Chimamanda Adichie And Husband Loses One Of Their Twin Sons

Celebrated Nigerian author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and her husband, Dr. Ivara Esege, are mourning the loss of one of their twin sons.

It was gathered that their 21-month-old son, Nkanu Nnamdi, died on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, after a brief illness.

In a statement on Thursday, released by her representative Omawumi Ogbe, the family expressed their deep sorrow and asked for privacy during this painful time.

“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 reads.

“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.

“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.”

Chimamanda Adichie, 48, married Esege, a Nigerian doctor, in 2009. The couple had three children before Nkanu’s death: a daughter born in 2016 and the twins, born in 2024.

KanyiDaily recalls that in 2025, Chimamanda Adichie revealed she kept the birth of her twin boys from the public to “protect” them.