The author was given the coveted prize at an award-giving ceremony, which took place at the British Library in the United Kingdom. Adichie is the first African to receive the award, which is focused on defending and promoting freedom of expression while removing barriers to literature.
In her acceptance, Adichie said she feels honoured to have received the prize. “I admired Harold Pinter’s talent, his courage, his lucid dedication to telling his truth, and I am honoured to be given an award in his name,” she said.
Alongside Adichie, Waleed Abulkhair, a lawyer and a human rights activist was awarded as the 2018 International Writer of Courage. Congratulating the lawyer and activist, Adichie said: “I am proud to share this year’s PEN Pinter Prize with activist, lawyer and writer Waleed Abulkhair. Waleed has dedicated his life to holding the Saudi authorities accountable for human rights abuses. He has dedicated his life to speaking out, to support the victims of those abuses.
“Waleed, like Harold Pinter, has shown a lucid dedication to telling his truth. But rather than being lauded for this dedication, Waleed has paid a heavy price – 15 years behind bars. I am deeply proud to share this prize with Waleed and I hope that this small act of solidarity will bring him some comfort, and will remind him that his struggle has not been forgotten, nor will it be in vain.“
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