Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Opens Up on Surrogacy, Motherhood, New Novel in Candid Interview

By Emmanuel Kwada

Renowned Nigerian author and feminist icon Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has sparked widespread conversation with her recent revelations about welcoming twin boys through surrogacy and the societal pressures surrounding fertility. In a heartfelt interview on the first live edition of the WithChude podcast, hosted by media entrepreneur Chude Jideonwo, Adichie addressed the backlash she faced, her motivations for choosing surrogacy, and her commitment to breaking the stigma around non-traditional paths to motherhood.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie & Chude Jideonwo. Credit: Chude on X

The discussion also touched on her latest novel, Dream Count, a long-awaited return to fiction that explores love, loss, and women’s choices. Experts in reproductive health and ethics weigh in on the broader implications of her story.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, 47, is a globally celebrated author known for her novels Half of a Yellow Sun, Americanah, and Purple Hibiscus, as well as her influential feminist essays like We Should All Be Feminists.

Born in Enugu, Nigeria, Adichie studied medicine briefly before pursuing a career in writing, earning degrees from Eastern Connecticut State University, Johns Hopkins University, and Yale University.

My boys are so precious to me

Her work, often centered on themes of identity, gender, and cultural heritage, has garnered numerous awards, including the Orange Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award.

Beyond literature, Adichie is a vocal advocate for gender equality and African storytelling, famously calling for more narratives to preserve the continent’s heritage.

Adichie’s personal life, however, has remained largely private. Married to Nigerian-American physician Ivara Esege, she is a mother of three, including a nine-year-old daughter and twin boys born in 2024. Her decision to share her surrogacy journey has thrust her into a new spotlight, sparking both admiration and criticism.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

In February 2025, Adichie revealed to The Guardian that she had welcomed twin boys, but it was during the WithChude interview on May 2 that she elaborated on her choice to use a surrogate. “My boys are so precious to me,” she said, expressing frustration that their birth became politicized online.

“I hated that anything about them would become politicized. 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’s openness stemmed from a desire to challenge societal stigma. “I want more women to feel less ashamed of talking about reaching motherhood through non-traditional means, especially in a judgmental society,” she stated.

There is no way I am going to lie about the process of birthing them

She recounted an awkward moment when an interviewer complimented her appearance, assuming she had recently given birth. “Some viewers even said I looked fantastic after just having a baby, but I couldn’t say thank you—because it wasn’t true,” she explained, opting instead to disclose the surrogacy.

Her decision was also influenced by the intense societal pressure on women regarding fertility. Adichie highlighted issues like fibroids, infertility, and delayed childbearing, noting, “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.”

Adichie did not delve into specific personal reasons for choosing surrogacy, such as medical or logistical factors, but emphasized ethical considerations.

There is so much shame around issues of fertility that I just think it’s too much of a burden for women

Acknowledging critics who view surrogacy as exploitative, she argued, “They think that you cannot rent a woman’s body, they argue that it’s dehumanizing. I think it can be, but I think it matters how it’s done. It can be done ethically.”

Her stance reflects a belief in women’s autonomy, pointing out the contradiction in critics who support bodily autonomy yet oppose surrogacy. “The same people will say a woman can do whatever she wants with her body. So, there is a contradiction,” she noted.

Adichie’s choice aligns with her broader advocacy for women’s reproductive freedom. She expressed hope that her openness would encourage others to embrace non-traditional paths without shame, stating, “My daughter and my babies are the greatest gift I’ve been given. So—zero regrets.”

My babies are the greatest gift I’ve been given. So—zero regrets

Adichie’s announcement, first made in February 2025, drew mixed reactions. While many praised her candor, others criticized her, particularly on social media. A March 25 post by X user called her decision “ridiculously disappointing,” alleging she viewed her surrogate as a “disposable container.” Another user, @SurrogacyConcern, highlighted risks like sepsis and pre-eclampsia, arguing, “Women are not incubators.” These criticisms framed surrogacy as exploitative, especially when involving economically disadvantaged women.

However, supporters defended Adichie’s choice. X user

Who cares what you think about her? When did surrogacy become a crime? People, even your faves have been doing it but because it is Chimamanda you want to lament.

— Ursula Chigbu (@UChigbu53414) March 25, 2025

The WithChude interview also covered Adichie’s literary return with Dream Count, her first novel in a decade, published in March 2025 by Knopf. Set partly during the COVID-19 lockdown, the novel follows four women in Nigeria and America navigating love, ambition, and loss.

Adichie described it as a reflection on her mother’s death, exploring “dreams and desires” and the “what ifs” of life.

Motherhood, she admitted, posed creative challenges. “I wasn’t sure of the reception for Dream Count, as it was my first book as a person who has children,” she said, noting a decade-long creative block. Despite uncertainties, the novel has been nominated for the 2025 Women’s Prize for Fiction, cementing her literary influence.

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