Our lives, our cultures, are composed of many overlapping stories. Too often we focus on a single story, excluding cultural influences, other perspectives and the rich tapestry of different experiences in the world. This single story is limiting and makes us misinterpret people, their backgrounds and their lives. It can also lead to judgement, disconnection, and conflict.

In this powerful Ted talk, Nigerian Novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie tells the story of how she found her authentic cultural voice–and warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding.