Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s comparison of Donald Trump’s presidency to the “African Big Man” style of leadership is both bold and deeply thought-provoking, especially coming from a writer known for dissecting power, identity, and society with precision.
- In an interview with CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation), she said:
“America no longer feels aspirational to me… The present administration in the U.S. just feels to me like a Nigerian government. It really does feel like America is being governed by an ‘African Big Man’.”
- The term “African Big Man” is often used to describe:
Authoritarian, ego-driven leadership
A disregard for democratic norms
Personal loyalty over institutional integrity
Political theatrics and cults of personality
- Adichie isn’t just drawing a random parallel — she’s highlighting what many observers criticized during Trump’s time in office:
- Populist rhetoric
- Disdain for traditional checks and balances
- Attacks on the media
- Attempts to undermine electoral processes
These are features often seen in fragile or corrupt democracies, particularly in parts of Africa where “strongman” rule has historically dominated.
Adichie is globally respected — not just as an author, but as a voice on politics, identity, race, and feminism.
She’s one of the few African intellectuals unafraid to challenge Western powers with the same honesty she applies to African governments.
Her critique flips the usual narrative — where African leaders are criticized by the West — and puts the U.S. under that same lens.
This statement also raises bigger questions:
- Has America lost the “moral high ground” it once claimed?
- What does democracy mean in a global context where power dynamics often mirror each other?
- Can we still look at African governance as uniquely flawed when some Western systems are showing cracks?