Chimamanda Autographs Books at Lagos Event

Guardian Nigeria reports that at the weekend, literary history was made at the Rovingheights Landmark Bookstore in Lagos, where Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie appeared in an exclusive book signing for her new novel, Dream Count. Organised by Rovingheights Books in partnership with Adichie’s Nigerian publishers Narrative Landscape Press, the event sold out days ahead of schedule, a reminder of the immense admiration and loyalty the celebrated writer continues to inspire.

Held at the bustling Retail Boulevard of the Landmark Centre, Victoria Island, the book signing event welcomed over a thousand eager fans, many of whom had waited years to meet Adichie in person.

Tickets included access to the venue and a paperback copy of Dream Count, with additional copies available for purchase while supplies lasted. Guests began queuing early, holding their books tightly, buzzing with excitement.

From the moment Adichie arrived, her grace, warm smile, and patience lit up the entire atmosphere. She spent over seven hours interacting with each attendee, personalising their books, pausing for quick conversations, and sharing small but memorable moments many will cherish forever.

In a heartfelt message after the event, Rovingheights shared, “We’re grateful to Chimamanda for her grace, smile, and warm interaction with everyone. Special thanks to you all for gifting us with your presence.”

However, it’s important to note that, according to Narrative Landscape Press, this was just a small gathering organised around Easter to celebrate fans of "Dream Count".

A much bigger event is being planned for the summer, promising more space and an even more immersive experience for readers across the major geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

Fans took to social media to express their excitement and gratitude. One attendee, @deekofo, wrote on Instagram: “Wow, and her smile didn’t slip for once. Very demure and graceful. I was speechless, yet she spoke to me. Well done, Queen.”

Fans were visibly moved by the opportunity to share parts of their personal lives with Adichie. One standout moment came from screenwriter Ifeanyi Chidi, who shared on Twitter that she had once been hired to be Chimamanda’s PA back in 2012 but had chosen graduate school instead. During their conversation, Chidi proudly mentioned her work on the Showmax film Cheta’m, to which Chimamanda warmly responded that she would watch it. Overwhelmed with excitement, Chidi later posted, “Don’t talk to me for a bit. I tried to behave myself in front of Chimamanda, but I just could not. She’s magnificent.”

Another fan, @africanreader, shared: “I’ve admired her work for years, but seeing her in person made me realise even more how powerful and gentle her spirit is. Thank you, Rovingheights, for making this happen!”

While the atmosphere inside the bookstore was charged with excitement and gratitude, with fans eager to meet Adichie, many expressing how her books had shaped their lives, not all attendees left completely satisfied. Some attendees expressed frustration about the logistics of the event. Comments like, “Chimamanda was so gracious, and seeing her was the only good thing about this event. RH’s planning and execution were extremely poor and a terrible experience,” @oreoluwa_adetula highlighted areas for improvement.

Despite the logistical complaints, many praised Adichie’s warmth, graciousness, and willingness to engage with each guest personally. Like all events around the author, this event once again highlighted not only the star power of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie but also the enormous appetite for literary events in Nigeria and the growing need for better infrastructure and organisation to meet that demand.

Beyond the personal joy, Dream Count has already begun to ignite conversations about the nature of ambition, loss, and the dreams that define us. Set against contemporary backdrops yet layered with the tenderness and lyricism that characterize Adichie’s best work, the novel is quickly becoming one of the year’s most talked-about releases.

With Dream Count still flying off the shelves globally and a larger Nigerian event on the horizon, it’s clear that Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s impact on the literary world and her readers remains as profound as ever.