Chimamanda Adichie Opens Up On Being Sexually Assaulted At 17

World recognized Nigerian author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has opened up on being sexually assaulted at the age of 17 by an influential man in the media in Lagos, Nigeria.

The writer revealed this during an address at the just concluded Stockholm Forum for Gender Equality while delivering the closing keynote address. Chimamanda spoke of how she had taken a book of poems she wrote to a “big man in the media” so he could support her in making the book go public, instead, he sexually assaulted her.

She said he was friendly at first and impressed that someone her age had written a book. But the man soon came to her, slipped his hand under her shirt and bra, then squeezed her breast. She said she was so taken aback that she did nothing for seconds, then she pushed his hand away “gently”.

She said:

I was so taken aback that I did nothing for seconds. Then, I pushed his hand away, but gently, nicely, because I didn’t want to offend him.

Later that day, I broke into a rash on my chest, my neck, my face, as though my body were recoiling, as though my body were saying what my lips had not said.

I felt a deep loathing for that man and for what he did. I felt as if I didn’t matter, as if my body existed merely as a thing to be done with as he wanted. Yet, I told no one about it. And I kept talking to him, being polite, hoping he will help with my book.