Adichie, Malala make BBC #100 Influential Women of 2021

By Uche Mbah

Multiple Award-winning Nigerian-American author and Feminist, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has been named amongst the list of 100 inspiring and impactful women from around the world for 2021.

The BBC, in its annual recognition of people who have been impactful within the year ending, listed Adichie under the “Culture and Education” category.

31 women out of the 100 chosen women belong to this category.

It is believed that   her choice was determined by her self acclaimed inclination towards feminism.

In her citation, the BBC notes Adichie’s TED Talk in 2012, We Should All Be Feminists, was a kickoff point for a global conversation on feminism.

The dialogue engendered was published as a book in 2014.

“Let’s use this moment to start to think about health care as a human right everywhere in the world – what a person deserves simply by virtue of being alive, not when you can afford it” Adichie told the BBC.

Every year, the BBC compiles a list of #100 women of influence in their fields of endeavor worldwide.

“This year’s 100 Women is highlighting those who are hitting “reset” – women playing their part to reinvent our society, our culture and our world” according to the BBC.

Apart from Adichie, Malala Yousafzai, the youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize winner, Samoa’s first Female Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa, Professor Heidi J Larson, who heads the Vaccine Confidence Project, and Turkish writer Elif Şafak were also cited.

Afghanistan produced half of this year’s list, and the estranged wife of Bill Gates, Billionaire also made the list.

The list was also drawn from heroines from politics, arts, business, and the ordinary folks.