Acclaimed author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her husband, Dr Ivara Esege, are grieving the loss of one of their twin sons, Nkanu Nnamdi.

The family, through a statement issued by Omawumi Ogbe on Thursday, confirmed that the 21-month-old child passed away on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, following a brief illness.

The statement described the family’s heartbreak and appealed for privacy during this difficult time.

It read, “We are 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 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.”