“Americanah,” a novel by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie explores a young Nigerian student’s struggles and triumphs while adjusting to the American culture and way of life. Throughout the novel, there are many themes introduced such as struggles with racism, race, and an identity crisis with the main character, Ifemelu, herself. Ifemelu experiences the separation and connection of her culture, and adjusting to a different way of life in America, due to the post-colonialism seen in the culture. During her struggle to link her racial and national identity in both Nigeria and America, Ifemelu experiences post-colonialism as a negative aspect of her life and leads to her identifying as an Americanah. Although never formally defined in the novel, the term Americanah can be inferred by use of her friends. The first time it is used, Ifelemu’s friend Ranyinudo says, …show more content…
The meaning of Americanah is more of a place than an actual definition, symbolizing the in-between place Ifemelu inhabits where she is neither an American nor a Nigerian once she has spent time in both cultures. When Rayinudo uses it for the first time, it is mostly a gesture to poke fun at her, as if to say that when she comes back to Nigeria, she will exude an attitude of superiority over her friends. During the course of her travels in America, Ifemelu creates a blog titled Raceteenh of Various observations About American Blacks (Those Formerly Known as Negros) by a Non-American Black that