“Americanah”, a hard-hitting novel by award-winning Nigerian writer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, is about to be made into a TV series. According to Variety, the 10-episode series which will debut on HBO Max will star Lupita Nyong’o, David Oyelowo and other screen stars.
On the project, Lupita shared; “Americanah has been a passion project for me since I read Chimamanda’s beautiful novel in 2013. It’s a tale that is simultaneously timely and timeless. HBO Max is the perfect partner to bring this profound and celebrated story to life, and I’m thrilled that Danai will bring to the project her intelligence, wit, and understanding of the stories and the worlds of Americanah.”
The screenplay for the pilot episode will be written by showrunner and actress, Danai Gurira. Lupita Nyong’o will double as Executive Producer for the series under the aegis of her Eba Productions.
Danai Gurira commented; “Through ‘Americanah,’ Chimamanda brought the African female voice into mainstream consciousness in an unprecedented way. It is intellectually incisive, indicting, yet full of humour, and riddled with humanity. She makes unheard voices familiar, universal and yet palpably specific. I am honoured to bring her incredible novel to life on the screen. I’m thrilled to collaborate once again with Lupita who brings her astounding ability as a performer and producer shepherding this project, along with HBO MAX’s unbridled enthusiasm to bring this ground-breaking narrative to the TV audience.”
“Americanah” follows the story of Ifemelu, a young, beautiful, self-assured woman raised in Nigeria, who as a teenager falls in love with her classmate, Obinze. Living in a military-ruled country, they each depart for the west, with Ifemelu heading for America, where, despite her academic success, she is forced to grapple for the first time with what it really means to be black. Quiet, thoughtful Obinze had hoped to join her, but with post-9/11 America closed to him, he instead plunges into a dangerous undocumented life in London.
The series is produced by Plan B Entertainment, with Andrea Calderwood of Potboiler Television, Didi Rea and Danielle Del of D2 Productions.
By: The Arubayi Keme