Renowned Nigerian author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, has revealed that she once battled with depression a dark season that nearly silenced her passion for fiction.
Speaking in an interview with CNN Africa, the award-winning writer of Half of a Yellow Sun and Americanah admitted that during that period, she was “deeply unhappy” despite attempts to mask it.
“I was fighting depression. In that period, just deeply unhappy. And there are ways to try and hide your unhappiness, but it’s there. It’s a constant sort of shadow with you. And it’s not a good place to be,” she said.
Adichie explained that one of the most painful parts of that struggle was losing the ability to write fiction—something she describes as her greatest love.
“So in the years that I couldn’t write, and really not being able to write fiction when fiction is a thing that you deeply love—it’s just a terrible place to be,” she added.
In an attempt to fill the void, the celebrated writer took on more speaking engagements and activities than usual, hoping to find inspiration, but often returned feeling even more miserable.
Books and poetry, however, became her refuge.
“I read the books I love. I read a lot more poetry in that period because poetry really helps with language. But also, in the end, it’s just about waiting and hoping. You’re not in control of this thing,” she shared.
Describing her creativity as spiritual, Adichie said stories often come to her like messages from “ancestors and spirits.”
She expressed joy and gratitude for completing her latest novel, Dream Count, which she says represents resilience after a season of silence.
“I’m grateful that I finished it, finally. I’m grateful that it’s out. I’m grateful that it’s found its readers. I’m grateful that, in some ways, really, honestly, it’s kind of everything I hoped it would be.”