Chimamanda Laments the Hardship Being Experienced by the Nigerian Middle Class
How do you define a middle class in an economy? To the layman on the street of Nigeria, being in the middle class means he can afford basic amenities without stress.
While he may not be able to buy a G-wagon, he can conveniently transmute himself and his family and still take good care of his home. Well, that was what it used to be, or should be. Right now, being in the middle class means you’re just a little bit farther from being broke or from sapa, as we call it.
Chimamanda finds this narrative unsettling. Speaking on Channels Television’s Amazing Africans,
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie didn’t mince words as she painted a grim picture of what Nigeria’s middle class now looks like. The award-winning author, currently on tour for her latest novel Dream Count, expressed deep worry over the economic hardship everyday Nigerians face, especially those who were once considered comfortably middle class.
“I can see it in how people who were formerly securely middle class and not that life was rosy for them, but they got by are now people who beg and who are in need. That worries me greatly,” she said.
Adichie’s comments reflect what many Nigerians already know and feel: that surviving in today’s economy is a daily battle, not just for the poor, but for the average worker who once had a sense of stability.
She questioned the relevance of economic indexes often paraded by the government to justify progress. “When people say the stock market, I don’t really care about that sort of thing. What I care about is that person who has an almost minimum wage job, how is that person getting on in this economy?”
In a country where inflation continues to erode the value of earnings and where a bag of rice can cost more than the minimum monthly wage, her question is not rhetorical, it’s urgent.
The celebrated writer went further to caution that economic hardship doesn’t just erode comfort; it erodes values. “When life gets very hard, even people who before would not have considered certain things suddenly are willing to. And that’s dangerous for society,” she warned.
In other words, when a man can no longer feed his family despite doing everything “right,” society becomes vulnerable to instability. It’s not just about hunger, it’s about desperation.
But Adichie didn’t stop at socio-political commentary. She also used the platform to reflect on her journey as a writer reminding viewers that her success didn’t come overnight. Her debut novel Purple Hibiscus was rejected by publishers over 25 times, but she stayed the course.
“The thought of quitting writing is never an option for me because writing is my vocation. Writing is really what I believe I am here to do; it’s a bit spiritual,” she shared.
In a time when people are constantly pressured to pivot for survival, her words serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of staying grounded in purpose, even when the world seems determined to shake you off track.
Chimamanda also addressed public curiosity around her personal life, including her decision to have twins through a surrogate mother. True to her nature, she was open, unapologetic, and clear: she believes in owning her story before others can twist it.
Her voice continues to resonate beyond the pages of fiction. Adichie holds up a mirror to society, one that forces us to confront our discomforts, question the status quo, and reflect on who we’re becoming.
In today’s Nigeria, where the definition of “getting by” is changing, her words strike a chord. Because it’s not about statistics or policies alone, it’s about real people. And as Chimamanda rightly puts it, when survival becomes a privilege, society has a bigger problem on its hands.
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