Chimamanda Adichie’s book ‘Americanah’ picked for TV series; Nigerians react over Lupita Nyong’o role
By Anita Eboigbe
Abuja, Sept. 16, 2019
The television series adaptation of Chimamanda Adichie’s acclaimed novel ‘Americanah’ has been green-lit by HBO Max.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Kenyan actress, Lupita Nyong’o will star as the lead character, Ifemelu while ‘The Walking Dead’ star, Danai Gurira is the showrunner.
HBO Max has given the limited series a 10-episode order with Gurira also writing the pilot for the award-winning novel.
‘Americanah’ tells the story of Ifemelu (Nyong’o), 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.
There, she learned that despite her academic success, she is forced to grapple for the first time with what it means to be black.
On the other hand, quiet and 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.
Confirming the news on her social media handles @lupitanyongo, the ‘Us’ actress also said, “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.
“I’m thrilled that Danai will bring to the project her intelligence, wit, and understanding of the stories and the worlds of ‘Americanah.’”
NAN reports that Nyong’o purchased the film rights to ‘Americanah’ in 2014 and immediately collaborated with fellow Black Panther’s castmate, Gurira to write the screenplay.
However, in 2018, the duo stated that the novel was being turned into a mini-series and not a feature film. They visited Nigeria to do research for the screen project.
This will mark the third time Nyong’o and Gurira work together. Prior to playing Nakia and Okoye in Marvel’s Black Panther, Gurira wrote Eclipsed — the play that landed Nyong’o her first Tony nomination.
Meanwhile, mixed reactions have continued to trail the news that Nyong’o will play the Nigerian lead character in ‘Americanah’
Following the announcement by Lupita on Sunday that HBO Max had ordered a 10-episode series based on the award-winning novel, Nigerians on social media have been sharing diverse views on the casting of Lupita as the lead character, Ifemelu, an Igbo woman raised in Lagos.
While some fans applauded her for purchasing the movie rights, thus earning casting control, others opined that an Igbo or Nigerian actress would do justice to the role.
Some fans suggested Genevieve Nnaji, ‘Insecure’ star, Yvonne Orji, Cynthia Erivo or Tracy Ifeachor for the role.
@Yugerohu tweeted, “Lupita is going to play Ifemelu from Igbo land Nigeria? I love Lupita a lot, but this is not it.
“Feels like she’s the default pick whenever Hollywood needs an African Actress. If it’s too hard to find one in Nigeria, give us Yvonne Orji? Cynthia Erivo? Tracy Ifeachor?”
@Mide_TA said, “Seeing as she bought the film rights. She can cast whoever she wants I think.”
@Behembaba said, “Black Americans have been making this same argument about Black foreigners playing Black American roles.
“Cynthia Erivo should never have been cast as Harriet Tubman.”
@Johnmuriuki said, “We, Africans, didn’t gripe when Morgan Freeman played Mandela, nor did we raise a ruckus when Denzel played Steve Biko.
“We didn’t raise an eyebrow when Forrest Whittaker played Idi Amin. We oughta ran riot when @shakira did that god-awful song in 2010 but we held our wheels.”
@Theolufolake said, “Lupita bought the film rights in 2014. Honestly I feel you. I felt the same way about Half of a Yellow Sun.”
@Shawlarh said, “Forget about her buying the rights. She’s the only African Actress well suited for the role and big enough to reach a bigger audience, which is what they need. It’s simply business.”
@Onioluwafunmi said, “I still have a beef with the Lady that played Olanna in Half A Yellow Sun. I felt really sad. It just wasn’t right.”
NAN reports that some other fans pointed out that Nigerian actor, David Oyelowo played leading roles in Uganda-based ‘Queen of Katwe’ and ‘The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind’.
@Echezona tweeted, “Y’all should stop being pressed about Lupita taking on the role of a Nigerian woman.
“Y’all weren’t pressed when David Oyelowo acted Queen of Katwe (set in Uganda) and Chiwetel Ejiofor in The Boy who Harnessed the Wind (set in Malawi).”
@99thoughts said, “I get your point but David Oyelowo was casted in ‘Queen of Katwe’ which was a Ugandan story. He was also the main actor in ‘a United Kingdom’ which was a South African history.”
