https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2020/jan/14/half-of-a-yellow-sun-is-a-masterpiece-truth-fiction

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s novel about the long-forgotten Biafran war tells a story that feels truthful, but is also clearly a work of fiction

Last year, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie gave the inaugural Gabriel García Márquez lecture and spoke about truth and storytelling. “To start a story, a true story, thinking of balance is already to place an obstacle in the path of that story,” she said. “Because what one must focus on is not balance, but truth.”

Those who have lamented the failures of the BBC over the past few years will understand this point only too well, but I’d still recommend listening to this lecture. It’s moving and impressive to hear Adichie make her points so forcefully and eloquently – and a worthwhile reminder of the curious fact that the people who offer us the best insights into reality are often novelists, rather than reporters.