Chimamanda Adichie Says Son’s Death Changed Her Feelings Towards Nigeria

Award-winning Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has said the death of her 21-month-old son, Nkanu, has profoundly changed her relationship with Nigeria.

In an interview with The New York Times published on September 10, 2026, Adichie said she no longer felt the same emotional connection to her country of birth.

Asked whether Nigeria still felt close to her heart, she replied: “My feelings toward Nigeria have changed.”

“I do not want to go back to Nigeria,” she added.

Nkanu, one of Adichie’s twin sons, died on January 7, 2026, following a medical emergency in Lagos. According to the account given by Adichie and her husband, Dr Ivara Esege, the child initially developed a fever and was placed on antibiotics.

When his condition did not improve, the couple took him to Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital for further medical examination. Nkanu was sedated with propofol during an MRI examination, after which he suffered cardiac arrest and died within 24 hours.

Adichie recalled that a doctor later told her that the child had been given too much propofol. However, the circumstances surrounding the death remain subject to investigation, and a court has not finally determined allegations of medical negligence.

The couple has called for a coroner’s inquest into the death and has advocated improvements to Nigeria’s healthcare system. They have said they are seeking answers and accountability rather than pursuing a lawsuit against the hospital.

The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria reportedly made an initial finding of negligence against three physicians involved in Nkanu’s care. The proceedings and related investigations remain separate from the coroner’s inquest.

The inquest has also been marked by delays and disagreements. Euracare reportedly accused the couple of destroying evidence by cremating their son’s remains, while Adichie and Esege have maintained that they cremated him because they could not bear to leave him behind. The hospital’s allegation has not been established as a criminal finding.

Reflecting on whether she might return to Nigeria in the future, Adichie said her surviving children could be the main reason. She explained that her daughter still regards Nigeria as her “happy place.”

Before Nkanu’s death, Adichie said Nigeria remained central to her identity and writing. She described the country as the place that gave her the experiences and cultural foundation necessary to become a writer.

However, the loss of her son has altered that connection.

“I still can’t believe we’re talking about my son who died,” she said. “You’re going through something, but you also feel like you’re outside of it.”