Book Review: Must Reads For Youth

Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (15+):

The process of developing the courage to assert one’s individuality is portrayed acutely and beautifully in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus.

Set in 1980s Nigeria, this coming-of-age novel follows 15-year-old timid and self-effacing Kambili Achike and her journey escaping oppression and finding freedom. Kambili lives in luxury with her brother, Chukwuka “Jaja” Achike, mother, Beatrice Achike “Mama”, and father, Eugene Achike “Papa”, because of Papa’s status as a rich factory owner, publisher of The Standard (a famous national newspaper), philanthropist across the country and well-known “champion of human rights”.

Having said that, this family’s lifestyle is anything but comfortable, as it is plagued with domestic abuse and restrictive Catholicism — Kambili, Jaja, and Mama are constantly under the control of Papa.

Kambili and Jaja get their first taste of freedom when they stay with their Aunt Ifeoma in Nsukka. Along with their cousins Amaka, Obiora and Chima, Kambili and Jaja explore and enjoy the beauties of Nsukka — as well as the unfamiliar warm and comforting familial environment of their Aunt Ifeoma’s household.

Kambili even concedes in her narration that perhaps the suffocating cycle of their father’s tyranny would have remained in place if they had not gone to Nsukka. Clearly this taste of life outside of their home inspired rebellion and individualism among Kambili and Jaja, as they began to bloom just as the purple hibiscuses in Aunt Ifeoma’s garden. These lovely flowers symbolise independence and growth, further enriching the beautiful landscape of culturally rich Nigerian society.

Adichie’s characters are especially memorable because of how relatable they are. Kambili’s outspoken cousin, Amaka, for instance, exerts some of the same teenage tendencies as my own brother! Kambili is often surprised that Jaja can be utterly absorbed in watching television with their cousins (an activity forbidden in their own household) “as if he’s been there his whole life”!

On another note, Purple Hibiscus thoroughly immerses the reader in Igbo culture, especially with recurring use of Igbo language throughout the novel. The political value of Igbo language and culture is also explored, as postcolonialism is an important theme that is particularly potent in the religious landscape. Papa, for instance, is described as a “colonial product” by his sister, and this sentiment holds true in the way he looks down upon his own people and glorifies the White missionaries in Nigeria.

Tensions are also heightened on this front owing to the instability of Nigeria’s political landscape. The authoritarian regime of Big Oga is corrupt and violent, often reflecting Papa’s own oppression of his wife and children.

The unexpected ending is a thought-provoking finale to this feminist novel, and I enjoyed seeing the growth in Kambili’s character. African literature is often oversimplified in the Western world, and Adichie’s breakout novel, Purple Hibiscus, carefully examines the nuances and complexities of Nigerian society: from religion to politics to family life, Kambili shows the reader many parts of her world. If you are curious about the world of women’s empowerment in African literature or simply looking for your next coming-of-age novel, Purple Hibiscus is a great place to start.