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Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Confirms Death of 21-Month-Old Son

The family requests privacy during their grief.

Overview

  • A statement from the author's representatives on Thursday confirmed that Nkanu Nnamdi died Wednesday following a brief illness at 21 months old.
  • The family called the loss devastating and indicated that no further public updates are expected.
  • Nkanu was one of twin boys born via surrogate in 2024; Adichie and her husband, Dr. Ivara Esege, also have a daughter born in 2016.
  • Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu publicly offered condolences, noting the profound pain of losing a child.
  • Coverage situates the tragedy within Adichie’s global literary prominence, citing works such as Half of a Yellow Sun, Americanah, and her 'We Should All Be Feminists' TED Talk.