Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie revealed she once battled severe depression that halted her fiction writing.
She said reading poetry and staying patient helped her slowly reconnect with creativity and hope.
Renowned Nigerian novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has disclosed that she once endured a period of severe depression that left her feeling empty and unable to write fiction her greatest passion.
Speaking in a recent interview, Adichie described the time as one of the most painful chapters of her life. She said she felt as though a “persistent darkness” was always hanging over her, and that it became difficult to hide how deeply unhappy she was.
According to the award-winning author, she tried to keep herself busy by taking on more public speaking engagements than usual, hoping the change of pace would help. Instead, she often returned from such events feeling more drained and miserable.
Adichie explained that, when fiction writing was no longer flowing, she immersed herself in books and poetry. This practice, she said, helped her reconnect with language and creativity. She noted that during such moments of creative block, patience and hope are essential because “stories arrive on their own, as if carried by spirits or ancestors.”
She added that overcoming that difficult period and finding her way back to fiction brought her immense relief and happiness.
