Renowned Nigerian author and activist, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and her husband, Dr. Ivara Esege, a Nigerian-American doctor, are experiencing a profound loss with the passing of one of their twin sons, Nkanu Nnamdi. The 21-month-old boy passed away on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, following a brief illness. The tragic news was officially confirmed by Adichie's Communications Team in a statement signed by Omawumi Ogbe, and shared exclusively with various media outlets, including The Guardian and The Punch newspaper.

The statement conveyed the family's deep sorrow, reading, “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 further emphasized the family’s devastation by this profound loss and their request for privacy during this incredibly difficult time. “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,” the statement concluded.

The twins were born in April 2024, a joyous occasion that Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie initially kept private until February 2025, when she first disclosed the news during an interview with The Guardian UK. Later, she publicly announced the birth of her twin sons, delivered via surrogacy, during her appearance as a guest at the maiden edition of the #WithChude Live concert in May 2025, hosted by Chude Jideonwo. Nkanu Nnamdi’s birth, as one of the twin sons, was also announced while the author was promoting her latest work in fiction, “Dream Count.”

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, known globally for her award-winning novels such as “Americanah” and “Half of a Yellow Sun,” married Dr. Ivara Esege in 2009. The couple welcomed their first child, a daughter, in 2016, prior to the birth of their twin sons. The news of Nkanu Nnamdi’s untimely passing has elicited a widespread outpouring of sympathy and condolences from fellow writers, academics, and admirers across Africa, Europe, and North America, all respecting the family's need for space and privacy during their period of mourning.