Chimamanda Adichie’s story of dealing with grief, cancel culture and birthing twins inspires me deeply.
I first discovered “Purple Hibiscus” by Chimamanda Adichie when I read it as a required literature text for my final school examination, and it captivated me. Driven by a desire to experience Adichie’s brilliance again, I reread the book during her 10-year fiction hiatus. Since that time, I have also read “Americanah,” “Half of a Yellow Sun,” and “The Thing Around Your Neck.” What remains undeniable is the way the renowned author wields intelligence as a powerful weapon, one she uses with unmatched skill.
In an interview with The Guardian, Adichie — known for keeping a private life — opens up about her experiences during her hiatus and welcoming twins. She also shared details about her highly anticipated book, “Dream Count,” set to be released in 2025. It marks her long-awaited return to fiction writing.
Relating with death’s inevitability
Perhaps the most difficult, and yet defining event of her hiatus was dealing with her parents’ death, all within months of each other. As someone who has had to deal with loss, reading Adichie’s “Notes on Grief”, written after her father’s death from kidney failure, gave me words to describe the insanity that comes with loss. As Adichie rightfully puts it, “It makes you think about your own mortality, but also, ‘What do I care about? What matters?’”
Initially, she thought she didn’t possess the words to write about her mother. When she tried it head-on, “there was nothing”. So she started “Dream Count”, the realisation of what it was truly about only coming to her much later. She said, “and only when I was almost done did I realise, my God, it’s about my mother. It wasn’t intentional. I’m happy that it’s not a sad book. She wouldn’t want a sad book dedicated to her.”
Although the book isn’t particularly about death or grief, I am personally excited to see Adichie’s brilliance in turning her grief into something beautiful.
Adichie’s encounter with Cancel Culture and its impact on her career
“Cancel culture” began with the intention of holding people accountable for their actions and words, but I think it has since evolved into a practice of swift judgments and public shaming. In 2017, Adichie experienced the harsh side of this shift. Known for her unwavering advocacy for women’s rights and outspoken views on gender, she found herself “cancelled” for sharing her opinions on biological gender and identity.
In an interview with Channel 4 News to highlight the treatment of women, she was asked whether a transgender woman was “any less of a real woman”, to which she replied, “a trans woman is a trans woman.” She went on, “I think if you’ve lived in the world as a man with the privileges that the world accords to men and then change gender, it’s difficult for me to accept that we can equate your experience with the experience of a woman who has lived from the beginning as a woman and who has not been accorded those privileges that men are.”
The author faced consequent backlash, prompting her to write a blog post expressing horror at the accusations of transphobia, and reiterating her support for trans rights — but there was no doubt her career had been affected. For a while, it seemed as if there were only two headlines available: “Chimamanda apologises” or “Chimamanda refuses to apologise”.
Although time has passed since the incident, Adichie refuses to talk about it. The closest she comes to the subject is “Cancel culture is bad. We should stop it. End of story.”
The joys and reality of motherhood
As a person with unique opinions on motherhood — my mother’s prayers are a testament — seeing Adichie open up about the bittersweet experience of being a mother resonated deeply with me. In her interview with BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour in 2023, she discusses how motherhood is a glorious gift that comes at a cost. “I could probably have written two novels had I not had my child… I didn’t want to leave such a long gap between novels.”
“When I got pregnant [with her first child], something just happened. I had several years in which I was almost existentially frightened that I wouldn’t write again. It was unbearable.” Adichie’s candid discussion on motherhood highlights the need for more open and informed conversations, enabling women to make the right choices.
Adiche’s first experience with motherhood was indeed ‘memorable,’ and for the first time, she shares the news about welcoming twin boys at 47. The author, however, remained hesitant to share further details about her children, emphasising that she does this solely for their protection.
About “Dream Count”
True to the author’s niche of detailing women’s experiences — which always captivates me — “Dream Count” features the interwoven stories of four women. The book covers immigrant experiences, the multiple dynamics of mother-daughter relationships, the pressure on women to marry and have children, as well as issues surrounding late motherhood.
Adichie says that the thought of writing about the “gritty reality” of women’s bodies and the obstacles to women’s lives caused by gynaecology has lingered in her mind for a long time. She envisioned demystifying experiences like Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), fibroids, and the often traumatic birthing experience.
However, her reluctance to discuss these stemmed from the fear of fuelling society’s tendency to mock such topics. Personally, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had my experiences with PMS, or my opinions about motherhood and childbirth reduced to a mere triviality.
It gladdens my heart that Adichie — in her new book — has finally decided to speak on these issues with utmost openness, making it a must-read for me. “If one is writing honestly about women’s lives… we have to talk about these issues openly because they affect everything. They affect how well a woman does, and her emotional well-being, including how they get in the way of your dreams.”
Adichie’s commitment to writing about women’s lives in a way that feels truthful and wholesome has always drawn me to her works. Knowing that writing fiction brings her utmost joy fuels my anticipation, and that of many readers, to witness her brilliance shine again in “Dream Count”, which she will release on 4 March 2025.
