Renowned Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her husband Dr Ivara Esege, are mourning the death of their young son, Nkanu Nnamdi, who died on Wednesday, 7 January 2026, after a brief illness at the age of 21 months.
Adichie and Esege welcomed twin boys in 2024, alongside their older daughter; the family had kept much of their private life out of the public spotlight. Adichie has previously stated that she chose to keep the birth of her twin sons private to protect her family’s privacy. In interviews, she explained that her desire to shield her children from public scrutiny was a major reason for announcing their arrival quietly.
Details about the specific nature of the illness that led to Nkanu Nnamdi’s death have not yet been publicly disclosed by the family or health authorities.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is one of Nigeria’s most celebrated contemporary authors, known internationally for her novels and essays that explore identity, feminism, postcolonialism, and culture. Her acclaimed works include Half of a Yellow Sun, Americanah, We Should All Be Feminists, and Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions.
She has received numerous literary awards and honours, and her writing has been widely translated and studied around the world. She has also made significant contributions to discussions on gender and social justice through public talks and essays.
Adichie is married to Dr Ivara Esege, a physician. According to available records, they were married in 2009 and have three children, including the twins born in 2024. Before this personal tragedy, Adichie had experienced other significant losses in her family. She lost her father in 2020 and her mother in 2021, both events she has publicly reflected on in her writing and interviews about grief and mourning.
Samuel Aina