Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Says She Does Not Want to Return to Nigeria After Son’s Death
- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie opened up about how the death of her 21-month-old son has reshaped her bond with Nigeria
- The celebrated author revealed in an interview that her child died after suffering cardiac arrest during a procedure at a hospital in Nigeria
- Adichie recalled a doctor's chilling words to her following the procedure, which she said she will never forget
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Celebrated Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has spoken candidly about how the death of her infant son has fractured her relationship with Nigeria, a country that once sat at the very core of her identity.
In a wide-ranging interview with The New York Times, Adichie said the loss of 21-month-old Nkanu in December 2025 had profoundly changed how she sees her homeland.
"My feelings toward Nigeria have changed," she said, adding bluntly, "I do not want to go back to Nigeria."
What happened to Nkanu?
Adichie, who wrote The Thing Around Your Neck, described how Nkanu initially developed a fever and was treated with antibiotics at home. When his condition did not improve, she and her husband, Dr. Ivara Esege, brought him to Euracare in Nigeria for further evaluation. During an MRI examination, the child was sedated using propofol, an intravenous anaesthetic commonly used to keep patients unconscious during medical procedures. He suffered cardiac arrest afterwards and died the following day.
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What stayed with Adichie was what a doctor told her after the procedure.
"He was very calm, and he said to me, 'Well, look, they gave him too much Propofol.' Those were his exact words, which I will never forget until the day I die."
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Inquest and allegations of negligence
Adichie has publicly raised concerns about medical negligence in the treatment Nkanu received. The circumstances surrounding his death are now the subject of a coroner's inquest, proceedings that have reportedly been hampered by delays and disagreements between the family and the hospital.
Euracare has reportedly alleged that Adichie and Esege destroyed evidence by choosing to cremate their son's remains, a claim connected to the ongoing inquest. Despite the gravity of the situation, the couple have not filed a lawsuit against the hospital, though both have called for meaningful improvements to Nigeria's healthcare system.
Asked whether anything could bring her back to Nigeria, Adichie said her children might be the only consideration. She noted that her daughter still regards Nigeria as her "happy place," suggesting that maternal ties could yet pull her back, even if her own emotional connection to the country has been irrevocably altered.
For a writer whose work has long been rooted in Nigerian life and culture, the admission carries a particular weight. The country that shaped her literary voice is now the place she says she no longer wishes to return to.
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Mzansi stars address Kempton Park murders
In an earlier report, Briefly News shared online reactions to the Major League DJZ' message, urging Johannesburg women to remain cautious following the deaths of several women in Kempton Park.
Even Nota Baloyi shared his thoughts after a woman went missing in the area after going for a run, saying it was notoriously unsafe.
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Source: Briefly News
