Renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her husband, Dr. Ivara Esege, are mourning the death of one of their twin sons, Nkanu Nnamdi.
The news was confirmed on Wednesday through a statement issued by Adichie’s Communications Team and shared exclusively with The Guardian.
According to the statement, the child passed away on January 7, 2026, after a brief illness. He was 21 months old.
The announcement has drawn an outpouring of sympathy from readers, writers, and admirers across Nigeria and beyond, many of whom have followed Adichie’s literary journey for decades.
Known globally for her works on identity, feminism, and the human condition, Adichie has often written with emotional clarity about love, loss, and family, themes that now intersect painfully with her personal life.
The family has, however, chosen to grieve away from public attention.
Family Requests Privacy Amid Grief
In the statement signed by Omawumi Ogbe, the family confirmed the loss and appealed for privacy during the mourning period.
“We are deeply saddened to confirm the passing of one of Ms. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Dr. Ivara Esege’s twin boys, Nkanu Nnamdi, who died on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, after a brief illness,” the statement said.
“He was 21 months old.”
The family described the loss as devastating and asked for understanding from the public and the media.
“The family is heartbroken by this profound loss and respectfully requests privacy during this extremely difficult time. We ask for your prayers and understanding as they mourn in private,” the statement added.
The communications team also noted that no further statements would be issued, thanking the public for respecting the family’s need for seclusion.
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