Instructions after you read Adiche’s TED talk answer the following: What is the main point of Adiche’s essay? Write it out in one or two sentences.Support your claim with evidence from her talk. Wri
22,9 4 2,8 4 9 Vie w s Add R eco m men d Lik e S hare C him am an d a N gozi A dic h ie ·T ED G lo b al 2 0 09 T he d an g er o f a s in g le s to ry 000 8 I’m a s to ry te lle r.  A nd I w ould lik e t o t e ll y o u a f e w p ers o nal s to rie s  ab out w hat I lik e t o c a ll ” th e d an g er o f t h e s in g le s to ry .”  I g re w u p o n a u n iv e rs it y c a m pus in e aste rn N ig eria .  M y m oth er sa y s t h at I s ta rte d r e ad in g a t t h e a g e o f t w o,  alt h o ug h I t h in k f o ur is p ro b ab ly c lo se t o t h e tr u th .  S o I w as a n e arly r e ad er,  a n d w hat I r e ad w ere B rit is h a n d A m eric a n c h ild re n ‘s b ooks.   00 36 U p N ext D eta ils T ra n sc rip t C om men ts ( 1 3 81) E ngl is h 18 :3 4 S IG N I N I w as a ls o a n e arly w rit e r,  a n d w hen I b eg an t o w rit e , a t a b out t h e a g e o f s e ve n ,  sto rie s in p en cil w it h c ra yo n illu str a tio ns  th at m y p oor m oth er w as o b lig ate d t o r e ad ,  I w ro te e xa ctly t h e kin d s o f s to rie s I w as r e ad in g :  A ll m y c h ara cte rs w ere w hit e a n d b lu e -e ye d ,  th ey p la ye d in t h e sn ow ,  th ey a te a p ple s,   010 0 (L a u g hte r)   01 0 2 a n d t h ey t a lk e d a lo t a b out t h e w eath er,  h ow lo ve ly it w as t h at t h e s u n h ad c o m e o ut.   01 0 6 (L a u g hte r)   01 0 8 N ow , t h is d esp it e t h e f a ct t h at I liv e d in N ig eria .  I h ad n eve r b een o uts id e N ig eria .  W e d id n’t h ave s n ow , w e a te m an g oes,  a n d w e n eve r t a lk e d a b out t h e w eath er,  b eca u se t h ere w as n o need t o .   012 2 M y c h ara cte rs a ls o d ra n k a lo t o f g in g er b eer,  b eca u se t h e c h ara cte rs in t h e B rit is h b ooks I r e ad  d ra n k g in g er b eer.  N eve r m in d t h at I h ad n o id ea w hat g in g er b eer w as.   0132 ( L a u g hte r)   01 34 A nd f o r m an y y e ars a fte rw ard s,  I w ould h ave a d esp era te d esir e t o t a ste g in g er b eer.  B ut t h at is a n o th er s to ry .   014 0 W hat t h is d em onstr a te s, I t h in k,  is h ow im pre ssio nab le a n d v u ln era b le w e a re  in t h e f a ce o f a s to ry ,  p artic u la rly a s c h il d re n .  B eca u se a ll I h ad r e ad w ere b ooks in w hic h c h ara cte rs w ere fo re ig n,  I h ad b eco m e c o nvin ce d t h at b ooks  b y t h eir v e ry n atu re h ad t o h ave f o re ig ners in t h em  an d h ad t o b e a b out t h in g s w it h w hic h I c o uld n o t p ers o nally id en tif y .  N ow , t h in g s ch an g ed w hen I d is c o ve re d A fr ic a n b ooks.  T here w ere n ‘t m an y o f t h em a va ila b le ,  an d t h ey w ere n ‘t q uit e a s e asy t o f in d a s t h e f o re ig n b ooks.   02 1 2 B ut b eca u se o f w rit e rs lik e C hin ua A ch eb e a n d C am ara L aye ,  I w en t t h ro ug h a m en ta l s h if t in m y p erc e p tio n o f lit e ra tu re .  I r e aliz e d t h at p eo p le lik e m e,  g ir ls w it h s k in t h e c o lo r o f ch o co la te ,  w ho se k in ky h air c o uld n o t f o rm p onyta ils ,  c o uld a ls o e xis t in lit e ra tu re .  I s ta rte d t o w rit e a b out t h in g s I r e co g niz e d .   0233 N ow , I lo ve d t h o se A m eric a n a n d B rit is h b ooks I r e ad .  T hey s tir re d m y im ag in atio n. T hey o p en ed u p n ew w orld s f o r m e.  B ut t h e u n in te n d ed c o nse q ue n ce  w as t h at I d id n o t k n ow t h at p eo p le lik e m e  co uld e xis t in lit e ra tu re .  S o w hat t h e d is c o ve ry o f A fr ic a n w rit e rs d id f o r m e was t h is :  It s a ve d m e f ro m h av in g a s in g le s to ry o f w hat b ooks a re .   025 5 I c o m e f ro m a c o nve n tio nal, m id dle -c la ss N ig eria n f a m ily .  M y f a th er w as a p ro fe sso r.  M y moth er w as a n a d m in is tr a to r.  A nd s o w e h ad , a s w as t h e n o rm ,  liv e -in d om estic h elp , w ho w ould o fte n c o m e f ro m n earb y r u ra l v illa g es.  S o, t h e y e ar I t u rn ed e ig ht, w e g ot a n ew h o use b oy.  H is n am e w as F id e.  T he o nly t h in g m y m oth er t o ld u s a b out h im w as t h at h is f a m ily w as ve ry p oor.  M y m oth er s e n t y a m s a n d r ic e , a n d o ur o ld c lo th es, t o h is f a m ily .  A nd w hen I d id n’t f in is h m y d in ner, m y m oth er w ould s a y,  “F in is h y o ur f o od ! D on’t y o u k n ow ? P eo p le lik e F id e’s f a m ily h ave n o th in g .”  S o I f e lt e n o rm ous p it y f o r F id e’s f a m ily .   03 40 T hen o ne S atu rd ay, w e w en t t o h is v illa g e t o v is it ,  a n d h is m oth er s h ow ed u s a b eau tif u lly p atte rn ed b aske t  m ad e o f d ye d r a ffia t h at h is b ro th er h ad m ad e.  I w as s ta rtle d .  It h ad n o t occu rre d t o m e t h at a n yb od y in h is f a m ily  c o uld a ctu ally m ake s o m eth in g .  A ll I h ad h eard a b out t h em w as h ow p oor t h ey w ere ,  so t h at it h ad b eco m e im possib le f o r m e t o s e e t h em a s a n yth in g e ls e b ut p oor.  T heir p ove rty w as m y s in g le s to ry o f t h em .   040 9 Y ears la te r, I t h o ug ht a b out t h is w hen I le ft N ig eria  t o g o t o u n iv e rs it y in t h e U nit e d S ta te s.  I w as 1 9 .  M y A m eric a n r o om mate w as s h o cke d b y m e.  S he a ske d w here I h ad le arn ed t o s p eak E ng lis h s o w ell,  a n d w as c o nfu se d w hen I s a id t h at N ig eria  h ap pen ed t o h ave E ng lis h a s it s o ffic ia l la n g uag e.  S he a ske d if s h e c o uld lis te n t o w hat s h e c a lle d m y ” tr ib al m usic ,”  a n d w as co nse q ue n tly v e ry d is a p poin te d  w hen I p ro d uce d m y t a p e o f M aria h C are y.   04 38 ( L a u g hte r)   04 4 1 S he a ssu m ed t h at I d id n o t k n ow h ow t o u se a s to ve .   044 6 W hat s tr u ck m e w as t h is :  S he h ad f e lt s o rr y f o r m e e ve n b efo re s h e s a w m e.  H er d efa u lt p osit io n t o w ard m e, a s a n A fr ic a n ,  w as a k in d o f p atro niz in g , w ell- m ean in g p it y .  M y r o om mate h ad a s in g le s to ry o f A fr ic a :  a s in g le s to ry o f c a ta stro p he.  In t h is s in g le s to ry ,  th ere w as n o p ossib ilit y o f A fr ic a n s b ein g s im ila r t o h er in a n y w ay,  n o p ossib ilit y o f f e elin g s m ore c o m ple x th an p it y ,  n o p ossib ilit y o f a c o nnectio n a s h um an e q uals .   05 1 7 I m ust s a y t h at b efo re I w en t t o t h e U .S .,  I d id n’t c o nsc io usly id en tif y a s A fr ic a n .  B ut in t h e U .S ., w hen eve r A fr ic a c a m e u p , p eo p le t u rn ed t o m e.  N eve r m in d t h at I k n ew n o th in g a b out p la ce s lik e N am ib ia .  B ut I d id c o m e t o e m bra ce t h is n ew id en tit y ,  a n d in m an y w ay s I t h in k o f m yse lf n ow a s A fr ic a n .  A lt h o ug h I s till g et q uit e ir rit a b le w hen A fr ic a is r e fe rre d t o a s a c o un tr y ,  th e m ost r e ce n t e xa m ple b ein g m y o th erw is e w ond erfu l f lig ht  fro m L a g os t w o d ay s a g o,  in w hic h t h ere w as a n a n no un ce m en t o n t h e V ir g in f lig ht  ab out t h e c h arit y w ork in ” In d ia , A fr ic a a n d o th er c o un tr ie s.”   055 1 (L a u g hte r)   05 5 3 S o, a fte r I h ad s p en t s o m e y e ars in t h e U .S . a s a n A fr ic a n ,  I b eg an t o u n d ers ta n d m y ro om mate ‘s r e sp onse t o m e.  If I h ad n o t g ro w n u p in N ig eria ,  an d if a ll I k n ew a b out A fr ic a w ere f ro m p op ula r im ag es,  I t o o w ould t h in k t h at A fr ic a w as a p la ce o f b eau tif u l la n d sc a p es,  b eau tif u l a n im als ,  a n d in co m pre h en sib le p eo p le ,  fig htin g s e n se le ss w ars , d yin g o f p ove rty a n d A ID S,  un ab le t o s p eak f o r t h em se lv e s  an d w ait in g t o b e s a ve d b y a k in d , w hit e fo re ig ner.  I w ould s e e A fr ic a n s in t h e s a m e w ay t h at I,  a s a c h ild , h ad s e en F id e’s f a m ily .   06 31 T his s in g le s to ry o f A fr ic a u lt im ate ly c o m es, I t h in k, f ro m W este rn lit e ra tu re .  N ow , h ere is a q uo te f ro m t h e w rit in g o f a L o nd on m erc h an t c a lle d J o hn L o k,  w ho s a ile d t o w est A fr ic a in 1 5 6 1  an d k e p t a f a sc in atin g a cco un t o f h is v o ya g e.  A fte r r e fe rrin g t o t h e b la ck A fr ic a n s a s “b easts w ho h ave n o h o use s,”  h e w rit e s, ” T hey a re a ls o p eo p le w it h o ut h ead s,  h av in g t h eir m outh a n d e ye s in t h eir b re asts .”   07 0 1 N ow , I’v e la u g hed e ve ry t im e I’v e r e ad t h is .  A nd o ne m ust a d m ir e t h e im ag in atio n o f J o hn Lo k.  B ut w hat is im porta n t a b out h is w rit in g  is t h at it r e p re se n ts t h e b eg in nin g  o f a t r a d it io n o f te llin g A fr ic a n s to rie s in t h e W est:  A t r a d it io n o f S ub -S ah ara n A fr ic a a s a p la ce o f n eg ativ e s,  o f d if fe re n ce , o f d ark n ess,  o f p eo p le w ho , in t h e w ord s o f t h e w ond erfu l p oet R ud ya rd K ip lin g ,  are ” h alf d evil, h alf c h ild .”   07 2 8 A nd s o , I b eg an t o r e aliz e t h at m y A m eric a n r o om mate  m ust h ave t h ro ug ho ut h er lif e  s e en a n d h eard d if fe re n t v e rs io ns o f t h is s in g le s to ry ,  a s h ad a p ro fe sso r,  w ho o nce t o ld m e t h at m y nove l w as n o t ” a u th en tic a lly A fr ic a n .”  N ow , I w as q uit e w illin g t o c o nte n d  th at t h ere w ere a n um ber o f t h in g s w ro ng w it h t h e n ove l,  t h at it h ad f a ile d in a n um ber o f p la ce s,  b ut I h ad n o t q uit e im ag in ed t h at it h ad f a ile d  at a ch ie vin g s o m eth in g c a lle d A fr ic a n a u th en tic it y .  In f a ct, I d id n o t k n ow w hat A fr ic a n a u th en tic it y w as.  T he p ro fe sso r t o ld m e t h at m y c h ara cte rs w ere hlik hi d ddid dl l M h d Th to o m uch lik e h im ,  an e d uca te d a n d m id dle -c la ss m an .  M y c h ara cte rs d ro ve c a rs .  T hey w ere n o t s ta rv in g .  T here fo re t h ey w ere n o t a u th en tic a lly A fr ic a n .   081 7 B ut I m ust q uic kly a d d t h at I t o o a m ju st a s g uilt y  in t h e q ue stio n o f t h e s in g le s to ry .  A f e w ye ars a g o, I v is it e d M exic o f ro m t h e U .S .  T he p olit ic a l c lim ate in t h e U .S . a t t h e t im e w as te n se ,  an d t h ere w ere d eb ate s g oin g o n a b out im mig ra tio n.  A nd , a s o fte n h ap p en s in A m eric a ,  im mig ra tio n b eca m e s y n o nym ous w it h M exic a n s.  T here w ere e n d le ss s to rie s o f M exic a n s  as p eo p le w ho w ere f le ecin g t h e h ealt h ca re s y ste m ,  sn eakin g a cro ss t h e b ord er,  b ein g a rre ste d a t t h e b ord er, t h at s o rt o f t h in g .   085 0 I r e m em ber w alk in g a ro un d o n m y f ir s t d ay in G uad ala ja ra ,  w atc h in g t h e p eo p le g oin g t o w ork ,  ro llin g u p t o rtilla s in t h e m ark e tp la ce ,  sm okin g , la u g hin g .  I r e m em ber f ir s t f e e lin g s lig ht su rp ris e .  A nd t h en , I w as o ve rw helm ed w it h s h am e.  I r e aliz e d t h at I h ad b een s o im mers e d in t h e m ed ia c o ve ra g e o f M exic a n s  th at t h ey h ad b eco m e o ne t h in g in m y m in d ,  th e a b je ct im mig ra n t.  I h ad b oug ht in to t h e s in g le s to ry o f M exic a n s  an d I c o uld n o t h ave b een m ore a sh am ed o f m yse lf .   09 2 2 S o t h at is h ow t o c re ate a s in g le s to ry ,  sh ow a p eo p le a s o ne t h in g ,  as o nly o ne t h in g ,  ove r an d o ve r a g ain ,  an d t h at is w hat t h ey b eco m e.   0934 I t is im possib le t o t a lk a b out t h e s in g le s to ry  w it h o ut t a lk in g a b out p ow er.  T here is a w ord , a n Ig b o w ord ,  th at I t h in k a b out w hen eve r I t h in k a b out t h e p ow er s tr u ctu re s o f t h e w orld ,  an d it i s ” n ka li.”  I t ‘s a n o un t h at lo o se ly t r a n sla te s t o ” to b e g re ate r t h an a n o th er.”  L ik e o ur e co no m ic a n d p olit ic a l w orld s,  sto rie s t o o a re d efin ed b y t h e p rin cip le o f n ka li:  H ow t h ey a re t o ld , w ho te lls t h em ,  when t h ey’r e t o ld , h ow m an y s to rie s a re t o ld ,  are r e ally d ep en d en t o n p ow er.   1 0 0 8 P ow er is t h e a b ilit y n o t ju st t o t e ll t h e s to ry o f a n o th er p ers o n,  b ut t o m ake it t h e d efin it iv e sto ry o f t h at p ers o n.  T he P ale stin ia n p oet M ourid B arg ho uti w rit e s  th at if y o u w an t t o y p p g y dis p osse ss a p eo p le ,  th e s im ple st w ay t o d o it is t o t e ll t h eir s to ry  a n d t o s ta rt w it h , “s e co nd ly .”  S ta rt t h e s to ry w it h t h e a rro w s o f t h e N ativ e A m eric a n s,  a n d n o t w it h t h e a rriv a l o f th e B rit is h ,  an d y o u h ave a n e n tir e ly d if fe re n t s to ry .  S ta rt t h e s to ry w it h t h e f a ilu re o f t h e A fr ic a n s ta te ,  an d n o t w it h t h e c o lo nia l c re atio n o f t h e A fr ic a n s ta te ,  an d y o u h ave a n e n tir e ly d if fe re n t s to ry .   10 4 8 I r e ce n tly s p oke a t a u n iv e rs it y  w here a s tu d en t t o ld m e t h at it w as s u ch a s h am e  th at N ig eria n m en w ere p hysic a l a b use rs  lik e t h e f a th er c h ara cte r in m y n ove l.  I t o ld h im t h at I h ad ju st r e ad a n ove l c a lle d ” A m eric a n P sy c h o ” – –   110 4 (L a u g hte r)   1 10 6 — a n d t h at it w as s u ch a s h am e  th at y o un g A m eric a n s w ere s e ria l m urd ere rs .   111 1 (L a u g hte r)   1 11 5 (A ppla u se )   112 1 N ow , o b vio usly I s a id t h is in a f it o f m ild ir rit a tio n.   112 4 (L a u g hte r)   112 6 B ut it w ould n eve r h ave o ccu rre d t o m e t o t h in k  th at ju st b eca u se I h ad r e ad a n ove l in w hic h a c h ara cte r w as a s e ria l k ille r  th at h e w as s o m eh ow r e p re se n ta tiv e o f a ll A m eric a n s.  T his is n o t b eca u se I a m a b ette r p ers o n t h an t h at s tu d en t,  b ut b eca u se o f A m eric a ‘s c u lt u ra l a n d eco no m ic p ow er,  I h ad m an y s to rie s o f A m eric a .  I h ad r e ad T yle r a n d U pd ik e a n d S te in b eck a n d G ait s k ill.  I d id n o t h ave a s in g le s to ry o f A m eric a .   115 2 W hen I le arn ed , s o m e y e ars a g o,  th at w rit e rs w ere e xp ecte d t o h ave h ad r e ally u n h ap py ch ild ho od s  to b e s u cce ssfu l,  I b eg an t o t h in k a b out h ow I c o uld in ve n t h o rrib le t h in g s m y pare n ts h ad d one t o m e.   12 0 4 (L a u g hte r)   1 2 0 6 B ut t h e t r u th is t h at I h ad a v e ry h ap py c h ild ho od ,  fu ll o f la u g hte r a n d lo ve , in a v e ry c lo se -k n it f a m ily .   12 1 3 B ut I a ls o h ad g ra n d fa th ers w ho d ie d in r e fu g ee c a m ps.  M y c o usin P olle d ie d b eca u se h e co uld n o t g et a d eq uate h ealt h ca re .  O ne o f m y c lo se st f r ie n d s, O ko lo m a, d ie d in a p la n e cra sh  b eca u se o ur f ir e t r u cks d id n o t h ave w ate r.  I g re w u p u n d er r e p re ssiv e m ilit a ry g ove rn m en ts  t h at d eva lu e d e d uca tio n,  so t h at s o m etim es, m y p are n ts w ere n o t p aid t h eir s a la rie s.  A nd s o , a s a c h ild , I s a w ja m d is a p pear f ro m t h e b re akfa st t a b le ,  th en m arg arin e d is a p peare d ,  th en b re ad b eca m e t o o e xp en siv e ,  th en m ilk b eca m e r a tio ned .  A nd m ost o f a ll, a k in d o f n o rm aliz e d p olit ic a l f e ar  in va d ed o ur liv e s.   12 5 4 A ll o f t h ese s to rie s m ake m e w ho I a m .  But t o in sis t o n o nly t h ese n eg ativ e s to rie s  is t o f la tte n m y e xp erie n ce  a n d t o o ve rlo ok t h e m an y o th er s to rie s t h at f o rm ed m e.  T he s in g le s to ry cre ate s s te re o ty p es,  a n d t h e p ro b le m w it h s te re o ty p es is n o t t h at t h ey a re u n tr u e ,  b ut t h at th ey a re in co m ple te .  T hey m ake o ne s to ry b eco m e t h e o nly s to ry .   13 21 O f c o urs e , A fr ic a is a c o ntin en t f u ll o f c a ta stro p hes:  T here a re im men se o nes, s u ch a s t h e h o rrif ic r a p es in C ong o  an d d ep re ssin g o nes,  su ch a s t h e f a ct t h at 5 ,0 00 p eo p le a p ply f o r o ne jo b v a ca n cy in N ig eria .  B ut t h ere a re o th er s to rie s t h at a re n o t a b out c a ta stro p he,  an d it is v e ry im porta n t, it is ju st a s im porta n t, t o t a lk a b out t h em .   13 41 I’v e a lw ay s f e lt t h at it is im possib le  t o e n g ag e p ro p erly w it h a p la ce o r a p ers o n  w it h o ut e n g ag in g w it h a ll o f t h e s to rie s o f t h at p la ce a n d t h at p ers o n.  T he c o nse q ue n ce o f t h e s in g le s to ry is t h is :  It r o b s p eo p le o f d ig nit y .  It m ake s o ur r e co g nit io n o f o ur e q ual h um an it y d if fic u lt .  It e m phasiz e s h ow w e a re d if fe re n t r a th er t h an h ow w e a re s im ila r.   1 4 0 5 S o w hat if b efo re m y M exic a n t r ip ,  I h ad f o llo w ed t h e im mig ra tio n d eb ate f ro m b oth s id es,  th e U .S . a n d t h e M exic a n ?  W hat if m y m oth er h ad t o ld u s t h at F id e’s f a m ily w as p oor  an d h ard w ork in g ?  W hat if w e h ad a n A fr ic a n t e le vis io n n etw ork  t h at b ro ad ca st d iv e rs e A fr ic a n sto rie s a ll o ve r t h e w orld ?  W hat t h e N ig eria n w rit e r C hin ua A ch eb e c a lls ” a b ala n ce o f sto rie s.”   1 4 2 9 W hat if m y r o om m ate k n ew a b out m y N ig eria n p ub lis h er,  M uh ta r B aka re ,  a r e m ark a b le m an w ho le ft h is jo b in a b an k  to f o llo w h is d re am a n d s ta rt a p ub lis h in g h o use ?  N ow , t h e co nve n tio nal w is d om w as t h at N ig eria n s d on’t r e ad lit e ra tu re .  H e d is a g re ed .  H e f e lt t h at p eo p le w ho c o uld r e ad , w ould r e ad ,  if y o u m ad e lit e ra tu re a ffo rd ab le a n d a va ila b le t o t h em .   14 5 3 S ho rtly a fte r h e p ub lis h ed m y f ir s t n ove l,  I w en t t o a T V s ta tio n in L a g os t o d o a n in te rv ie w ,  an d a w om an w ho w ork e d t h ere a s a m esse n g er c a m e u p t o m e a n d s a id ,  “I r e ally l ik e d y o ur n ove l. I d id n’t lik e t h e e n d in g .  N ow , y o u m ust w rit e a s e q ue l, a n d t h is is w hat w ill h ap pen …” ap pe …   1 5 0 7 (L a u g hte r)   1 5 1 0 A nd s h e w en t o n t o t e ll m e w hat t o w rit e in t h e s e q ue l.  I w as n o t o nly c h arm ed , I w as v e ry m ove d .  H ere w as a w om an , p art o f t h e o rd in ary m asse s o f N ig eria n s,  w ho w ere n o t s u p pose d to b e r e ad ers .  S he h ad n o t o nly r e ad t h e b ook,  b ut s h e h ad t a ke n o w ners h ip o f it  a n d f e lt j u stif ie d in t e llin g m e w hat t o w rit e in t h e s e q ue l.   1 5 30 N ow , w hat if m y r o om mate k n ew a b out m y f r ie n d F u n m i Iy a n d a,  a f e arle ss w om an w ho h o sts a T V s h ow in L a g os,  a n d is d ete rm in ed t o t e ll t h e s to rie s t h at w e p re fe r t o f o rg et?  W hat if m y ro om mate k n ew a b out t h e h eart p ro ce d ure  t h at w as p erfo rm ed in t h e L a g os h o sp it a l la st w eek?  W hat if m y r o om m ate k n ew a b out c o nte m pora ry N ig eria n m usic ,  ta le n te d p eo p le s in g in g in E ng lis h a n d P id gin ,  an d Ig b o a n d Y o ru b a a n d Ijo ,  m ix in g in flu e n ce s f ro m J a y -Z t o F e la  t o B ob M arle y t o t h eir g ra n d fa th ers .   16 0 2 W hat if m y r o om m ate k n ew a b out t h e f e m ale la w ye r  w ho r e ce n tly w en t t o c o urt in N ig eria t o c h alle n g e a r id ic u lo us la w  th at r e q uir e d w om en t o g et t h eir h usb an d ‘s c o nse n t  b efo re r e n ew in g t h eir p assp orts ?  W hat if m y r o om m ate k n ew a b out N olly w ood ,  fu ll o f in nova tiv e p eo p le m akin g f ilm s d esp it e g re at t e ch nic a l o d ds,  film s s o p op ula r  th at t h ey r e ally a re t h e b est e xa m ple o f N ig eria n s c o nsu m in g w hat t h ey p ro d uce ?  W hat if m y r o om m ate k n ew a b out m y w ond erfu lly a m bit io us h air b ra id er,  w ho h as ju st s ta rte d h er o w n b usin ess s e llin g h air e xte n sio ns?  O r a b out t h e m illio ns o f o th er N ig eria n s w ho s ta rt b usin esse s a n d s o m etim es fa il,  b ut c o ntin ue t o n urs e a m bit io n?   16 4 3 E ve ry t im e I a m h o m e I a m c o nfro nte d  w it h t h e u su al s o urc e s o f ir rit a tio n f o r m ost N ig eria n s:  o ur f a ile d in fr a str u ctu re , o ur f a ile d g ove rn m en t,  b ut a ls o b y t h e in cre d ib le r e silie n ce  o f p eo p le w ho t h riv e d esp it e t h e g ove rn m en t,  r a th er t h an b eca u se o f it .  I t e ach it i kh iL dit i it h l writ in g w ork sh o p s in L a g os e ve ry s u m mer,  a n d it is a m azin g t o m e h ow m an y p eo p le a p ply ,  h ow m an y p eo p le a re e ag er t o w rit e ,  to t e ll s to rie s.   17 1 0 M y N ig eria n p ub lis h er a n d I h ave ju st s ta rte d a n o n-p ro fit  c a lle d F ara fin a T ru st,  a n d w e h ave b ig d re am s o f b uil d in g lib ra rie s  an d r e fu rb is h in g lib ra rie s t h at a lr e ad y e xis t  a n d p ro vid in g b ooks f o r s ta te s c h o ols  t h at d on’t h ave a n yth in g in t h eir lib ra rie s,  a n d a ls o o f o rg an iz in g lo ts a n d lo ts o f w ork sh o p s,  in r e ad in g a n d w rit in g ,  fo r a ll t h e p eo p le w ho a re e ag er t o t e ll o ur m an y sto rie s.   17 32 S to rie s m atte r.  M an y s to rie s m atte r.  S to rie s h ave b een u se d t o d is p osse ss a n d t o m alig n,  b ut sto rie s c a n a ls o b e u se d t o e m pow er a n d t o h um an iz e .  S to rie s c a n b re ak t h e d ig nit y o f a p eo p le ,  b ut s to rie s c a n a ls o r e p air t h at b ro ke n d ig nit y .   17 5 2 T he A m eric a n w rit e r A lic e W alk e r w ro te t h is  a b out h er S outh ern r e la tiv e s w ho h ad m ove d t o t h e N orth .  S he in tro d uce d t h em t o a b ook a b out  th e S outh ern lif e t h at t h ey h ad le ft b eh in d .  “T hey s a t a ro un d , r e ad in g t h e b ook t h em se lv e s,  lis te n in g t o m e r e ad t h e b ook, a n d a k in d o f p ara d is e w as r e g ain ed .”   1 8 1 4 I w ould lik e t o e n d w it h t h is t h o ug ht:  T hat w hen w e r e je ct t h e s in g le s to ry ,  w hen w e r e aliz e th at t h ere is n eve r a s in g le s to ry  a b out a n y p la ce ,  w e r e g ain a k in d o f p ara d is e .   18 2 7 T han k y o u.   18 2 8 (A ppla u se )