Worth Books - Summary and Analysis of Americanah: Based on the Book by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Summary and Analysis of

Americanah

Based on the Book by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Contents

Context

Spanning three decades and three continents, the journey for Ifemelu and Obinze begins in the mid-1980s, a time of great political and civil unrest in Nigeria, with three major military regimes in power, and many young Nigerians fleeing in search of opportunity abroad. The protagonist of the novel, Ifemelu, much like the Nigerian-born author, chooses to begin a new life for herself in America when she graduates from high school. And, like the author, she must learn to navigate her way through American culture as an outsider.

With a beautiful love story at its core, Americanah explores what it means to be a person of color facing issues of class, culture, racial divide, and bigotry in a so-called post-racial era.

Though Americans did elect their first black president (despite the fact of his blackness being questioned in some circles), and the Jim Crow era and civil rights movement are decades in the past, racial equality is still very much a myth in the United States. Notably, prejudice is still rampant when it comes to considerations of national origin in the years that followed the attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001; and gender bias remains an issue in a society where women still earn less than men and are often judged more for how they look than who they are.

Overview

As teenagers in Lagos, the largest city in Nigeria, Ifemelu, an independent young woman, and Obinze, an introspective young man, fall in love. With Nigeria in the midst of civil and political unrest, they both seek education and fortunes abroad. Ifemelu goes to America, and Obinze immigrates to England. Americanah profiles their struggles and triumphs as they navigate cultural, class, and racial divides.

Filled with hope, Ifemelu finds America a stark contrast to her Cosby Show expectations, yet she opens her heart and mind. The summer before classes begin, Ifemelu lives in Brooklyn with her Aunty Uju, a doctor, and her adorable young cousin, Dike.

At college in Philadelphia, Ifemelu finds her voice by blogging her provocative observations about being black in America. She engages in several meaningful love affairs: one with a rich white man in Baltimore, and one with an earnest African American professor at Yale. Despite her successes and thirteen years living all over the Northeast, Ifemelu repatriates to Lagos, beginning her life anew. She yearns to reconnect with Obinze.

Obinze is the only child of a university professor. When his mother falls ill, he must stay behind to care for her, but promises to join Ifemelu in America after graduation. A series of events thwarts his plans, and he travels to London instead.

Life for undocumented immigrants is dangerous and uncertain. Obinze shuffles from job to joboften swallowing his pride and abdicating his dignity in order to survive.

Plunged into two Anglo-dominated worlds, Ifemelu and Obinze must confront their blackness for the first time in their lives, as well as wrestle with the cultural idiosyncrasies faced by immigrants living abroad.

Ultimately, Obinze is discovered and deported back to Nigeria. Riding the wave of prosperity in a newly formed democracy, Obinze becomes a wealthy developer, marries, and has a daughter. But he never forgets his first love, Ifemelu.

Ifemelu reestablishes herself in Lagos in short order, but avoids calling Obinze; Obinze is also apprehensive about seeing Ifemelu, especially given his status as a married man with a family. When they do finally converge, its clear that their deep love is too strong to deny.

Cast of Characters

Aunty Uju: Ifemelus aunt and close confidant; she is a strong-willed doctor and the mistress to The General, with whom she has a son, Dike.

Blaine: Ethical and forthright, the African American studies professor at Yale is one of Ifemelus romantic partners.

Curt: A handsome and upbeat white man, he is another of Ifemelus long-time boyfriends.

Dike: Aunty Ujus sweet and charming son, and the illegitimate child of The General.

Ginika: Ifemelus pretty childhood girlfriend and expert on all things American.

Ifemelu: The bold and unconventional female protagonist; shes Obinzes true love.

Ifemelus father: Gregarious family patriarch and non-believer in his wifes religion.

Ifemelus mother: A born-again Christian whos somewhat out of touch with reality.

Kosi: Beautiful, traditional wife of Obinze.

Obinze Maduewesi: Gentle, intelligent male protagonist and Ifemelus soul mate.

Obinzes mother: Straight-talking, elegant university professor who takes Ifemelu under her wing.

The General: Powerful and wealthy government official, father of Dike, and clandestine lover of Aunty Uju.

Summary

Part 1

Chapter 1

Ifemelu is a brilliant young Nigerian woman at a crossroads in her life. She has just broken off a long-term relationship and walked away from her provocative and successful lifestyle blog called Raceteenth or Various Observations About American Blacks (Those Formerly Known as Negroes), known for its commentary on American black culture and how it differs from her experiences as an African living in Nigeria. Ifemelu sends an email to her ex, Obinze, to inform him shes coming home after thirteen years in America.

Chapter 2

Reading Ifemelus email, Obinze, a successful developer in Nigeria, feels off-balance and filled with raw emotion. Trapped in a loveless marriage and the father of a young daughter, Obinze finds little joy in life. He realizes he is still in love with Ifemelu.

Part 2

Chapter 3

Taking the train from idyllic, suburban Princeton to gritty Trenton, New Jersey, to have her hair braided is a symbolic gesture for Ifemelu, allowing her to acknowledge and embrace her African heritage.

Seeing her kinky hair braided in the mirror reminds Ifemelu of her mothers silky tresses and how her mother took scissors to them as proof of her devotion to God. Ifemelus father, who lost his job in Nigeria for refusing to defer to his female boss demand for respect, is immersed in unemployment blues, making way for her mothers blind faith to consume the family.

Around this time, Ifemelus Aunty Uju becomes mistress to a powerful government official, The General, in exchange for a doctors position at a military hospital.

Chapter 4

Obinze, intelligent and introspective, is the new boy in school. Expected to be Ginikas boyfriend because she is sweet and demure, hes instead attracted to the self-assured and bold Ifemelu. Ifemelu is strongly drawn to Obinze, too, which makes her happy and insecure at the same time. The two fall in love.

Chapter 5

Obinze is obsessed with everything American, especially books. One afternoon, Obinze introduces Ifemelu to his elegant and vivacious mother, a literature scholar who takes Ifemelu under her wing. A progressive woman, she warns Ifemelu about how an unwanted pregnancy is another way that women are kept down in society. Although Ifemelu loves being with Obinze and his mother, she cant seem to shake the feeling of impending doom.

Chapter 6

Aunty Ujus deal with The General, who has a wife and family, is that she becomes a kept woman in exchange for her position as a doctor at the military hospital. This means that he controls all her finances and she has no money of her own. In her youth, Ifemelu looked up to Uju for encouraging her to be outspoken, and knows Uju would not have approved of a woman giving up her independence for a man. A year after Uju gives birth to The Generals illegitimate son, Dike, The General is killed in a plane crash. With no place to go, Uju and Dike move to America.