Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Half of a Yellow Sun has been voted as the best book to win the Women’s prize for fiction in its 25-year history.
To mark the anniversary of the prize formerly known as Orange prize and Bailey’s prize, a vote was cast. Out of 25 winners, the Nigerian Author made it to the top as the “Winner of Winners” with Half of a Yellow Sun.
The book is set in the era prior to and during the Nigerian civil war (1967-70). The effects of which are experienced through the lives of a teenage houseboy, British citizen, Professor, and twin daughters of a rich businessman. With war as the underlying theme, it wounds through a focal point in Nigeria’s history. Other themes include Marriage, betrayal, colonialism, love and culture.
Published in 2006, accolades for the book came pouring in shortly after. In 2007, Half of a yellow sun won the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award (fiction category), PEN ‘Beyond Margins’ Award (now called PEN Open Book Awards), and the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction (now called Women’s Prize for Fiction). It would later go on to bag the “Best of the Best” in the second decade of the Bailey’s Prize For Fiction (2015), which is now known as the Women’s Prize For Fiction, where she has recently emerged Winner of Winners.
The Reading Women campaign has been the perfect way to introduce a new generation of readers to the brilliance of all of our 25 winners and to honour the phenomenal quality and range of women’s writing from all over the world .
– Kate Mousse, Founder, Women’s Prize for Fiction.
On her win, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is elated. She says, “I’m especially moved to be voted Winner of Winners because this is the prize that first brought a wide readership to my work – and has also introduced me to the work of many talented writers.”
Other authors on this list of 25 winners include Zadie Smith, Tayari Jones, Kamila Shamsie, and Maggie O’Farrell.
Movie Adaptation
Half of a Yellow Sun also caught the attention of the big screen. It was adapted for film by playwright Biyi Bandele, and in 2013, it premiered at the Toronto Film Festival. The film stars Chinwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton, John Boyega, Anika Noni Rose, Onyeka Onwenu, and Genevieve Nnaji, amongst others.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is iconic for her profound understanding of character which drives her storytelling with distinct poise. Her works include Purple Hibiscus, Half of a Yellow Sun, Americanah, The Thing Around Your Neck, and recently, Zikora. She is currently reviewing Barack Obama’s upcoming memoir for the New York Times.
Cheers to celebrating milestones by African Authors in the literary space. Congratulations to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Winner of Winners.
Discover more African Authors here.
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