Stay Connected
Atlanta Black Star/Video/News Video
EntertainmentNews Video

Journalist Asks Chimamanda Adichie ‘Are There Bookshops In Nigeria?’

Posted byBy Shamone Nelson | Published on: CommentsComments (0)

Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie was a guest at France’s annual ‘The Night of Ideas’ hosted by Institute Français. At the event the feminist author was interviewed by French journalist Caroline Broué. They spoke about Adichie’s opinion on various feminism topics including her “commitment to the fight against inequality between men and women” and her “convictions with respect to the role that African countries should play in globalization.”

The interview took a turn for the worst when Broué asked Adichie if the entire country of Nigeria had bookstores. Broué said, “Are there bookshops in Nigeria?” After an audible gasp from the audience, Broué continued, “Oh in France, we don’t know very much about Nigeria. When we hear Nigeria we think about Boko Haram and violence and security. Tell us something different.” Adichie responded, “I think it reflects poorly on France that you asked that question.”

It didn’t take long for reactions to pour in over the question on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/peacefulprim/status/956907042442227718

https://twitter.com/_Omobolaji_/status/956771170338054144

At least one person thought Adichie should have used the opportunity to enlight the journalist.

Democracy needs journalism it can trust.

This election season, the stakes are higher than usual — and so is the pressure on newsrooms to soften their coverage, stay quiet, or just disappear. Independent reporting, the kind that answers to readers instead of advertisers or political pressure, matters more in a moment like this, not less.

For over 14 years, Atlanta Black Star has stayed independent and reader-funded. We have no corporate owner and no shareholders telling us what to cover or how to cover it. That independence is also our biggest vulnerability: nothing protects it except readers choosing to fund it directly.

Newspaper ad revenue has fallen more than 80% since 2005, and local newsrooms are closing at a rate of roughly two a week nationwide. When outlets go under in a moment like this, it's rarely the independent, reader-funded ones that get to stick around.

We know a request for support isn't why you came here. But without readers choosing to fund this work directly, the depth of reporting we can do at home and abroad shrinks along with everyone else's. If you're not in a position to give, that doesn't change how much we value you as a reader.

If you are able to, a recurring contribution does more for us than a single one-time gift, because it lets us plan the next investigation instead of just the next invoice. It takes about 30 seconds, no long form, no account. Thank you for continuing to support independent journalism and freedom of the press.

Give once Give monthly Support another way

Related Stories

Back to top