Chimamanda’s contribution to the song is a speech, which consists of elements of her lauded
TEDx2013 address ‘we should all be feminists.’ While I’m sure many could be confused as to how Beyonce’s lyrics connect with Adichie’s call to feminism it’s that very confusion that addresses the critical feminism that both Adichie and Beyonce speak to. When ‘Bow Down’ was released (or leaked?) earlier this year, there was a lot of discussion that Beyonce telling other women to ‘bow down’ was anti-feminist, which is what most white feminists declare whenever Beyonce does anything.
Many have critically examined why white feminists need to leave Bey alone, but ‘Flawless’ hails as a powerful response to the notion that being feminist has to be strictly defined. In tandem with Chimamanda’s call to feminism- both Chimamanda and Beyonce are also critical of a feminism that doesn’t recognize a women’s right to speak through her body and sexuality (which is what many try and shame Beyonce for).