The Chimera of a Nigerian National Unity in Adichie's Selected Novels

Abstract

This article interrogates the enduring myth of Nigerian national unity, focusing on Adichie’s Half of a Yellow Sun and Purple Hibiscus. This study utilizes postcolonial theory to contest the dominant narrative of Nigerian unity as a feasible objective, positing that the coerced amalgamation of diverse ethnic groups during colonialism has engendered profound and enduring divisions within the nation. The study examines the enduring effects of colonialism, ethnic tensions, and flawed leadership on Nigeria's societal structure, with specific emphasis on the Nigeria-Biafra War and the subsequent postcolonial disillusionment. Adichie’s depiction of Igbo marginalization and the imposition of Western ideology prompts essential inquiries on the viability of a cohesive Nigerian identity. This paper challenges the positive perspectives of earlier academic discussions, which frequently neglect the intricacies of ethnic differences, and instead offers a more skeptical assessment of the feasibility of achieving genuine national unity in Nigeria.