Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie says she no longer wants to return to Nigeria after the death of her 21-month-old son, Nkanu. Speaking in an interview with The New York Times, she says the loss has changed her feelings about the country and altered her emotional connection to her homeland.
Several outlets report that Adichie’s son died in January 2026 following a medical emergency at Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital in Lagos. The family was in Nigeria for Christmas when Nkanu developed an illness that led to hospital treatment, including sedation for an MRI, after which he suffered cardiac arrest and died the following day. Adichie has previously accused the hospital of negligence, and a coroner’s inquest is ongoing into the circumstances of his death.
While all accounts focus on her statement about not returning, the framing varies. Legit.ng and multiple Nigerian outlets emphasize her changed attitude toward Nigeria. Premium Times and Punch add details about her account of the final hours and the family’s efforts for accountability, while others reiterate her remarks and the pending inquest. None of the sources present a differing factual conclusion about the core events.
