A Nigerian writer, Akwaeke Emezi, has said that people should pick up machetes to attack prominent author Chimamanda Adichie for opinions Adichie expressed in an interview in 2017 with Channel 4 News in the UK.
They also set off other social media followers to say that the recent sudden passing of Adichie’s parents within months of each other was a deserved punishment for her views.
Emezi’s actions, which are being condemned widely by Nigerians and foreigners alike, came to light recently due in part to a piece Adichie wrote, where she also commented on what she views as disturbing trends, especially on social media, of people becoming increasingly intolerant of the views of others, and resorting to threats and insults, rather than peaceful and reasoned debate.
Respected journalist Sulaiman Aledeh wrote in an opinion piece published on Gatekeepers News and other leading news sites, “These statements are abominations. Nothing justifies them. To say that the death of her parents was deserved is immoral and completely deplorable. Inciting people to attack Adichie – or anyone for that matter- with machetes is barbaric: – even if they claim it was not meant to be taken literally.”
Aledeh further wrote that these developments “are pointers to our gradually buried humanity”.
British Nigerian journalist Funmi Olutoye wrote in an opinion piece in a UK paper, The Independent: “The way we use social media is killing the art of conversation”.
“People no longer feel free to ask questions, respectfully challenge beliefs or just generally speak their mind – this is a dangerous conundrum to be in”, Olutoye added.