"I am determined to raise good men," says Chimamanda Adichie

Celebrated author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has vowed to raise her sons into good men. Men with good moral values that promote gender equality and respect for women.

Adichie, in a recent interview with BBC’s Emma Barnett, emphasized how important it is to shape future generations and combat toxic masculinity.

Adichie stated, “I’m determined to raise good men. I’m thinking about how to make them never feel entitled to women’s bodies.”

While stating the need for boys to have positive role models, Adichie highlighted the disparity between the availability of strong female figures for young girls and the lack for boys.

She further expressed her desire for young men to stand up and serve as role models. She hence, reaffirmed her commitment to raise good men.

“In general, little girls now have women in public life they can admire. But I don’t think boys have that in the same way. That space is instead occupied by noxious characters and ideas. I wish the good men would stand up.”

The Half of a Yellow Sun author believes that masculinity can evolve to align with equality, further asserting that culture doesn’t us, we make culture.

“Culture doesn’t make us, we make culture. We can remake masculinity in a way that is compatible with equality. It can be done,” she said.

Reflecting on the impact motherhood had on her and her creativity, Adichie admitted that becoming a mother influenced her writing process and led to something she doesn’t want to admit as “writer’s block” since she is superstitious.

“I don’t like to use the expression ‘writer’s block’ because I’m superstitious, but it happened when I became pregnant. Something changed, and I don’t think it was just physiological,” she said.

After a decade, Adichie returns to fiction with a novel “Dream Count,” tackling themes like gender, race and health with “radical honesty.”