World-renowned, Nigerian-born author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie had to remain classy after a French journalist asked if there were bookstores in Nigeria.

The feminist writer who has regularly combated white supremacy and has made headlines for her statements regarding gender had to remind journalist Caroline Broué that her work is read across the African continent and there are bookstores in Nigeria.

Adichie was part of France's “Night of Ideas” when Broué asked the question. When she was met with groans for asking if people read Adichie's books, she pushed forward without a moment's hesitation and asked if there were bookstores in Nigeria. You can watch the whole exchanged at the 37-minute mark.

#NightOfIdeas : #ChimamandaNgoziAdichie launches the #NuitdesIdees at the Quai d’Orsay in Paris https://t.co/HFXBzBmVSs

— France Diplomacy???????? (@francediplo_EN) January 25, 2018

Then, gasps followed. Broué tried to backtrack and explain that she would ask this to French citizens as well. She even blamed the French populace for ignorance about Nigeria claiming they would only know about Boko Haram.

"…You were talking about single stories, now when you talk about Nigeria in France, unfortunately, there is not much said about Nigeria, but when people talk about Nigeria it’s about Boko Haram," Broué said. "It’s about violence, it’s about security. Now I should like you to tell us something about Nigeria which is different, talk about it differently. That’s why I’m saying 'are there bookshops,' of course I imagine there are. I could ask the question to the French, do people read in France, I think less and less so."

Taking the high road, Adichie answered with grace saying that her comments make France look "poorly."

"I think [laughs] it reflects very poorly on French people that you have to ask me that question," she said. "Surely, it’s 2018. I mean, come on. My books are read in Nigeria. They are studied in schools. Not just Nigeria, across the continent in Africa.

Twitter users were taken aback by the fact that the author had to answer such questions, but no one was really surprised.

As far as I'm concerned
That was intentional ignorance
Or a premeditated attempt to belittle her

I love Chimamanda's response
⚡️ “A French journalist asked Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie if Nigeria had libraries” https://t.co/wlQzMhVgpi

— The Davina (@DavinaOriakhi) January 26, 2018

When will they learn that Chimamanda or any Igbo woman for that matter is not to be played with lol 'Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Was Asked If Nigeria Has Book Stores at #LaNuitDesIdees & Her Response Was Golden' https://t.co/KXCp1asl1X

— Christiana Amarachi Mbakwe (@Christiana1987) January 26, 2018

It goes to show that President Donald Trump's ideas about Africa don't seem to exist in a vacuum. The ignorance is global.

Nigerian Bookstores

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