Chiamamnda Adichie designs limited-edition jewellery for charity

The thing with success is that once you have it, it opens doors for more opportunities. More importantly, it can afford you an opportunity to do (more) good for the world.

And so it seems to have been with one of Nigerian’s most successful contemporary writers, Chimamanda Adichie, who recently partnered with jewellery house, Foundrae for a project to advance democracy, freedom and humanity. The project saw the literary luminary design a limited edition medallion series for Foundrae. The proceeds of that collaboration will go to PEN America.

PEN America is a non-profit organisation that works to defend freedom of expression in the United States and around the world through the advancement of literature and human rights.

As it is, Chimamanda Adichie is well known for advocating for causes she cares about, such as her support for Made In Nigeria goods as shown by her promoting Nigerian designers by actually wearing their products. So, there was no hesitation when PEN called because “PEN is an organization I adore because I think they do such essential work,” she tells Vogue.

So, when Foundrae called and asked whether she would be interested in designing the limited-edition gold-medallion series, she said yes.

The limited-edition series features a gold medallion-style centrepiece that comes in various sizes and different chains and is called Freedom of Expression.

The author says of the medallion according to Vogue: “People will make of the jewellery what they will, and while I respect their individuality and don’t feel that jewellery has to be heavily symbolic, I do hope that when they wear this particular piece, they remember how important it is that this (freedom) movement is something we can’t forget to stand up for. It’s fragile; democracy is fragile. You have to always be on guard. And we can’t fall asleep on it.”

As explained by Vogue, the medallion “consists of four symbols that together represent our collective human freedoms and a reminder that we must continue to work to protect them: an infinity sign to ‘honor the endlessness of the things we hold dear,’ including free speech; a fire symbol to recall ‘that which we can embolden and energize but can also consume’; and two arrows facing off, representing the need to press on while also acknowledging that life is short and should be lived with passion.”

Explaining the thought process behind her design, Chimamanda tells Vanity Fair :

“I was thinking about what I wanted to remember of this time. We’re living in a time where I feel a sense of urgency because — and it’s not just America — I think the Western world is moving to the right.

“The reason that I find it really troubling is that the idea of dehumanizing your fellow human beings has become almost acceptable and casual. The crossed arrows represent the idea of living passionately and living knowing that our time here is short and that we need to make the most of it.

“I feel that every morning, actually. Every time I look at the pendant I want to think about this urgency—and that one must live in a way that is meaningful.”

Check out the medallion on Chimamanda, which pairs with with this stunning white ensemble. Would you want to own one? Share your thoughts.