By JOY AKANU

The 2013 novel “Americanah”, written by Nigerian award-winning novelist Chimamanda Adichie, has been recognised by the Canal+ African story productions.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Canal+ is a French global media and entertainment company that has integrated or acquired another media entity.

The African Film Press took to its Instagram page @africanfilmpress to make the announcement of the recent development in a statement.

According to the statement, ‘Americanah’ is among the current African story projects in development.

“CANAL+ added Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s “Americanah” among its current African story projects in development, after an earlier HBO Max adaptation fell apart in 2020.

“Americanah’s screen adaptation has been in public development for more than a decade. In 2014, Lupita Nyong’o was attached to star and produce a film adaptation of the novel.

"The project later moved to television, in 2019, HBO Max ordered a 10-episode limited series with Nyong’o still attached and Danai Gurira on board as writer and showrunner,” the statement reads.

Canal+ further said that the version did not go ahead in 2020, because the series was dropped after pandemic era production, delayed created scheduled conflicts and Nyong’o exited the project.

According to Canal+, they have not said whether “Americanah” is connected to the earlier version or an entirely new adaptation.

It added that format, cast, writer, director, production partners, production timetable and release plan will be announced at a later date.

“Americanah” appears in Canal+ Group’s 2025 full-year results and strategic update, as part of its ‘Creating African Stories with Global Resonance’ banner.

"The same development slate includes the Women Warriors of Dahomey project “Agoodjie,” “The Heist of Benin” (Ava DuVernay and David Oyelowo attached), and a musical tied to Paul Simon’s “Graceland” album and “The Road Home,” the statement continued.

NAN reports that the latest development followed several years of obstacles surrounding the project, which included a proposed limited series led by Lupita Nyong’o and Danai Gurira, abandoned following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The incorporation of “Americanah” by Canal+ into its curated African Stories collection made it part of the company’s broader strategy to expand its investment in African storytelling, following its acquisition of Multichoice and DSTV.

This move placed greater emphasis on local content creation and wider distribution across the continent.

The novel ‘Americanah’ followed Ifemelu and Obinze as they migrated to the U.S. and the United Kingdom, and ultimately returned to Nigeria.

It also explored themes of race, identity, and the immigrant experience, resonating with both African Diasporas and domestic audiences.

"The novel Americanah’ has won several awards, including the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction (2013) and was listed among the New York Times Book Review’s Ten Best Books of 2013, underscoring its global cultural impact.

According to African Film Press, Canal+ has not clarified whether the planned adaptation is connected to earlier efforts to bring the novel to the screen or is an entirely new project.

They added that Information on the production format, cast, writers, directors, production partners, timeline and release date remained pending. (NAN)

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