Chimamanda Adichie Loses 21-Month-Old Twin Son

Summary: Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her husband, Dr Ivara Esege, lost one of their 21-month-old twin sons, Nkanu Nnamdi, on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, according to a report by The Guardian.

On Wednesday, January 7, 2026, Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her husband, Dr Ivara Esege, lost one of their twin sons, Nkanu Nnamdi, at 21 months old, according to a report by The Guardian.

The death was confirmed in a statement shared exclusively with The Guardian by Adichie’s Communications Team and signed by Omawumi Ogbe. The statement said the family is deeply saddened by the passing of Nkanu Nnamdi after a brief illness.

“We’re deeply saddened to confirm the passing of one of Ms Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Dr Ivara Esege’s twin boys, Nkanu Nnamdi, who passed on Wednesday, 7th of January 2026, after a brief illness. He was 21 months old.”

It added that the family is mourning privately and asked the public and media to respect their privacy while offering prayers and support during this difficult period.

The statement further noted that no additional comments would be made and expressed gratitude to everyone for understanding the family’s request for seclusion as they grieve.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, internationally acclaimed for novels such as Half of a Yellow Sun and Americanah, welcomed the twins in 2024.