A French journalist asks Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, "Are there bookshops in Nigeria?" 📚 🇳🇬🇫🇷

Would you do the same to a Pakistani author? Start asking him or her about Osama bin Laden i.e. Did you know Osama bin Laden was hiding in Pakistan? Would you ask a renowned Liberian or Sierra Leonan author or artist whether he or she has ebola? How far does your stupidity and racism go? Are you too lazy to get out of your privileged, racist, arrogant European arm chair and read about the rest of the world? Or, should celebrated authors read their books for you, underline the paragraphs and summarise the themes and plots for you? 

The renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie was recently asked by a French journalist whether there were any bookshops in Nigeria. She followed it up by asking whether they read her books. In response to the audience's boo's and Adichie's polite, patient but annoyed remarks, she explained that all they hear about in France about Nigeria is Boko Haram, violence, and security. 

This enlightened exchange took place Institut Francais’s cultural event, La Nuit des Idées. Ms. Adichie was invited by the French Foreign Ministry itself to participate in this Night of Ideas. It should rather be dubbed Night of Stupid and Lazy Racist Ideas.

That Ms. Adichie was asked "Are there bookshops in Nigeria" by a French personality and/or journalist naturally made headlines. I myself watched clip after clip of this interview, in disgust and shock. The Twitter responses were angry.

See some articles:

1. Interviewer asks Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: 'Are there bookshops in Nigeria?' | Alison Flood | 30 Jan 2018 | The GUARDIAN
2. The 'ironic' question of Nigerian writing | Paul Harrison | 29 January 2018 | BBC Trending 
3. Reporter to Adichie — 'Are there bookshops in Nigeria?' | 30 Jan 2018 | Mail and Guardian

When I posted the AJ+ video on my Facebook page, a couple of friends did not think it was an offensive question. One friend said maybe it was a genuine interest in different reading habits of difficult cultures. Another friend said Ms. Adichie's novels would only be found in glittering malls and although books are found on roadside stalls, the books available are only about business or religion. Sadly, my friend went on, most Nigerians are very poor and don't enjoy the joys of fiction. These two friends are European. The other indignant responses were from non-Europeans who all were either insulted or poked fun at the blatant rudeness of the question itself. 

Comments typed up in haste in quick reaction to Facebook-style argument and debate should not be representative of any national mentality and, I don't judge my good friends. Nevertheless, it was good to see the contrasting reactions: innocence of the question and, a damning anthropological colonial commentary of poverty versus anger and observations about the ignorance of the French journalist. 

My own reaction has been one full of rage. I simply cannot get over the question: "Are there bookshops in Nigeria?" Is this French journalist actually asking whether the most populous country in Africa has bookshops ? Did she actually ask whether the cultural fountain that is Nigeria has any bookshops and whether any Nigerian has managed to find a copy of Ms. Adichie's books and read them? Is not Nigeria known for its cultural diversity, music, culture? There are more than 500 languages spoken in Nigeria and, surely there must be one bookshop or books in Nigeria? Has Caroline Broué not heard of the giants of Nigerian literature and letters: namely, Wole Soyinka and China Achebe? Hasn't everyone come across 'When Things Fall Apart' in their literature class? This is general knowledge. Then there is a whole generation of Nigerian authors writing in English such as Ms. Adichie and Abubakar Adam Ibrahim, Teju Cole, etc who if even if one hasn't read, appear in headlines that we keep scrolling through our social media accounts or online. Those of us who read and keep up with cultural and political news. 

Again, I ask, is it Chimamanda (I keep referring to her by first name as if I personally know her!)'s job to educate the French about Nigeria's history, culture and love of peace simply because French and indeed international media doesn't have anything besides war to report about Nigeria and rest of Africa? Is it her problem or your French or Western problem? 

Some of the best English writing is in fact coming out from young authors from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Kenya, etc. Ironic, tragic and amazing that post colonial literature being produced in the former colonies is written in the language of the former colonial masters. There is rigorous debate and commentary on how much the languages of these regions suffer and how much it points to the common pattern of the apartheid of colonial versus national language in school systems, job markets and cultural expressions. 

Notwithstanding this, there are bookshops in former colonies (whether they are situated in fancy malls or roadside stalls) and people do read books. And, even if the wretched poor of these countries do not read the books of internationally acclaimed middle and upper middle class writers, they have culture, art, history and identity. Perhaps they sing folk songs. Perhaps they read their own language in public schools or holy texts in temples or madrassah's.  Perhaps they watch films or television plays on old television sets or on their mobile phones. Perhaps they even talk about films or songs or books. 

To reduce a nation, even if created artificially thanks to 19th century European machinations, with a population of hundreds of millions, to a question - Are there bookshops  there - is an act of utter racism. It is not an innocent question. It is a loaded one. 

I do not know how Chimamanda was able to hold herself so gracefully. 

Culture, whether the high culture of the elites or common folk culture, exists in every people. Whether that culture produced the novel, play, sculpture, oral traditions, dance, murals, ghazal, qawwali, painting, block prints, Mughali cuisine, Kathak dance, bhajans, opera, truck art, Nollywood films, hipco, rap, jazz, hip hop, Afrobeat, reggae - and the list goes on - or whatever cultural expression, it does exist and, deserves respect and, understanding. There are bookshops in Nigeria in 2018 and, what's more, they sell books and, it's just one element of culture and history of letters and thinking in that country. 

How can a French journalist think she can get away with asking such an inappropriate question to a literary guest, even if it may have been delivered with tongue in cheek? Is it Ms. Adichie task to leave aside more deeper analysis, commentary and explanation of her writing and beyond and educate France? Did the French journalist, Caroline Broué, not know there are bookshops in Nigeria? Did she not find out more about the country Chimamanda hails from? But these are irrelevant questions. Even if there isn't a single bookshop in Nigeria, what is her point? What is she really trying to ask? Do people read? Or, let's go in a different line of thought. Has Broué read any of her guests's books? Did she appreciate the experiences of black people in America and Europe in Americanah? Is she privy to to any of her guest's fame as a voice for feminism and against the single narrative? 

You would imagine someone more learned and illustrious should have then been paired with such a famous and respected author? Isn't it the tradition to honour guests with your best? So, an esteemed writer should have been in conversation with Chimamanda, instead of a journalist who thought she would demolish "deliberate, entitled, tiresome, sweeping, base ignorance about Africa " by asking a racist question. But Ms. Broué, you completely blundered. You tried irony without understanding the irony of your question. And you have offended everyone tired of the very thing you pretended to also stand against. 

Is it appropriate to ask a renowned Nigerian author (when she is your guest, on your invitation at a so-called intellectual cultural event) whether her country has any bookshops? And then to back track and say we simply don't hear anything about Nigeria except for Boko Haram? Again, I ask, is it Chimamanda (I keep referring to her by first name as if I personally know her!)'s job to educate the French about Nigeria's history, culture and love of peace simply because French and indeed international media doesn't have anything besides war to report about Nigeria and rest of Africa? Is it her problem or your French or Western problem? 

One doesn't insult a guest, moreover a learned and accomplished personality, in this manner. This is what I feel and Nigerians feel. 

Would you do the same to a Pakistani author? Start asking him or her Osama bin Laden i.e. Did you know Osama bin Laden was hiding in Pakistan? Would you ask a renowned Liberian or Sierra Leonan author or artist whether he or she has ebola? How far does your stupidity and racism go? Are you too lazy to get out of your privileged, inherited racist, arrogant European arm chair and read about the rest of the world? Or, should celebrated authors come and read their books for you, underline the paragraphs and summarise the themes and plots for you? 

French people, learn some tehzeeb from South Asia and tolerance and patience from Africa. 

Imagine, a German person of letters being asked "Are there Nazis in Germany?" Imagine asking a French writer, "Why is French  society obsessed with humiliating Muslim women with the issue of hijab?" What about asking an American "has any family member of yours held sympathies toward KKK and other extremist organisations" in a visa application? There are certain embarrassing, controversial, sensitive, and even erroneous aspects of our perceived national identities which have to  carefully and respectfully navigate, no? 

I have been muttering "Are there bookshops in Nigeria" over and over again to myself. When I forget, I remember again and laugh or feel my blood boiling. I simply can't get over it. 

I decided to cool down and look up the whole interview on YouTube (see French Journalist to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: Does Nigeria Have Bookstores? and African Writer Chimamanda React to Racist Question 'Does Nigeria Have Bookstores?')  to see maybe if I'm just over reacting. I found a few videos. It appears that the Caroline Broué introduced Chimamanda with the right whistles and bells, outlining her illustrious career as a writer and, then proceeded to ask her guest about her craft. However, she somehow still decided to pose The Question and the rest is history. She asks it with a smile and says, "Pardon, but here in France all we hear about is Boko Haram and I would like to take benefit from your presence to talk more about Nigeria and hear about another facet and here in France there are fewer bookshops and people are reading less and less so I ask, are there bookshops in Nigeria and do they read your books in Nigeria"? She acknowledged the boos of the audience and even the obvious foolishness of her questions but still she rolls on. Chimamanda doesn't choose to educate her interviewer about Nigeria but responds fittingly, laughs a little and then talks about how her books are actually taught in schools. 

Instead of elevating the conversation, Caroline just dumbed it down. Ms. Adichie was gracious enough to post on Facebook that Caroline had held an intellectual conversation but The Question was meant to be in an ironic vein which she totally missed. Either way, the ironic question was a stupid one. It is not Chimamanda's task to start educating the French about Nigeria. 

But to go on, Ms. Adichie herself notes in the rest of the interview, she knows about life and politics of the Anglophone countries and not much about Francophone ones. She doesn't know the experience of living in France but she did talk pointedly about the unpleasant and unnecessary detentions she herself went through 3 or 4 times in the past 2 years. She said she was asked "ridiculous" questions even though she had legally arrived in France. She spoke how rude and contemptuous the Immigration officials were who detained and ignored her and were an "ass." She said with such a sardonic smile - that "France does not realise it's no longer an 18th century world power." She smiled and said she has affection for France and "Oh, the Minister has left...good." Was I watching a Masterclass in how to deal with French Arrogance? Indeed. 

So, Ms. Adichie not only had to answer ridiculous question at Immigration but also at La Nuit des Idées.

I am sure I am also an arm chair reactionary who loves spending time on Facebook, subscribing to very intelligent publications, and reading difficult articles. Out there, activists are struggling and writing about the struggles and suffering of the working class and oppressed. They write about revolution and what it really means. These petty rivalries and online debates are narcissistic and have no clue about the suffering that people go through. For example, I attempted to read Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak's On Revolution. It's not a long piece but for me, it wasn't light reading. There are a few lines in there which inspired and made an impact on me including:

I mention this because identity politics lays waste the democratic possibility of achieving flexibility of the imagination toward others. And I began with an example of how violent extreme identitarianism can become.

It's ironic, though that The Question I'm blogging and obsessing about is all about identity politics.  I am French and you need to educate me about your Nigeria, you Nigerian author. 

How is this flexibility of the imagination toward others to be achieved? Education? What kind of education? Inclusion of colonialism, its crimes and its legacies? More secular societies? How can we overcome historical baggage and prejudices and, instead learn we must strive to rid our societies of suffering? 

I've watched the interview a few times now and it now appears as a leaf out of a distant and ignorant history. It's an absurd moment where a writer hailing from a different continent is asked to sit in for her country and ask elementary questions. As if she is from a far away galaxy, millions of miles away and, the conversation has to be reduced to an infantile level in order to placate a public that is throwing a childlike tantrum, insisting to be told whether those people from that distant galaxy are even capable of thinking or talking.