Award-winning Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her husband, Dr Ivara Esege, are mourning the death of one of their twin sons, Nkanu Nnamdi.
The 21-month-old child reportedly passed away on Wednesday after a brief illness.
Confirming the tragic loss in a statement released on Thursday through her representative, Omawumi Ogbe, the family expressed deep sorrow and appealed for privacy as they grieve.
“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,” the statement read.
Describing the loss as devastating, the family urged the public and the media to be mindful of their need for space during this period.
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“The family is devastated by this profound loss, and we request that their privacy be respected during this incredibly difficult time,” the statement added.
They also appealed for prayers and understanding, stressing that no further comments would be issued.
“We ask for your grace and prayers as they mourn in private. No further statements will be made, and we thank the public and the media for respecting their need for seclusion during this period of immense grief.”
Adichie, 48, married Esege, a Nigerian doctor, in 2009. The couple has three children: a daughter born in 2016 and twin boys welcomed in 2024.