Chimamanda Adichie Joins Exclusive List Of Yale’s Class Day Speakers

Chimamanda Adichie, the celebrated Nigerian author has joined the exclusive list of Yale’s class day speakers following her Class Day speech to the 2019 graduating members of the Yale College at New Haven, Connecticut.

The event was held on Sunday, May 19, on the eve of Yale’s 318th Commencement and dates as far back as the 19th century. The Class Day includes student reflections on their four years at Yale, the awarding of undergraduate prizes for academic, artistic, athletic, and community accomplishments, and an address delivered by a prominent figure chosen by the students.

With her speech on Sunday, Chimamanda Adichie joined the exclusive list of Yale’s Class Day speakers which include former US First Lady and 2016 Presidential Candidate, Hillary Rodham Clinton. former Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden; Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Tony Blair; Renowned television journalist, Barbara Walters; Oscar winning actor, Tom Hanks; and many more. The school described Adichie as “an inspiring global citizen whose words, teaching, and social activism have had an indelible impact on the diaspora and broader contemporary culture.”

The Nigerian author who received her Master of Arts degree in African Studies from the school in 2008, had earlier said “I remember the many clever undergrads I met while at Yale and it’s an honor to know that a class of similarly clever students chose me to speak to them.”