A critical analysis of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s novel as a literary tool for memory, healing, and reconciliation after the Nigerian Civil War.
This critical study analyzes Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie as a literary framework for healing, reconciliation, and historical remembrance after the Nigerian Civil War. Dr. Abba A. Abba examines themes of trauma, memory, displacement, survival, nationhood, and reconciliation within the novel while exploring the role of literature in preserving historical consciousness.
The article investigates how Adichie reconstructs painful histories and humanizes the experiences of individuals affected by war, violence, and political conflict. Dr. Abba argues that fiction possesses the capacity to reopen suppressed conversations, challenge historical silence, and create opportunities for empathy and collective healing within post-conflict societies.
The study further emphasizes literature’s ability to function as a symbolic medium for reconciliation by encouraging dialogue, remembrance, and emotional reflection. It contributes to broader discussions in postcolonial studies, trauma studies, memory studies, and African literary criticism while reinforcing the importance of storytelling in confronting historical injustices and rebuilding fractured national identities.
