Renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has spoken out about the emotional backlash she faced after revealing she welcomed twins through surrogacy.
In a heartfelt interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, the award-winning writer shared how deeply personal the experience was for her and her husband, Dr. Ivara Esege.
The public’s reaction, however, left her feeling conflicted.
“My boys are so precious to me. And I hated that anything about them would become politicised,” she revealed.
“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.”
The non-traditional motherhood path she embraced became a public conversation, but Adichie chose to lean into honesty.
She made it clear that her openness was about more than just her personal story it was about standing up for many women who feel silenced or shamed.
“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,”
she said. “Because our society is so judgemental, and I don’t think that that is good for anybody.”
Moreover, Adichie expressed concern about the unrealistic pressure society places on women regarding fertility.
She highlighted how people often hold up examples like hers to pressure others unfairly.
“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?’” she said.
Furthermore, she spoke against the shame linked to common fertility issues.
“Women are ashamed when they have fibroids, women are ashamed when they have issues getting pregnant, and I don’t believe in that sort of shame,” she explained.
This bold stance by the Americanah author reflects not just her personal courage but also her commitment to dismantling societal taboos.
For many, her openness offers a message of strength and reassurance.
Ending on a joyful note, Adichie affirmed her love for her children, saying, “My daughter and my babies are the greatest gift I’ve been given. So zero regrets.”
