Cover Photo: Howard County Library System/flickr
Howard County Library System/flickr

How to Read Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s ‘Americanah’

“I am three days aged in Lagos and cry as my fingers turn the first page.”

Americanah

I discovered race in America and it fascinated me. I discovered race in Americahere

You cooked for them?

ebaokra soup

oppressed

Power RangersPower Rangers

Ekaaro Ekaaro Ma. Ekaaro

Who do you want to seeWhich organization are you representing? You don’t have any identification?

halal

You did such a good job.

He just thinks you’re pretty.

it

You are really beautiful for a dark-skinned girl

ila

an the

I forget but I don’t forgive

Is there anything you want to talk about? Maybe something you’ve wanted to ask me?Ekaaro

Why did you decide to move to NigeriaWow you’re still here,

You are really a Nigerian now

Maryam Kazeem is a Nigerian​ ​American writer and producer based in Lagos. Her writing has appeared in publications including Vogue Italia, Okayafrica, Brittle Paper and Another Gaze. She was a 2017 Callaloo Fellow in non-fiction writing. You can read more of her thoughts about living in Lagos on her Tinyletter.