the Year Nominated
2018 Action Against Hunger Humanitarian Award — Won
Barnes & Noble Writers for Writers Award — Won
Global Hope Coalition's Thought Leadership Award — Won
PEN Pinter Prize — Won
Women Center's 32nd Annual Leadership Conference's Leadership Award — Won
2019 Bookcity Milano Prize — Won
Everett Rogers Award — Won
United Nations Foundation Global Leadership Award — Won
2020 Belle van Zuylenring [nl] — Won
Friedrich Naumann Foundation's Africa Freedom Prize — Won
Hurston/Wright Foundation's North Star Award — Won
This Day Awards Woman of the Decade Won
2022 Business Insider Africa Awards Creative Leader of the Year Won
Order of the Federal Republic — rejected[18][19]
2024 Harper's Bazaar Espana's Woman of the Year Award in Literature — Won

Honorary degrees

[edit]

Other accolades

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ "Odeluwa" is an Igbo word which literally translates to "the one who writes for the world". She was the first woman in her town to receive a chieftaincy title.[50]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Obi-Young, Otosirieze (13 May 2022). "The O. Henry Prize Series Opens to African Magazines". Open Country Mag. Archived from the original on 17 February 2025. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  2. ^ Sam-Duru, Prisca (22 January 2014). "Chimamanda Adichie, a growing literary prodigy". Vanguard News. Archived from the original on 2 August 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  3. ^ "Nigeria: Nation's Writers Dominate Commonwealth Prizes". Independent Nigeria. 6 February 2011. Archived from the original on 19 May 2025 – via AllAfrica.
  4. ^ Obi-Young, Otosirieze (15 October 2018). "Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Purple Hibiscus Turns 15: The Best Moments of a Modern Classic". Brittle Paper. Archived from the original on 12 March 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  5. ^ Ezard, John (6 June 2007). "Nigerian war epic sweeps to Orange prize victory". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 13 January 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  6. ^ Amorin, Lauro Maia (2012). "The Invisible Blackness of Harryette Mullen's Poetry: Writing, Miscegenation, and What Remains to be Seen". Revista de Letras. 52 (1). São Paulo State University: 101–120. ISSN 0101-3505. JSTOR 23654910. Archived from the original on 29 April 2025. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  7. ^ "2010 – Dayton Literary Peace Prize". daytonliterarypeaceprize.org. Archived from the original on 26 May 2025.
  8. ^ Rubyjeana, Erizia (5 March 2025). "Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Dream Count Longlisted for 2025 Women's Prize for Fiction". Arise News. Archived from the original on 29 April 2025. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  9. ^ "Watch Chimamanda Adichie receive the UN Global Leadership Award". P.M. News. 25 November 2019. Archived from the original on 28 November 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  10. ^ "Chimamanda at 42, bags prestigious award in Germany". Vanguard News. 15 September 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  11. ^ "Chimamanda Adichie wins humanitarian award". Premium Times. Archived from the original on 13 November 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  12. ^ Edeme, Victoria (7 October 2022). "Chimamanda Adichie receives Harvard's highest honour". The Punch. Archived from the original on 27 May 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  13. ^ "Chimamanda elected into American Academy of Arts and Science". Vanguard News. 12 April 2017. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  14. ^ Bivan, Nathaniel (4 March 2017). "Adichie elected member of American Academy of Arts and Letters". Daily Trust. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  15. ^ a b Tunca, Daria (8 November 2021). "Awards & Nominations". cerep.ulg.ce.be. University of Liège. Archived from the original on 19 February 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  16. ^ "Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's "Americanah" is one of The New York Times' 10 Best Books of 2013". BellaNaija. 14 December 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  17. ^ Eribake, Akintayo (4 January 2014). "Chimamanda's Americanah tops New York Times Best Book list". Vanguard News. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  18. ^ Ufuoma, Vincent (2 October 2022). "Buhari to confer national honours on Chimamanda Adichie, 436 others". ICIR Nigeria. Archived from the original on 7 May 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  19. ^ Mbonu-Amadi, Osa (15 October 2022). "How Chimamanda quietly rejected Buhari's award". Vanguard News. Archived from the original on 29 December 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  20. ^ "Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie to receive honorary doctorate, speak at Eastern Connecticut State University commencement". Norwich Bulletin. 30 April 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  21. ^ "Acclaimed Nigerian Author Chimamanda Receives Honorary Degree". AllAfrica. 30 August 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  22. ^ "Past Honorary Degree Recipients" (PDF). haverford.edu. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  23. ^ Edoro, Ainehi (19 May 2016). "Adichie Just Got Herself a Johns Hopkins University Honorary Degree". Brittle Paper. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  24. ^ "Chimamanda Adichie bags another degree". Vanguard News. 20 July 2018. Archived from the original on 23 May 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  25. ^ "Recipients by Date Received". Amherst College. 29 May 2022. Archived from the original on 28 March 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  26. ^ "Bowdoin to Award Three Honorary Degrees at Commencement". bowdoin.edu. 26 May 2018. Archived from the original on 9 September 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  27. ^ "Chimamanda, Whitaker, Givanni, receive SOAS award". Daily Trust. 29 July 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  28. ^ "Chimamanda Adichie honoured by US University". Vanguard News. 13 May 2019. Archived from the original on 21 September 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  29. ^ "Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie honored with Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters at Georgetown College". BellaNaija. 20 May 2019. Archived from the original on 25 January 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  30. ^ Aneasoronye, Modestus (17 June 2019). "Chimamanda Adichie receives her 11th Honorary Degree". BusinessDay. Archived from the original on 7 May 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  31. ^ "Chimamanda Adichie Honoured By Yale University". Max FM. 11 June 2019. Archived from the original on 23 January 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  32. ^ Bian, Andrea (21 June 2019). "Faculty, honorary degree recipients recognized at commencement". The Daily Northwestern. Archived from the original on 9 December 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  33. ^ "Chimamanda addresses University of Pennsylvania's graduating class of 2020". Vanguard News. 20 May 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  34. ^ "Chimamanda to Receive 16th Honorary Ph.D From Belgium University". News Central TV. 22 March 2022. Archived from the original on 23 January 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  35. ^ "UJ, Faculty of Humanities confers honorary doctorate to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie". uj.ac.za. 26 July 2024. Archived from the original on 16 January 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  36. ^ Oyemolade, Eniola (29 October 2022). "Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie receives highest honour of Harvard University, W.E.B Du Bois Medal". Nigerian Tribune. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  37. ^ Flood, Alison (4 June 2010). "New Yorker unveils '20 under 40' young writers list". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  38. ^ "100 Most Influential Africans – Arts & Culture". New African. 25 November 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  39. ^ Parke, Phoebe (22 December 2014). "Leading Women's most inspiring women of 2014". CNN. Archived from the original on 30 November 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  40. ^ "Nigeria's Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie on 100 most-influential list". BBC. 16 April 2015. Archived from the original on 17 April 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  41. ^ "Geneveive Nnaji, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie on Arise 100: Dynamic Women list". The Netng. 27 March 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  42. ^ Gay, Danielle (9 September 2016). "The 2016 Vanity Fair International Best Dressed List is here". Vogue Australia. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  43. ^ "Chimamanda Adichie makes Fortune magazine's list of 50 world leaders". Premium Times. Archived from the original on 2 May 2025. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  44. ^ "Chimamanda Adichie Named Only Woman in Top 10 Most Influential Africans' List". The Nation Newspaper. 6 October 2019. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  45. ^ "UK's Sunday Times Names Chimamanda, Queen Elizabeth, Others Among Top 50 Women". Vanguard News. 23 December 2020. Archived from the original on 20 November 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  46. ^ "Melinda Gates, Chimamanda, Others Make 2021 BBC 100 Most Inspiring Women List". The Punch. 8 December 2021. Archived from the original on 2 May 2025. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  47. ^ Ekaete, Bassey (7 April 2021). "11 Notable Nigerians on Forbes 2021 Africa Icons' List". The Nation Newspaper. Archived from the original on 2 May 2025. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  48. ^ Bankole, Idowu (8 March 2022). "IWD: Chimamanda Adichie, Ty Bello, Ndidi Nwuneli, Adesua Dozie, Aiboni Elohor, Hafsat Abiola-Costello Make List of 100 Leading Women in Nigeria". Vanguard News. Archived from the original on 20 October 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  49. ^ "Women in Successful Careers (Wiscar) Announces Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie As Headliner for Its 2022 Annual Leadership and Mentoring Conference". BellaNaija. 15 July 2022. Archived from the original on 11 August 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  50. ^ ""... More Women Will Follow" – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie on Being the First Woman to Be Made a Chief in Her Hometown". BellaNaija. 4 January 2023. Archived from the original on 4 January 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  51. ^ Ebuka, Ben (5 January 2023). "Renowned Nigerian Writer Chimamanda Adichie Crowned an African Traditional Chief in Her Hometown". Face2Face Africa. Archived from the original on 1 May 2025. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_awards_and_honours_received_by_Chimamanda_Ngozi_Adichie&oldid=1302696694"