In January 2007, Chimamanda Adichie released her novel, ‘Half Of A Yellow Sun’ which went on, that same year, to win the orange prize for fiction. The award is given annually for the best original full-length novel written by a woman in English; Adichie’s prize amounted to £30 000.
In 2013, UK based novelist and playwright, Biyi Bandele directed the adaptation of half of a yellow sun into a drama film. The film is a love story that follows two sisters who are caught up in the outbreak of the Nigerian civil war.
The movie which starred Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton, Onyeka Onwenu, Genevieve Nnaji and OC Ukeje, first premiered at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival. On Saturday, 12th of April, 2014, the movie premiered to the excitement of both the entertainment and literati communities in Lagos.
In this edition of the programme, Reginald Ofodili, who featured in the movie and who is also the author of the novel titled, ‘Thou Shalt Not’, discussed the Half of A Yellow Sun movie, novel, Chimamanda Adichie, Biyi Bandele and related things.
Also, we featured an interview with 15 year old Nigerian writer, author and singer, Precious Udo.