Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie denies plagiarism for ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’

After Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie was accused of plagiarism for her novel ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’ by Anne Giwa-Amu, Adichie’s literary agency has dismissed the allegations.

Her agency called the fresh accusations as “delusional” and “harassment to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie”.

On Saturday, Nigerian-Welsh author Anne Giwa-Amu uploaded a video on YouTube and alleged that Adichie’s ‘Half a Yellow Sun’ plagiarises her debut novel ‘Sade’.

In her video the author said, “I first discovered that Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie had copied ‘Sade’ in 2013 when I saw a poster in London advertising the film ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’…On reading it, I realised that it was a rewrite of ‘Sade'”.

Published in 1996, ‘Sade’ is set in the Biafran war period. It’s a story of a mixed-race woman who falls in love with a barrister, who is already engaged to someone else.

Meanwhile, Adichie’s award-winning 2006 novel ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’ is set in the backdrop of the Biafran War and follows the story of Olanna, Ugwu, and Richard.

In support of Adichie, her literary agency Wylie denied the claims. They shared an official statement this week, in which they said, “Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her publishers had never heard of Giwa-Amu’s novel until she brought her delusional claim.

Her present allegations are false, libellous and constitute a harassment to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Further legal actions are being taken.”

Apparently, this is not the first time that Giwa-Amu alleged Adichie of plagiarism.

In 2016, Anne Giwa-Amu brought a legal claim against Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her publishers. Giwa-Amu alleged that Adichie’s novel HALF OF A YELLOW SUN was a copy of her own novel.

A professional independent reader was appointed to read both novels. The reader concluded that there was absolutely no basis for Giwa-Amu’s claim and advised that the claim should not be pursued. Giwa-Amu nevertheless continued with the claim.

“On 15 February 2019, Anne Giwa-Amu’s claim brought against Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her publishers was struck out by the court. The court determined that her claim was ‘an abuse of the court’s process.

The court ordered Giwa-Amu to pay Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her publishers the sum of £14,250, which Giwa-Amu failed to pay.

The court also ordered Giwa-Amu to pay the legal costs Adichie incurred in defending her baseless claim. Till date, Giwa-Amu has not paid the money,” the Wylie agency said in the statement.