I wanted to do my provocation on a piece of the second chapter of Americanah. A part of this chapter really intrigued me, and it was about Obinze’s story about how he became successful in the real estate business and how his relationship with Chief began. Obinze met chief through his cousin Nneoma. Chief was a very rich man who bought and sold properties for profit. When Obinze first met Chief, it was for a dinner at Chief’s massive home. He noticed that Chief talked about whatever he wanted, and his guests merely agreed with whatever he said. Obinze then began regularly hanging out with Chief and waited for his opportunity to become an associate of Chief. This then led to Obinze reaching out to Chief and offering his services. Chief replied with how he was going to buy seven properties all for one million each, and then sell them for fifty million because he knew that’s what they were worth. He then offered Obinze to join him on this deal. Nneoma was happy for Obinze and says to him “And after you register your own company, you must find a white man. Find one of your white friends in England. Tell everybody he is your general manager. You will see how doors will open up for you because you have an oyinbo general manager. Even Chief has some white men that he brings in for show when he needs them. That’s how Nigeria works. I’m telling you.” (Adichie 15). This quote from Nneoma is very striking and interesting to me. Nneoma is exposing a racial issue within this culture/industry. She’s saying that you haven’t “made it” like Chief, until you have white men working for you. Even if the role that the white man is in, isn’t a real, significant role.
How do you feel about this? Is this a representation of Obinze’s character? Do you think this might have a greater impact later in the story line?
Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi, and Hilde Stubhaug. Americanah. Gyldendal, 2014.
I agree that this piece of chapter two was attention grabbing and almost a bit shocking. There is a feeling of simplicity in the way Nneoma explains this part of the business. She talks about having a white man for show like it is just another step in the plan,
which illustrates how commonplace this practice is to the people in industries like this. I think it is extremely interesting that you bring this up as a possible representation of Obinze’s character! This point made me realize that this practice of putting up a white front man to give a good, powerful impression is exactly like how Obinze puts up a front of happiness and satisfaction in his career and life at this point in the story. At one point earlier in this chapter as Obinze arrives at his home it is stated “He had begun, in the past months, to feel bloated from all that he had acquired—the family, the houses, the cars, the bank accounts—and would, from time to time, be overcome by the urge to prick everything with a pin, to deflate it all, to be free.” This quote directly shows the discomfort and will for change Obinze is facing. Obinze seems to be due for change and hopefully later on this change will come to him.
Obinze needs a change, but is this right to do in his position? Can he afford to lose his job and go against someone like the Chief?
Citation:
Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi. Americanah. Anchor Books, 2014.
This chapter was definitely interesting but also left me conflicting with myself about the situation Chief has created for himself and now Obinze. Chief’s move to buy the property for a fraction of what it’s worth to make a profit makes sense to me from a business side, getting the best deal possible for his property and to eventually make a profit. However, he knew going in the property he was buying was worth a lot more. Because the chapter plays a lot on how rich are sleazy and money hungry, Chief’s move to under buy the property knowing its true worth makes him look more like a sleaze because the old property owner could’ve made so much more. But from a business side, I can’t completely go against what he did because he did give up a lot of money but happened to make more. Since we as the audience are aware of how much it is, we can’t but feel bad the property owner didn’t get more.
I don’t think this section necessarily paints a strong enough picture of Obinze’s character yet because he wants to be rich and is given insight how to do it, but he pities them. To me, this section does a stronger job at foreshadowing the road Obinze could be going down. The author states, “…to have money is to be consumed by money…(Adichie 30-31). With Obinze having stepped his foot into the world of the rich, this could setup Obinze being consumed by money later on in the story. Ifemelu’s experience around rich men has not been promising and by Ch. 22, she’s a little upset with Obinze. After seeing Kayode again in America, the book says, “Obinze was in England. She had created the distance, ignoring him, changing her e-mail address and phone number, and yet she felt deeply betrayed by the news” (Adichie 276). The setup with Ifemelu’s now mixed thoughts, though still overall positive, towards Obinze and Obinze’s new way of living could lead to interesting drama later in the story.
That being said, my question is: will Ifemelu and Obinze”s time apart from one another change their relationship permanently or only shape their love for one another?
Citation:
Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi. Americanah. Anchor Books, 2014.