Tragic news has emerged from the family of celebrated Nigerian writer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

The award-winning novelist has lost one of her one-year-old twin sons, Nkanu Nnamdi, who reportedly passed away after a short illness.

The heartbreaking development was confirmed in an official statement released by Adichie’s communications team on Thursday.

“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,” the statement read.

The family described the loss as devastating and appealed to the public for privacy during this extremely difficult period.

The family is devastated by this profound loss, and we request that their privacy be respected during this incredibly difficult time. We ask for your grace and prayers as they mourn in private,” the statement added.

They also made it clear that no further statements would be issued.Nigerian Events Calendar

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her husband, Dr Ivara Esege, got married in 2009. The couple welcomed their first child, a daughter, in 2016. In 2024, they became parents again after welcoming twin boys via surrogate.

Chimamanda remains one of Nigeria’s most globally respected literary voices, known for her work on identity, love, feminism, war, and post-colonial African experiences.

Her debut novel, Purple Hibiscus, was longlisted for the Booker Prize in 2004. Half of a Yellow Sun, which explored the Biafran war, won the Women’s Prize for Fiction in 2007 and was later named the “Winner of Winners” in 2020. Her novel Americanah also won the National Book Critics Circle Award.

Her most recent book, Dream Count, published last year, was longlisted for the Women’s Prize.

Our thoughts are with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her family at this time. May Nkanu Nnamdi rest in peace.