1. Chimamanda Adichie
PHOTOGRAPH BY SUNDAY ALAMBA/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nigerian-born Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is the author of three novels, most recently the critically acclaimed “Americanah.” The book describes the affecting journey of a Nigerian woman who takes her chances in America as an emigrant, not because of poverty or hunger in her homeland, but to escape what she calls the “oppressive lethargy of choicelessness.” The book is also a penetrating discourse on what it means to be Black and how views of identity differ between African Americans and American Africans. In addition to her brilliant storytelling skills, Adichie has stepped in to the realm of politics with her TED talk called “We Should All Be Feminists,” said to have been inspired by the Beyoncé song “Flawless” and various opinion pieces.
