Acclaimed novelist and global literary icon, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, has been announced as the headliner of the 2025 Things Fall Apart Festival — a week-long celebration of Chinua Achebe’s enduring literary legacy.
The announcement was made on Tuesday via an Instagram post by the Centre for Memories, the organisers of the festival. The event is scheduled to take place from June 29 to July 5, 2025, at the Centre’s premises in Enugu.
“We are thrilled to announce that the iconic Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie — globally celebrated novelist, feminist, and one of the most powerful literary voices of our time — is coming home to headline the Things Fall Apart Festival 2025,” the Centre wrote.
Adichie, currently on a global tour promoting her latest book Dream Count, will participate in the festival to honour one of her literary heroes, Chinua Achebe — the legendary writer whose groundbreaking novel Things Fall Apart transformed African literature.
According to the organisers, Adichie’s appearance will focus on themes of storytelling, cultural identity, and the intersection of history and humanity. Her keynote address will engage with the festival’s 2025 theme:
“Masculine, Feminine, Human: The Dialogue of Complements in Things Fall Apart.”
The festival will feature a diverse programme including dramatic performances, technology-infused storytelling, art exhibitions, film screenings, memory walks, and a reimagined Umuofia village experience. Additional highlights include an essay competition, youth-centred programmes, and salon-style conversations aimed at fostering deep cultural dialogue.
The Centre described Adichie’s participation as “a powerful moment in our collective journey to explore Achebe’s legacy and its relevance in contemporary discourse.”