Book Review: Half of a Yellow Sun

Haven’t read African fiction before so ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’ is my introduction to African writing. ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’ is a historical fiction set in the nineteen sixties in Nigeria. The backdrop of the novel is the Nigeria-Biafran war. When it is about war; poverty, selfishness, love and above all merciless killings are sure to be a part of the plot. ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’ has all this and much more. The author touches most of the incidents that are prone to happen in a war. There is an instance when a woman is forced to kill her pet dog and eat its meat, signifying the extent of poverty. There are many more such instances. The book is authored by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Plot and Summary

The novel begins when Ugwu, a 13 year old boy from a poor village, is appointed as the houseboy at Master Odenigbo’s house. Odenigbo is a radical professor at the Nsukka University. He raises his voice against the oppression of the Black Africans. He is a ‘revolutionary lover’. Olanna is Odenigbo’s lover. She too is a strong, educated woman. She might be called a softer version of Odenigbo. Olanna has a twin sister Kainene. They are non-identical twins. Then there is Richard, a British journalist cum writer. Riichard is impressed by Kainene at their first meeting itself and very soon falls in love with her.
For Ugwu after 13 years of near poverty, life in Master’s house is like a dream come true. He serves his Master and Olanna well and life is almost perfect. For Odenigbo and Olanna, and Richard and Kainene too life is perfect. There are a few instances that test their mutual trust and loyalties, but they overcome them together.
But the Biafran war is nothing like that. The coup, counter coup and the following ethnic cleansing of the Igbo community from the North of Nigeria, leaves them completely shattered. Their loved ones are killed in the riots and Biafra is asking for secession which leads to the civil war. Olanna, Odenigbo and their daughter along with Ugwu are forced to leave Nsukka to safer, remote places. Same happens with Richard and Ka too. They are forced to live in Orlu. How they survive in the war and overcome the death of their loved ones forms the rest of the story.

Characters

Adichie has chosen her characters real well. She has also managed to put forth all their point of views, even though conflicting. Though Adichie talks from the Igbo people’s side, she doesn’t over-sympathize with them. She also includes conscription and how people were mercilessly conscripted; rapes by army men; thefts and attacks by army etc.
Adichie’s narration is so good that we feel pity for Richard, cry for Olanna and respect the strong woman in Kainene. Kainene and Olanna are both strong women but at the same time they are completely different. Olanna is strong but her strength comes from her husband, whereas Kainene’s strength is her own. She is not influenced by anyone and her views are her own. Odenigbo is an extremist for whom all whites are oppressors and he doesn’t hide his irritation for Richard.

So this is a great work of historical fiction and worth a read. This book is a fight against oppression as well as war. Hope to read more about Africa. Divided by war, but are they finally united by love?