Why the essay by Chimamanda was taken down from the Guardian | Welcome to Linda Ikeji's Blog

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Monday 2 February 2015

Why the essay by Chimamanda was taken down from the Guardian

Yesterday, UK Guardian published an article written by award-winning writer Chimamanda Adichie about her struggles with depression which I also republished here. The Guardian later took the article down explaining that it was published in error. Thing is, they didn't have permission from Ms Adichie to publish the article. Out of courtesy, I also took the post down. But there's been some confusion over why the article was taken down from the Guardian. Chimamanda's manager explains below...
"When a writer of Chimamanda Adichie's status writes an essay, many publications are interested in publishing it. Her agent sends the essay to a few publications. The publications indicate their interest and make various offers and proposals including how they will feature it and what they would like to accompany it (e.g. a photo shoot, an additional interview), how much they will pay for it, when they will publish it and in what section of the publication. Chimamanda then makes a decision about which publication she prefers

Chimamanda wrote the essay about depression last year. Depression is a very important subject for her. She wanted to make sure the essay was very honest. She wanted to use the essay as a way to help people, to start a conversation about depression, particularly among Africans. Many people suffer in silence. Breaking the silence around the subject of depression can be the first step to getting better.

Many magazines and publications were interested in the essay. One of them was the Guardian. Chimamanda considered their offer and then decided she didn't want it to be published there. She felt that the Guardian was not the right place for the essay. She declined their offer, and they acknowledged in writing that she had declined.

She planned to publish the essay later this year, when she would have finished other engagements, to give her time to deliver a talk in Nigeria about depression.

She had still not finally decided which publication she would go with when she discovered on Sunday that the essay had been published in the Guardian, with no notice, no permission, nothing. She was shocked.

The Guardian claims it was a technical error. It is not clear how something could have been published, with photographs, due to a technical error. It is possible that The Guardian deliberately published it even though they had been turned down. That way, The Guardian could claim to have been first to publish Africa's most-internationally recognized novelist writing for the first time on the very personal subject of depression. The Guardian's action was unethical and possibly illegal. The Guardian has apologized and removed the essay.

The essay will be republished properly later this year. Chimamanda thanks all the people who have already shared their own stories of depression. She hopes that knowing you are not alone will be a source of comfort. She will speak more on the subject in the coming months.

117 comments:

Unknown said...

Ok
Shaniquapatty@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Ok.
Shaniquapatty@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Interesting

Unknown said...

Ok



#GodblessNigeria

Unknown said...

I love this woman

Anonymous said...

Lovely lady.
Kelly4sure1@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

Wahs d essence na......d public has read it.their biz tho

Alloy Chikezie said...

Its good they apologised and took the post down and i hope it ends there


Your comment will be visible after approval

AbokiDaWarriBoy said...

They should let her decide first nas.

Unknown said...

Wahs d essence na......d public has read it.their biz tho

Unknown said...

The articles was boring sef
And I didn't gain anything from it
So why the fuss?

Dave Mide said...

Why take it down again when it was up for at least 20hrs? ppl already copied all that was needed! issokay sha

Unknown said...

We hear.
Www.udokajane.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

Sabotage.

Unknown said...

hmmmmm.. na wa oh. princesslivia89@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

So guardian bu zi ndi oshi...hmm...so unprofessional

Abdul Adepetu said...

Hmmmmmmmmnnnn! Okay oooo! No comments

Anonymous said...

wah happened to our freedom of speech bikonu


missvee

ELENA (HER MAJESTY) said...

Technical error ke!...they are lucky not 2have been sued by her

Unknown said...

She is contradicting herself. Must everything be bout money. If she really wants to help someone, then the essay should be been published 4 free on different papers for wider reach. I bet she don't even operate a charity to assist people. Linda abeg u soar above this girl I once admire. She's all messed up.

Unknown said...

Okiie o, seen. Till she decides to publish it officially, we dey wait. Linda take note!

Unknown said...

She is contradicting herself. Must everything be bout money. If she really wants to help someone, then the essay should be been published 4 free on different papers for wider reach. I bet she don't even operate a charity to assist people. Linda abeg u soar above this girl I once admire. She's all messed up. Fuckin bipolar.

Unknown said...

Okiie o, seen. Till she decides to publish it officially, we dey wait. Linda take note!

Unknown said...

Okiie o, seen. Till she decides to publish it officially, we dey wait. Linda take note!

Anonymous said...

Linda thank you for deleting the post. I applaud you for that. That is respect! Well done Girl x

Unknown said...

Technical error it should be

Unknown said...

Okiie o, seen. Till she decides to publish it officially, we dey wait. Linda take note!

BG said...

Hmmmmmm, #observing

Unknown said...

Ok o...

Unknown said...

MR EDDY said this heat wan kill person o.
Nawa.

^
^
^™THAT EDO BOY.COM~

Henry Ekene Obianika said...

If they publish it nko? Abegggggggg

Olusoji said...

First the guardian will pay times two the intial agrred price before she declined, as damages. Secondly depression is a topical issue that should be addressed.

emelie jesse said...

they should sue them amibo

Unknown said...

Why she kan dey collect money if na to help people fight depression.

Nick

Humphrey said...

Abeg make una park well, na only she don surfer depresion b4? Publish d rubbish if u want to publish it or better still throway d nonsence mtchwwwww

oiza said...

thats her palava! i need to gwt to the office for nine

Unknown said...

A real voice in the world. This is my desire oh lord!

Anonymous said...

Hope this one will not drive her to commit suicide o.

Anonymous said...

This is why you LINDA should quit this your lazy copy n paste... You wait till someone sues your scrawny a**

Princyd said...

Hmmmmmmm comments reserved

Bosslady Chinwe said...

Chimamanda the great writer
I love this babe

Unknown said...

Hmmmm.

Unknown said...

Ok...we have heard. Waiting for when she gets paid before we read. People now wants to make money through depression story. Ngwanu we're waiting...

Juleslouis said...

I just love the system they use in publishing articles. Unlike our country everything is done without ethics. I enjoyed that essay though. Can't wait to read more of it when its republished.

Unknown said...

Okay. Couldn't even read it. Was too long.

Unknown said...

That's bhadd nah ...guardian y'all are too forward

Unknown said...

Well her decisions has to be respected but the article is one hell of a good one

¤¤¤¤¤QUEENMAYA¤¤¤¤¤

Unknown said...

Too bad for Guardian.

chuka said...

Good one. I read the eassy, not here though, so immersed in it,

Unknown said...

Interesting..
Thumbs up.

OMG!WOMAN said...

Awwww. Thank God I saved the page for future reading. After I read this article I went back to check if the page was properly saved. Lmfao. And yes it is saved 😆😆😆😆😆

Julz Cakes said...

Ok. Yes ma Adichie

Unknown said...

So proud of this Angel

Anonymous said...

Linda how you phrased the title sounds foolish and retarded

dont ask me why, think, or go back to school and study english 101

Anonymous said...

Anyone as critical must have depression issues.

Anonymous said...

Ife balu aba, abago.

Unknown said...

Lol. Sharp thoughts! D guardian! They are lucky she didn't sue them to court.

Anonymous said...

Which kind of error is that? Don't they know their job!

Unknown said...

TECHNICAL ERROR INDEED

Unknown said...

they never surprise me with the way they carryout their action most time...






#Commenting thru Glo 4G LTE

Unknown said...

Sue their asses....the white people always thinking dey r clever

Mr Talker said...

Copyright infringement, if she is okay with just an apology or just Bringing down the post, but really, she ought to sue them for the. Breach of copyright to copy.

ary said...

Technical error indeed! SMH, the printer upped and picked the article and printed it. Sorry excuse.

Unknown said...

Abegi......

Anonymous said...

shakara

@lwkmd_naija

Unknown said...

She should sue them

Unknown said...

D Lord will settle u guys feud

Uchman said...

Really unprofessional...They should thank God she's not suing them.

Unknown said...

ITS WELL I ALSO PRAY THAT GOD WILL HELP ME OVERCOME MY STRUGGLES IN LIFE!!! I HAVE BEEN BATTLING DEPRESSION FOR A LONG TIME NOW JC

Anonymous said...

Okooo bt we hv all finish reading it! Daz almost medicine after death. Lolo1

Unknown said...

ITS WELL I ALSO PRAY THAT GOD WILL HELP ME OVERCOME MY STRUGGLES IN LIFE!!! I HAVE BEEN BATTLING DEPRESSION FOR A LONG TIME NOW JC

jbankzE said...

Hmmmmmm

~@iamjbankz SA to President Jonathan 2015~

CELEB said...

Ok ma!

Unknown said...

excellent speaks where necessary

Unknown said...

excellent speaks where necessary

OMA said...

Chimamanda, i love you. Don't mind the Guardian, i hope you sue their ass for this

Unknown said...

wen u are big, u are big

Ike Ani said...

Our Great Female Writer of All time! www.ikeani.blogspot.com

Onyx's Girlfriend (he isn't gay pls) said...

Fear catch Linda sef, she sef take down d post. Hahaha. #happymonday

Blog It With Olivia said...

Their whahala o

Unknown said...

My literary icon and mentor,I hope she sues them too

Anonymous said...

Somethng doesn't seem right. If d above is true, I believe d guardian will pay her monetary compensation.

Anonymous said...

The Guardian have committed an irrevocable error and there cannot be any acceptable excuse for such, therefore they should and must be heard accountable in the court of Law, considering the obvious circumstance.

Unknown said...

make she fly

Abdul Mk said...

mstchews.. jst saying

Anonymous said...

She is a goddess.

Unknown said...

Nwanyi oma. The Guardian should pay you for leaking it.

Anonymous said...

Don't stop there, sue them and make a lot of money from it.

elo tasha said...

Linda even you no take permission,na copy and paste u do kwa

Post a Comment

Unknown said...

I have it added to my bookmark, should I also delete it?...lolz

Anonymous said...

YOU didn't take it down out of courtesy, Linda. You took it down because of fear of reporting or litigation, baby.

Subomi said...

hmmmmmm interesting

Unknown said...

why wouldnt she sue them? if she s d one now dey go sue am sharply

Unknown said...

Ok we don hear.

Anonymous said...

She should add more details when she republishes it. The caches of the essay are everywhere. When the response was positive, she should have kept it on the Guardian and negotiated her pricing, if that was an issue, with the publication.

heytheredelilah said...

Yup!! Love Linda to bits.xx

Anonymous said...

My friend pls shut your mouth if you know nothing about professionalism!! Chimamanda is a professional writer...her messages will certainly help people and create awareness, but she isn't writing for leisure...that's her job....she never told you she was running a charity organization did she??

Anonymous said...

And for ur information, running a Charity organization is a calling..not smth ppl just delve into to impress idiots like you who can never be content with people who are just themselves! Take several seats joor!!!pscheeeEeew

Unknown said...

it all balls down to her making more money from the interviews. its a good thing they took it down tho...... thank goodness i didnt post it on my blog! my readers would have been disappointed tho

Unknown said...

Mr Rare species, God bless you, you know what's going on. It's something you need to look beyond your nose to see.

Anonymous said...

rick1dude@yahoo.com

ebonyz... said...

Okay

Anonymous said...

For anyone suffering from depression, I recommend the Destroy Depression system by James Gordon. He is a former depression and PTSD sufferer, and teaches a totally natural 7 step process to eliminate depression and regain control of your life.

Anonymous said...

It has come to the point where Chimamanda is exploiting the spoils of this nation for her own benefit. I don't see how these articles help us, apart from telling us what we already know. Nigerians have become creatures of habits, find a loophole that hasn't been exploited and engage. It's quite sad, because behind this charade, you are the very thing that you write against. Pretence.

Unknown said...

Abi

Anonymous said...

Sue them!

Unknown said...

Please send it yo me. Lol

Unknown said...

To*

Nakisanze said...

Shame on The Guardian. They should pay! But this also kept me thinking, can we just share our dark moments for free?

Unknown said...

Noted

Essay Writing Services said...

Its horrible that Guardian published article and then taken down. They should take permission from Miss Chimamanda Adichie..!!

I need the help of a Secondary Data capstone Analyst said...

I am glad to read about the award-winning writer Chimamanda Adichie. I must say that she has done a great job in helping people know more about depression that affects millions of people worldwide.

writing tips said...

great and an interesting article is Shame on The Guardian . i like such woman . thanks for sharing such posts.dissertation writers uk

Biology Coursework Writers said...

Chimamanda Adichie is a great writer. . It is engaging to transport one’s self into the quality of life; to see how a crafty person has thought before us, and to what noble crown we have at last.

Unknown said...

Many people as young as ten years find themselves in depression, which is a silent killer. It robs a person of self esteem and it makes them to perform poorly at work, school and in relationships. chimamanda Adichie has done us proud.Let us share this post so that it can be of help to many people. Dissertations Rewriting Experts

Unknown said...

Let's share this post so that many people can be reached especially those who are in depression. Chimamanda Adichie has done a good job in creating awareness about depression.
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