Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie emphasized in her TED Talk, titled ‘The danger of a single story,’ the importance of acknowledging multiple perspectives and avoiding stereotypes that lead to misconceptions. The issue lies in the fact that stereotypes are not entirely false, but rather incomplete. Adichie argues that relying on a single story limits our understanding by neglecting the existence of other narratives concerning various events and ideas.
The main idea of this text is that the short stories in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s compilation ‘The Thing around Your Neck’ deviate from the stereotypical depiction of an impoverished Africa. Instead, these stories center around middle-class Nigerians, incorporating elements commonly associated with Western society such as cars, TVs, and Christianity. Although some common stereotypes about Africa, like theft, still exist in these stories, they also introduce modern ideas that are not typically associated with poorer nations. One example of such a story is “Cell One”.
The initial observation highlights the depiction of a regular Nigerian household, and it is significant to acknowledge that many of the items are identified as ‘Western’ products. An illustration of this is the TV and VCR, which are commonly found in American households and it is quite astonishing to find them in Africa (using the term loosely). The absence of any mention regarding a severe famine overpowering the persona’s existence contributes to dispelling the notion of a singular narrative about Africa.
However, despite the prevalence of these products in Nigeria, it is important to acknowledge the significant cultural differences between Western and African societies. In Nigeria, having two cell phones can be viewed as immoral, labeling someone as promiscuous. This highlights Nigeria’s adherence to cultural values and, to some extent, a negative perception of wealth and luxury, which contradicts the capitalist perspective where wealth is revered. Additionally, the widespread bribery and theft depicted in the story accentuates the issue of corruption and the chaos typically associated with African nations. Even the mother resorts to bribing policemen, indicating that bribery is a normal part of everyday life. The instances of people stealing TVs and VCRs further reinforce stereotypes often attributed to Africans. On a different note, the story also mentions native Nigerian elements like the ‘ixora plant’ and ‘jollof rice’. This inclusion creates a sense of familiarity between the reader and the story, as these indigenous terms are used casually to the point that it sometimes makes one feel like a native Nigerian while reading.
The mention of the brother’s complexion helps to illustrate some of the dissimilarities of the Nigerian culture and the Western society. In the story, it is revealed that Nigerians value fair skin for females, as they ask the mother why she wasted her fair skin on a boy and left the girl so dark. This direct manner of speaking makes it clear that Nigerians are not afraid to speak their mind, in contrast to the Western society where people often avoid being offensive or condescending in their comments. American Embassy
The story “The American Embassy” revolves around a Nigerian woman who tragically loses her child while political mercenaries search for her husband. Desperate for help and protection, she turns to the American embassy to seek political asylum in America. It is evident that the persona faces humiliation during her interactions with the American interviewer. Throughout the passage, there is a distinct sense of detachment and aloofness. This is evidenced by the persona’s constant shifts between the present and a flashback, as well as the consistent use of third-person pronouns to refer to the persona. This choice of narrative perspective creates a barrier between the readers and the persona, making them mere spectators rather than active participants in the story. This deliberate sense of alienation may be intended by the author, initially distancing the readers but later using vivid imagery and impactful language to elicit sympathy and empathy towards the persona. The text draws parallels between two stories, highlighting similarities and potentially exploring themes of displacement, persecution, and resilience.
Both ‘Cell One’ and ‘The American Embassy’ share several similarities. They are both set in a typical Nigerian middle-class family and aim to challenge the stereotypes often associated with Africa. These stories attempt to show a convergence between Western and African cultures. The initial description of the setting in ‘The American Embassy’ highlights elements of modernization, such as ‘ice-cream bicycles’ and ‘car radios’, while also including stereotypical African attributes like ‘fresh palm oil’ and ‘beggars with enamel plates’. This combination of contrasting characteristics reflects the integration of cultures in Nigeria. However, despite these similarities, the actual content of each story differs significantly, as is typical for stories. In conclusion,
Adichie utilizes her short stories to illustrate the fusion of Western and African cultures, effectively challenging the notion of a singular narrative that perpetuates stereotypes about Africa. Nevertheless, certain African stereotypes persist in the excerpts, namely the prevalent issues of bribery, theft, and corruption. Additionally, the passages solely portray a middle-class family, disregarding the extremes of poverty or wealth.
Overall, Adichie incorporates elements of the ‘single story’ into her stories about convergent Western and African societies. This results in a fresh narrative that challenges the stereotypes associated with the notion of ‘Africa’. By presenting a more complete story, Adichie undermines the foundations of the ‘single story’ and its associated stereotypes. She highlights that the issue with stereotypes lies not in their inaccuracy, but in their incompleteness, as she discussed in her TED talk. As readers reject the idea of a single story and recognize the existence of multiple narratives, they obtain a sense of liberation.
