I Listened to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Read "Chuka" on The New Yorker Podcast

 

Written by Safa Alhassan 

Last night, while I curled up in bed, I decided to do something a little different. I listened to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie read Chuka on The New Yorker podcast, The Writer's Voice. The time was 11:58pm and it was late at night when I stumbled on my all time favorite writer's work on The New Yorker. I would give up sleep for a good story anytime, trust me.

I decided to take a screenshot and share with whoever would like to indulge. I shut off the lights, lay peacefully and listened attentively. Normally, I’m more inclined to read than to listen, but this was a new experience, and I have to say, it was an enjoyable one. Adichie’s voice is calming, solid, and stern all at once. She pronounced each word with such audacity and clarity, taking pauses that were long enough to make me wonder if the story had ended. The way she pronounced the name "Chia" was a bit unclear to me at first. I thought it was that exclamation Yorubas make when they're irritated or making fun, because the first time she mentioned the name was in reference to Chia's aunties. I later realized it was actually the protagonist’s name, and that Chimamanda, in her usual style, was just being bold.

Her pacing was perfect. It was neither too fast to lose track of the story nor too slow to bore you. It reminded me of reading aloud in school during History and English classes, my favorite moments back then. The traditional pronunciation of her words made me feel nostalgic, taking me back to those familiar classroom settings.

You already know how I feel about Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, so you can imagine how excited I was to experience her new short story. Chuka is about, well, Chuka! A man who appears perfect in the eyes of everyone but isn't the right fit for Chia, the main character. The story also explores the hypocrisy of humans and the double standards we face. No matter what you do, people will always talk.

As I listened, I couldn’t help but admire Chimamanda Adichie’s incredible gift for storytelling. I was immediately fuled with the want to write and read some more, you know to do better than i already am. I silently concluded in my mind that no African writer can make me feel the way she does. She is an exceptional writer. Anyway, let me not bore you with my fan girl antics. So do you know that initially I thought this was an excerpt from her upcoming book? I hesitated to listen because of the potential spoilers. But as soon as I realized it was a short story, i went right in. What really struck me was the way she describes things. This is something she also did brilliantly in Half of a Yellow Sun. I don't know why it suprises me each time. Her descriptions have this magic of bringing things to life; they make you feel like you're right there, experiencing it all. Listening to her, I imagined myself as Chia. I was so immersed in the story that I felt like I could see Chuka in front of me, every detail of him vivid. I felt Chia’s pain and frustrations so deeply that it became my own. I'm telling you, I could actually see Chuka, no pun intended. 

Chuka is more than just a story about a relationship; it’s about the tension between societal expectations and personal desires. Chuka is a man who is admired by everyone around him. A man who seems to embody the "ideal" partner. Yet, for Chia, something is missing. Chimamanda Adichie lays bare the inner conflict that arises when someone who ticks all the boxes on the outside doesn’t quite fulfill the emotional needs of the person they’re with. This tension is something many people can relate to: the dissonance between what society deems perfect and what truly makes someone happy. It forces us to confront the reality that even the most seemingly ideal person can fall short of our true desires.

Throughout the story, there’s an undercurrent of societal hypocrisy and double standards. Chia’s internal battle is not just about whether she desires Chuka, but also about how she will be judged if she rejects someone so "perfect." This struggle is beautifully described in the story, making Chuka not just a story about one woman’s choices but a reflection of the universal pressures we all face when it comes to relationships.

What I actually enjoyed the most was Adichie’s voice itself. Hearing her read the story felt like being told a tale by an elder i trust. A soothing, almost familial presence. There was something comforting and familiar about it, like listening to a bedtime story from an older aunty or a mother. The pace of her narration, the pauses, and especially the Igbo song she sings towards the end melted my heart. It was as if I was being lulled into peaceful sleep, her voice gently guiding me through the story’s highs and lows. It made me feel as if I had entered a different world. Like i was in a space where Chia’s struggles became my own. I slept so peacefully afterward. It is a deeply emotional story. 

What do you do with expectations? What happens when what we’re supposed to want doesn’t align with what we actually need? I didn't find easy answers in that story. But I had the opportunity to feel the emotions Chia felt and answer them based on those feelings. It’s a story about desires that aren’t fulfilled, about the masks we wear to please others, and about the courage it takes to face what we really want.

If you love deep short stories about human emotions then read Chuka. You can read it on The New Yorker Magazine or better still listen to the writer read her own story on The New Yorker Podcast, you’ll enjoy it better. Oh! How i loved listenining to her. I'm envious that you get to feel it for the first time. It was truly an unforgettable experience for me. That being said, I cannot wait for her next book "Dream Count" in March.