Renowned Nigerian author, Chimamanda Adichie reveals why she didn’t announce the birth of her twin sons.
In an exclusive interview, renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie discusses her decision to keep the birth of her twin sons private, her stance on motherhood in the public eye, and her reflections on raising children in today’s world.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is no stranger to the public eye. Since the global success of her novels like Half of a Yellow Sun, Americanah, and We Should All Be Feminists, she has been lauded for her eloquence, intellectual prowess, and candid reflections on the human condition. But while her work has earned her accolades and admiration worldwide, the author has always been fiercely protective of her personal life.
I want to protect my children. I’m OK with having them mentioned. But I don’t want the piece to become about them” – Renowned Nigerian author, Chimamanda Adichie reveals why she didn’t announce the birth of her twin sons.
Her decision not to publicly announce the birth of her twin sons is one of the most notable examples of this. In an intimate conversation, Adichie opened up about her reasoning behind this choice, offering rare insight into her approach to privacy, motherhood, and the unspoken pressures that come with being in the public eye.
When Chimamanda Adichie became a mother, the world didn’t hear about it in the usual way. There were no photos posted on social media, no magazine features, no press releases. Instead, the news of the birth of her twins came to light only months after they had arrived.
For most, the arrival of children is a moment of overwhelming joy, often shared with the world in a celebration of life. In Adichie’s case, however, the arrival of her sons, while a deeply personal and joyous occasion, was also something she chose to keep out of the limelight. As a public figure, she explained, there was something intrinsically sacred and private about the experience of becoming a mother – one that she wasn’t eager to share with the world.
“I want to protect my children,” Adichie confessed during our interview. “I’m OK with having them mentioned, but I don’t want the piece to become about them.”
In a world where public figures are often pressured to share every moment of their lives, from their relationships to their family milestones, Adichie’s desire to shield her children from the public’s gaze is a powerful statement about autonomy, agency, and control.
Adichie’s decision to keep the birth of her children private is not one that stems from a fear of publicity but rather from a conscious effort to carve out a space for her children to exist outside the media frenzy that often surrounds famous individuals. As a writer whose works have had a profound impact on both African literature and global conversations about feminism, race, and identity, Adichie is aware of the ways in which public life can shape personal identity.
Her thoughts on privacy go beyond simply wanting to protect her children from intrusive photographers or gossip columns. For her, it’s about giving them the opportunity to grow up without the weight of expectation that often accompanies the children of public figures. It’s about allowing them to have a childhood free from the constant scrutiny that tends to come with fame.
“There’s something so precious about a child’s right to grow and experience the world without being defined by what people think they should be,” she said thoughtfully. “I’m not just their mother. I’m a woman, I’m a writer, I’m many things. But for me, their privacy is something I want to fiercely protect. They didn’t ask for this life.”
The dilemma Adichie faces is one familiar to many parents in the public eye, particularly those who see their children as separate from their own professional personas. The choice to announce a birth, or to share milestones such as birthdays and first steps, can feel like a necessary gesture to keep fans engaged or to secure deals with lifestyle publications. Yet, for Adichie, such decisions have always been deeply personal – and as she’s demonstrated through her deliberate lack of public announcement, not something to be done for spectacle.
For many people, becoming a parent is a defining chapter in their lives. For Adichie, who has often written about her own experiences with family and identity, motherhood also comes with a unique set of challenges, particularly when one is living under the intense scrutiny of public interest.
In her work, Adichie frequently touches on themes of identity, gender roles, and the complexities of family life. She has penned countless essays and speeches that delve into the multifaceted nature of womanhood and the intersections of race and privilege. It’s within this context that her decision to protect her children’s privacy takes on even greater significance.
“Mothers are often expected to perform in certain ways, particularly in the public eye,” she remarked, reflecting on her experiences as a writer and a woman in the spotlight. “But my children are not public property. My role as their mother is the most important one in my life, and that doesn’t require a social media update every time they learn something new.”
Her thoughts on this matter speak to the heart of her advocacy for women’s autonomy and the importance of control over one’s narrative. As someone who has spent much of her career critiquing the gendered expectations placed on women, Adichie is particularly sensitive to the ways in which women are often reduced to their roles as mothers or wives in the public eye. By choosing not to make her children the subject of public fascination, Adichie is not just protecting their privacy, but also rejecting the pressure to conform to a societal narrative about motherhood that she believes is often reductive.
Adichie’s life, both as a woman and as a mother, is intricately woven into her public persona. However, she continues to walk a delicate line between her professional obligations and her private life. As one of the world’s leading writers, her personal experiences and viewpoints have long been sought after, but as her life has evolved, so too has her understanding of what is worth sharing.
“I’ve always been someone who believes in the power of words,” she explained. “But there is a difference between sharing your thoughts and sharing your entire life. I think people sometimes forget that we, too, have boundaries. That we, too, are allowed to say no.”
For Adichie, this boundary isn’t just about keeping certain aspects of her life private; it’s about being intentional with what she allows the world to see. She explained that while she’s open about her ideas and values, her children’s lives are off-limits. It’s a line she is unwilling to cross, despite the expectations placed on her as a public figure.
“I’m still a person,” she continued, her voice steady. “I’m still allowed to have private joys, private heartaches, and private triumphs. Motherhood is the most sacred experience for me. It’s not a performance.”
Adichie’s decision to protect her children’s privacy also speaks to a broader cultural shift in how public figures view their responsibilities to their families. Increasingly, celebrities, writers, and artists are choosing to keep their personal lives – especially their children’s lives – out of the limelight. In part, this shift is a reaction to the growing power of social media and the ever-present demand for content. In an era where influencers share every aspect of their lives, from meals to moments of vulnerability, Adichie’s stance is both refreshing and radical.
“We live in a time where it’s easy to feel like you have to share everything. But I don’t think that’s true,” she said. “We don’t owe people our children. We don’t owe anyone a curated version of our lives.”
This perspective challenges the dominant narrative in which the personal and professional are often intertwined for public figures. By protecting her children’s privacy, Adichie is reclaiming her agency and, in turn, giving her children the opportunity to grow up without the pressures that come with being constantly observed.
Chimamanda Adichie has always been a writer who grapples with complex themes of identity, history, and self-empowerment. As a mother, she is no different. Her decision to keep the birth of her twin sons private may seem like a small personal choice, but it is emblematic of the larger conversation about the boundaries between the personal and the public.
While her novels continue to resonate with readers around the world, Adichie remains steadfast in her commitment to protecting her family’s privacy. It’s a decision that reflects both the wisdom that comes with experience and the fierce love she has for her children.
“I want them to have their own voices,” she said with conviction. “And for now, that means allowing them to live without the noise of the world intruding on their lives.”
For Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, motherhood is not a spectacle – it’s a private joy. And in a world that demands transparency, her choice to maintain that privacy speaks volumes about her commitment to her children’s well-being and the boundaries she is willing to set in order to safeguard it.
By Anthony Ogbekile
