Chimamanda Adichie Says Son’s Death Has Changed Her Forever: “I Do Not Want to Go Back to Nigeria”
Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has said the death of her 21-month-old son, Nkanu, has changed her relationship with Nigeria, saying she no longer wants to return to the country following the tragedy.
Adichie made the disclosure in an interview with The New York Times, where she reflected on the death of one of her twin boys in December 2025 following a medical emergency at Euracare in Nigeria.
According to Adichie, Nkanu initially developed a fever and was given antibiotics by her husband, Ivara Esege. When his condition did not improve, they took him to hospital for further examination.
She said Nkanu was later sedated with propofol during an MRI examination. After the procedure, he suffered cardiac arrest and died the following day.
Adichie recalled being approached by a doctor who, she said, told her that Nkanu had been given too much propofol.
The author publicly raised allegations of medical negligence in June, prompting further attention to the circumstances surrounding her son’s death. A coroner’s inquest is ongoing, although proceedings have reportedly been affected by delays and disagreements between the family and the hospital.
Adichie and her husband have called for improvements in Nigeria’s healthcare system but have not filed a lawsuit against the hospital, according to the report.
Reflecting on returning to Nigeria, Adichie said her children could be the only reason she would consider coming back. She said her daughter still viewed Nigeria as her “happy place”.
Before Nkanu’s death, Adichie described Nigeria as deeply connected to her identity and writing. She said the loss of her son had profoundly altered that connection.
