If the Pirates and Buccaneers All Got Along, They'd Probably Gun Me Down by the End of this Blog

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie crafts a dynamic story that speaks to many characteristics important to discuss in our contemporary society today. Adichie crafts the story of a boy named Nnambia in a University town in Nigeria. The story is told through the perspective of Nnambia's sister who serves as an interesting narrator recounting the change she sees in her brother as he enters and leaves prison. "Cell One" is littered with topics such as corruption, youth, familial relationships, and redemption. Yet the topic that captivating me was the pervasive nature of Western culture.

In this day and age, communication between people is limitless. Through radio, TV, and media, continents and cultures feel closer than ever. Yet with this, media has a greater impact around the world than I believe most people realize. This is explored in "Cell One". In the story, the narrator introduces the presence of the West felt by Nigeria through showing that the materials stolen from their house in the initial robbery were the "Purple Rain" and "Thriller" videotapes that Nnambia's father had brought from America. Additionally, the narrator states the effect American rap videos had on the university students causing "swagger" to course through their veins and commencing the season of gang like "cults". The violence that occurs in the town are horrific. "It was so abnormal that it quickly became normal" (p.34). The violence that occurs escalates to almost mirror the same violence the students see in their rap videos. And its ridiculous. Adichie does a great job showing this large presence Western culture holds to those around the world by showing the events of her Nigerian University city.