Celebrated Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has spoken candidly about her personal battle with depression, describing it as one of the most challenging periods of her life.
In an interview with CNN Africa, Adichie revealed that the experience nearly extinguished her passion for fiction — a passion that has long been central to her identity as a writer.
She explained that the prolonged emotional struggle left her deeply unhappy, describing the constant sadness as a shadow that followed her everywhere and made it difficult to hide her internal turmoil.
The award-winning writer admitted that one of the most painful aspects of that time was her inability to write fiction.
For Adichie, whose sense of self is deeply tied to storytelling, losing the ability to create left her in what she called “a terrible state.”
To cope with the creative silence, she turned to other pursuits such as delivering speeches, reading, and writing poetry. While these activities offered moments of relief, she confessed they did little to fill the void left by her inability to write fiction.
Over time, however, reading her favourite books and immersing herself in poetry helped her slowly reconnect with language and the creative spark she had lost.
She noted that healing did not come quickly, but gradually — with patience, self-compassion, and the quiet return of inspiration.
Adichie described the creative process as a spiritual experience, one that eventually enabled her to finish her latest novel, Dream Count.
She called the book a personal victory, signifying the close of a painful chapter in her life.
The author expressed joy at the novel’s release and gratitude toward the readers who have welcomed it warmly.
She shared that completing the novel felt like reclaiming a vital part of herself — one that had been temporarily lost during her struggle with depression.
