Award-winning writer, Chimamanda Adichie, has denied a claim that she plagiarised her book, Half of a Yellow Sun, from the author of Sade, Anne Giwa-Amu.
The 42-year-old made this known in a statement released by her agency, the Wylie Agency, on Monday.
“Chimamanda Adichie and her publishers had never heard about Giwa-Amu’s novel until her delusional claim. Her present allegations are false, libellous and constitute harassment to Chimamanda Adiche….,” the statement read.
Giwa-Amu had in a YouTube video shared on Sunday accused Adichie of lifting portions of her book to write Half of a Yellow Sun published in 2007 and demanded compensation.
Sade, which was published in 1996, was set in post-independent Nigeria and during the civil war. Like Half of a Yellow Sun, it tells the story of a young lady, Sade, and her love triangle with twin brothers.
“It’s a basic principle of natural justice that no one should profit from stealing from another person…,” said the Welsh-Nigerian writer.
Giwa-Amu took Adichie and her publishers to court in 2016, claiming copyright infringement but the case was struck out and the 59-year-old was ordered to pay £14,250 in damages to Adichie and her publishers.
Adichie’s publishers revealed that she is yet to pay the money. They plan to take legal action against her.
