The Ordeal of African Immigrants in Contemporary America: Analysis of Chimamanda Ngozi Adechie’s Americanah and No Violet Bulawayo’s We Need New Names

Abstract

The plight of African immigrants seeking better opportunities abroad has become increasingly awful in the 21st century. Every week, hundreds of Africans lose their lives attempting to reach Europe and the United States through illegal migration routes. Driven by abject poverty, unemployment, political instability, and violence in their home countries, many risks dangerous journeys in hope of a better future. Thousands are detained at borders, and many perish in deserts and seas along their way. As the American Senate and countries within the European Union debate immigration policies, focusing on undocumented immigrants, deportation, and visa quotas for skilled workers, the experiences of those who do arrive are often marked by hardship. African immigrants in America face significant challenges, which include racial discrimination, identity crisis, cultural dislocation, and the struggle for integration in a multicultural society (Amstutz, 2015). This paper explores these ordeals through a critical analysis of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah and NoViolet Bulawayo We Need New Names. It interrogates the promise of the American dream in the lives of African immigrants. Framed by African American and Postcolonial literary theories, the study contends that for many immigrants, the promise of a better life is complicated by systemic and  personal struggles, ultimately raising the question of whether “home” might offer a more  authentic sense  of belonging. The findings indicate that neither America nor Europe serves as a safe haven for African immigrants.  Adiche and Bulawayo have thus contributed significantly to the discourse on immigration in contemporary African and diaspora fiction. Their novels underscore the importance of understanding the immigrant experience as an interplay of opportunity and disillusionment