Literary luminary awarded the prestigious PEN Pinter prize

Nigerian author

The prize is awarded to a writer from Britain, the Republic of Ireland or the Commonwealth, who casts an 'unflinching, unswerving' gaze upon the world, and shows a 'fierce intellectual determination to define the real truth of our lives and our societies.'

The judges of the prize described Adichie’s understanding of gender, race and global inequality as “sophisticated beyond measure." They continued, “In this age of the privatised, marketised self, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is the exception who defies the rule."

Speaking on being the recipient of the special award, Chimamanda said:

She will be presented with the prize on October 9. She will also, on that date, announced her co-winner, the winner of the “International Writer of Courage,” a prize given to a writer “who is active in defence of freedom of expression, often at great risk to their own safety and liberty.”

Congratulations to Chimamanda who continues to break down barriers for black female writers and African literaries.