Award-winning Nigerian author and feminist thought leader, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, has opened up about a deeply personal chapter of her life, welcoming twins through surrogacy and the social backlash that followed the revelation.
In a heartfelt and enlightening interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, the globally acclaimed writer spoke candidly about navigating the challenges of motherhood, societal expectations, and the stigma surrounding fertility journeys that fall outside conventional norms.
“My boys are so precious to me. And I hated that anything about them would become politicised. So, on the one hand, I thought, ‘I wish I hadn’t talked about it.’ But on the other hand, there is no way I am going to lie about the process of birthing them,” Adichie revealed.
Known for powerful literary works such as Half of a Yellow Sun, Purple Hibiscus, and Americanah, Adichie has long been celebrated for her fearless voice in challenging cultural taboos. Now, she is using her platform once again, this time, to dismantle the silence and shame that often surround fertility issues and non-traditional paths to parenthood.
“I am hoping that if anything good comes out of this, it would be that more women are less ashamed of talking about reaching motherhood through non-traditional means. Because our society is so judgemental, and I don’t think that that is good for anybody,” she said.
Chimamanda Adichie, who is now a proud mother of three with her husband, Dr. Ivara Esege, emphasized the need for empathy and nuance in conversations about motherhood. She noted the harmful comparisons that often follow public figures who have children later in life, warning against the undue pressure it can place on other women.
“I felt that there were many women who would then be pressured by people saying, ‘Look, Chimamanda is 47, and she had kids at that age; what about you?’ And just in general, I think there is so much shame around issues of fertility that I just think it’s too much of a burden for women,” she stated.
She went further to call out the societal judgement women face over reproductive health conditions like fibroids or delayed pregnancies.
“Women are shamed when they have fibroids, women are shamed when they have issues getting pregnant, and I don’t believe in that sort of shame,” Adichie added firmly.
Despite the criticism, the celebrated writer made it clear that her journey into motherhood has been one of profound joy and fulfillment.
“My daughter and my babies are the greatest gift I’ve been given. So, zero regrets.”
Adichie’s brave disclosure not only highlights her personal resilience but also contributes to an essential conversation around acceptance, honesty, and freedom of reproductive choices; an advocacy as powerful as her pen.
