The family of US-based Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has confirmed the tragic loss of one of her toddler twins.

In an official statement, the family said they were “devastated by this profound loss” following the death of the 21-month-old boy, Nkanu Nnamdi, who passed away on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, after a brief illness.

The statement, issued on the family’s behalf by Omawumi Ogbe, expressed gratitude to well-wishers for their support and requested continued prayers and privacy as the family mourns during this difficult period.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, 48, welcomed her first child, a daughter, in 2016. She later became a mother to twin boys in 2024 through a surrogate, with her husband, Dr Ivara Esege.

Last year, she revealed about how the writer’s block she experienced during her first pregnancy was “terrifying,” describing it as a deeply unsettling period in her life.

“It’s a really frightening place to be, because writing is the thing that gives me meaning,” the acclaimed author told Emma Barnett of the BBC.

President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, also expressed his condolences, writing on X: “No grief is as devastating as losing a child. I empathise with the family at this difficult time.”

Adichie is an internationally acclaimed author, best known for celebrated works such as Half of a Yellow Sun and Americanah. Her influence extends beyond literature, with her 2012 TED Talk and essay, We Should All Be Feminists, later sampled by Beyoncé on the 2013 song Flawless.