English Literature (9675) | Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - Americanah

Welcome to the Study Guide for Americanah: Exploring 'Place'

Hello! In this unit, we are focusing on how Place works in literature—it’s much more than just a background setting. For Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's *Americanah*, the locations are central to the characters' identities and destinies.

This guide will break down the three key geographical spaces in the novel and show you exactly how to link them to the OxfordAQA syllabus points for Unit 2: Place in literary texts. Don't worry if concepts like 'diaspora' seem tricky at first; we’ll use clear examples!

Understanding Place as Identity: The Core Idea

In *Americanah*, Place is the engine of change. Ifemelu moves across continents, and with each move, she is forced to change who she is. The environment doesn't just surround her; it shapes her.

• Displacement: When characters leave their home (Nigeria), they become displaced, which fundamentally alters their view of the world and themselves.
• The Syllabus Link: We explore how specific locations dictate a character's social identity and their experiences of social class.

Memory Aid: Think of 'Place' in *Americanah* as a three-part journey: Nostalgia (Nigeria), Assimilation (America), Disillusionment (The West).

Section 1: Lagos, Nigeria – Home and Homeland

Lagos represents the homeland, a concept vital to the study of Place. It is messy, vibrant, unequal, and deeply authentic to Ifemelu and Obinze.

1. Lagos as the Authentic Self (The Starting Point)

Lagos is the location where Ifemelu and Obinze’s relationship is rooted, symbolizing innocence and shared identity.

• Setting for Human Relationships: The early scenes in Lagos—the intense conversations, the university strikes, the hidden rendezvous—establish a bond that is powerful precisely because it exists outside the pressures of race and migration.
• Language of Place: Adichie uses detailed, sensory descriptions of Lagos, capturing its traffic, noise, and energy. This contrasts sharply with the often sterile or formal descriptions of American suburbia.
• Key Takeaway: When Ifemelu returns to Lagos, she is attempting to reclaim the 'self' that existed in that specific time and place, proving that her identity is intrinsically linked to her geographical origin.

2. Social Class and Place in Nigeria

While Ifemelu is judged by race in America, in Nigeria, she is primarily judged by social class and connection (the 'who you know' culture).

• Example: The contrast between Ifemelu's childhood home and the new, wealthy Nigeria she encounters on her return (the "Lagos elite" and their gated communities).
• Significance: Place exposes the gap between the rich and poor. The lavish homes and exclusive areas of Lagos (like Ikoyi or Lekki) become settings that symbolize the corruption and aspirational politics driving others to leave for the West.

Section 2: America – The Racial Landscape

America is the place of transformation. When Ifemelu lands in Philadelphia, the geographical location forces her to confront an identity she never had before: Blackness.

1. Place as the Site of Identity Construction

Ifemelu is not "Black" in Nigeria; she is Nigerian. It is the American setting that applies this label, forcing her to categorize herself.

• Specific Geographical Locations:
  • Trenton/Poor Housing: This is where Ifemelu first faces struggle and accepts degrading jobs (e.g., the tennis coach). This location symbolizes her initial low social status as an immigrant.
  • Princeton (Academia): Ifemelu finds stability and intellectual success here, but it's an artificial space—a bubble of formal, mostly white privilege. This setting helps launch her blog, focusing intensely on American racial politics.
• Did you know? Adichie uses the phrase "Non-American Black" (NAB) specifically to show how America's geography and history dictate identity categories for immigrants.

2. Place as a Political Space (Race and Assimilation)

The racial politics of America are embedded in its places. Assimilation means learning how to occupy these spaces correctly.

For example, Ifemelu learns how to navigate segregated spaces and understand the unwritten rules of specific neighbourhoods. She realizes that her behaviour, style, and even her hair must change depending on the geographical location she is in.

• Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't just say America is 'racist'. Analyze how the setting of America creates specific racial dynamics—for instance, how a historically white, liberal university like Princeton operates versus a majority-Black neighbourhood.

3. The Idea of "Americanah"

The term "Americanah" describes those who have returned from the US, marked by that place. This highlights how a location changes social standing. When Ifemelu returns, she is no longer just Ifemelu; she carries the status and the cultural baggage of America with her.

Section 3: London, UK – Disillusionment and the Third Space

While Ifemelu is in America, Obinze is in London. London serves as a counterpoint, highlighting the common immigrant struggle across different Western nations.

1. The Harsh Reality of the Political Space

Obinze's experience shows how place operates as a political space, specifically through immigration law.

• London Locations: The harsh, cold environments, the need for anonymity, and the dangerous jobs Obinze takes (e.g., the warehouse) contrast severely with the promise of the West.
• Political Significance: London is associated with bureaucracy, suspicion, and the failure of the Western dream. The specific *time* (post-9/11) and *location* (UK) meant increased border controls, making his journey toward death (of his dream) a result of harsh governmental policies.

2. Place and Social Identity: Being Invisible

In London, Obinze's identity is stripped away. He is forced into the shadows as an illegal immigrant, making him effectively invisible.

Analogy: If America forces Ifemelu to put on a new, race-defined mask, Britain forces Obinze to become a ghost, erasing his intellectual and social worth. The locations he inhabits (cold flats, hiding places) reflect this erasure.

Key Takeaway: London reveals that for many, the 'West' is not a place of opportunity, but a setting for profound isolation and struggle, governed by political structures.

Section 4: Language, Representation, and Place

The syllabus stresses the importance of the language and representation of place. Adichie uses language to mark territory and identity.

1. Dialect and Authenticity

Ifemelu notes how Nigerian friends in America adopt specific American accents to fit into their new location. This linguistic shift is a form of assimilation dictated by place.

• Ifemelu’s Blog: The blog itself is a 'virtual place' where Ifemelu can analyze her displacement. It uses a direct, analytical language that is distinctly different from the intimate, informal dialogue she shares with Obinze back in Lagos.
• Conversational Tone: When Adichie writes dialogue in Nigeria, she often includes Nigerian Pidgin or unique speech patterns, giving Lagos a rich, auditory texture that anchors the reader there.

2. Despoliation of the Natural World (A Brief Note)

While *Americanah* focuses more on urban and socio-political spaces, the brief glimpses of the natural world often emphasize the contrast between continents.

• The warmth and vibrant physicality of the Nigerian air and sun versus the controlled, sometimes chilly or artificial environments of US suburbia (the perfectly manicured lawns, the air-conditioned malls). The natural world serves to underscore the difference between 'real' life (Lagos) and 'performed' life (America).

You’ve covered the key geographical and metaphorical spaces in *Americanah*. Remember, analyzing Place is about asking: "How does the location make the character behave, and how does it change who they are?" Good luck with your studies!