Speaking in an interview with The New York Times, Adichie was asked whether Nigeria still felt close to her heart.
“My feelings toward Nigeria have changed,” she responded, adding, “I do not want to go back to Nigeria.”
Nkanu, one of her twin boys, died in December 2025 following a medical emergency at Euracare in Nigeria.
Adichie said the child initially developed a fever and was placed on antibiotics by her husband, Ivara Esege. However, he was later taken to hospital after his condition failed to improve.
According to the author, Nkanu was sedated with propofol during an MRI scan before suffering cardiac arrest. He died the following day.
Recalling the incident, Adichie said a doctor approached her after the procedure and told her, “Well, look, they gave him too much Propofol.”
She added, “Those were his exact words, which I will never forget until the day I die.”
Adichie had previously raised allegations of medical negligence over her son’s treatment. The circumstances surrounding his death are currently the subject of a coroner’s inquest amid disagreements between the family and the hospital.
The author said her children could be the only reason she might return to Nigeria, noting that her daughter still regards the country as her “happy place”.
Reflecting on her grief, Adichie said, “I mean, it is so surreal, all of this. I still can’t believe we’re talking about my son who died.”
“You’re going through something, but you also feel like you’re outside of it,” she added.
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