Friday, 3 March 2017

After Soyinka, Adichie is second Nigerian to join American Academy of Arts and Letters

Novelist, Chimamanda Adichie, has been named as an honourary member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, becoming the second Nigerian in the academy.

The Half of a Yellow Sun writer will be honoured alongside Kaija Saariaho, a composer from Finland and Zadie Smith, a writer from England.

A press release by the Academy said the honourary members will be inducted at the annual induction in May.
“When the American Academy of Arts and Letters holds its annual induction and award ceremony in mid-May, Calvin Trillin, secretary, will induct fourteen members into the 250-person organization and Yehudi Wyner, president will induct three foreign honorary members.

“Joyce Carol Oates will deliver the centennial Blashfield Foundation Address. An exhibition of art, architecture, books, and manuscripts by new members and recipients of awards will be on view in the galleries from May 18 to June 11.”

Adichie becomes the second Nigerian to be inducted into the academy after Wole Soyinka, a Nobel laureate, was inducted in 1986.

The author has won various awards for her works including the 2007 Orange Prize for Fiction for Half of a Yellow Sun.

The 2006 novel was later adapted into a movie by Biyi Bandele.

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