Angel answers “I am reading Americanah, and I'm about...”

A Goodreads user asked this question about Americanah:

I am reading Americanah, and I'm about half way through. If, for the protagonist, Nigeria is 100 % good, and the USA is 100% bad, why come to the States?

Angel I understand how you can read the book and finish with this question. I thought why come to the states for a while at the beginning myself. And then I…moreI understand how you can read the book and finish with this question. I thought why come to the states for a while at the beginning myself. And then I realized the book is about differences and similarities of values. America is often presented as a place of refuge for whatever reason but as an African American I can say it has not been that for me at all. There is a culture of materialism and consumerism that completely zaps out the opportunity for any deeply human and spiritual growth unless of course, you intend to separate yourself from the "norm". The Nigeria Adichie describes offers that opportunity, but with a complex depth because the problems they face are not hidden under a "dream". Everyone knows of corruption and what people do to survive, but that is not discussed among Americans. We are pretentious, our government is just as corrupt and yet, even the poorest of the poor still believe themselves to be somehow above others simply because they are American. The Nigeria Adichie describes embraces the good and bad, and evaluates the differences in values and forces Ifemulu to choose to be pretentious and comfortable in America or genuine and perhaps a little more guarded in Nigeria. And then, through Obinze, she asks or implies, what does it matter anyway, right or wrong, we all die eventually. And this gives him the courage to choose her (which by most standards is wrong), again, even more interesting because he was denied his opportunity to leave Nigeria, and he learned to flourish within. There are many Africans and African Americans who have not learned to do that here in America and it is unlikely that we will unless we learn what Ifemulu, learned....that America is one big reality show and you have to understand that in order to survive well. To be honest, I finished the book thinking, I wonder if I'd be better off in Nigeria? Maybe I'll visit...(less)

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