Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie receives Honorary Degree in Edinburgh University, Scotland

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie receives Honorary Degree in Edinburgh University, Scotland

Acclaimed Nigerian novelist and short story writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has been honored by Edinburgh University, Scotland with an honorary degree.

Adichie received the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters at the University’s recently redeveloped St Cecilia’s Hall – Scotland’s oldest concert hall.

The award was presented to her by the University’s Principal and Vice Chancellor, Professor Sir Timothy O’Shea.

Receiving the honorary degree in recognition of her achievements as an author and public intellectual, she said:

It is lovely to be in this place, which is hallowed. I feel very fortunate to be included among the people who have been honoured with a degree from this University.

Dr. Barbara Bompani, Edinburgh University’s Director of the Centre for African Studies, who proposed Adichie for the award said:

Ms Adichie received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters at the University’s recently redeveloped St Cecilia’s Hall – Scotland’s oldest concert hall.

The award, presented by the University’s Principal and Vice Chancellor, Professor Sir Timothy O’Shea, is in recognition of Ms Adichie’s achievements as an author and public intellectual.

Following the presentation, Ms Adichie was interviewed about her work and ideas by the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at an event at Edinburgh International Book Festival in association with the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at the University.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is widely regarded as one of the world’s most prominent contemporary writers. She is the author of three award winning novels, Purple Hibiscus, Half of a Yellow Sun, and Americanah, and a short story collection, The Thing around Your Neck.

Her most recent title, Dear Ijeawale, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions, takes the form of a series of letters from the author to a friend about feminism and motherhood.

She is the recipient of a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship – a five-year grant awarded to individuals who have shown exceptional creativity in their work, and have the potential to demonstrate more in the future.

Proposing Ms Adichie for the award of the degree, Dr Barbara Bompani, Director of the Centre of African Studies said there are many stories of the influence that Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s work has had on the lives, thoughts and creativity of others.

During her visit the author met a group of students from the MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program which supports the brightest and best African scholars, ensuring access to education for young leaders who have a personal commitment to changing the world around them and improving the lives of others.

See photos and a video from the award below:

Acclaimed author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie receives an honorary degree from the University of Edinburgh https://t.co/tduXQmnsx1 pic.twitter.com/Gg2bkFx6Pp

— Edinburgh University (@EdinburghUni) August 28, 2017