Though she hadn’t publicly announced their birth, it was clear that Adichie had been quietly embracing this beautiful new chapter of motherhood. And at 47, it’s a powerful reminder that God’s timing is never late.

For many women waiting on the Lord for the blessing of children, Adichie’s story is one of hope and resilience. Sometimes, the journey looks different from what we imagined, and the waiting can feel long, but delay is not denial. God is still in the business of doing the impossible; her story is a testament to that.

Beyond this new chapter of her personal life, Adichie is also stepping back into the literary world with her upcoming novel, Dream Count. After a 10-year hiatus from fiction, she’s returning with a deeply moving story about four women navigating love, longing, and identity across Nigeria and the U.S. The book dives into themes of immigration, marriage, and women’s pressures, making it another thought-provoking addition to her body of work.

Chimamanda’s journey as a mother and a writer reminds us that there is no “perfect” timeline for life’s biggest blessings.  Whether you’re waiting on motherhood, a breakthrough, or a dream long buried, take heart: when the time is right, it will happen.

Chimamanda Adichie’s latest chapter is proof that God writes the best stories.

Chimamanda was born into a family that valued education, and while she was always driven to succeed, her path was never an easy one. At just 19, Chimamanda faced the heart-wrenching loss of her father, James Nwoye Adichie, in a tragic car accident. This was a turning point in her life. Losing her father, someone she was incredibly close to, left her in a place of deep grief and uncertainty. It would be easy to see how this would cause anyone to question their faith, but Chimamanda’s belief in God became a source of strength, even in her darkest moments. While mourning, she drew on her faith to help her heal and keep moving forward, understanding that her purpose in life was much bigger than the pain she felt.

As Chimamanda moved into the literary world, her struggles didn’t end with loss. She faced criticism and rejection from publishers who didn’t understand her message. Writing about topics like gender inequality, political unrest, and the struggles women face in society was controversial. Yet, despite the setbacks, she continued to push forward. Her faith kept her grounded, knowing that her voice needed to be heard. She believed that she was called to speak on behalf of those whose voices were often silenced, especially women. With each rejection, her faith grew stronger, and with every page she wrote, she became more determined to share her story with the world.

But even as her career soared, the challenges didn’t stop. After years of living abroad, Chimamanda found herself battling loneliness and isolation. The pressures of being away from home, constantly adjusting to new cultures, and the expectations of being an African woman in the global literary scene took a toll on her. Yet again, it was her faith that allowed her to weather the storm. She leaned on God, trusted in His timing, and understood that everything she was going through had a purpose.

Then, in 2019, Chimamanda faced another devastating loss—the passing of her beloved mother, Grace Ifeoma Adichie. Losing her mother was another heartbreaking chapter in her life, and it shook her to the core. However, this time, her faith had deepened. She knew that grief was part of life, but she also knew that her strength came from her relationship with God. Despite the sadness, Chimamanda’s belief in her purpose kept her going. She believed that her story was far from over and that her mother’s legacy of strength and resilience would live on through her.

Chimamanda’s story is one of triumph through trials. From the loss of her father to the challenges of her career, and the heartbreak of losing her mother, she has faced immense struggles. But through it all, her faith has been a constant source of strength. It has allowed her to keep going when everything else seemed impossible. Her story is a powerful reminder that no matter what life throws at us, our faith in God and our belief in ourselves will carry us through.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie continues to inspire millions with her work and her journey. Her story teaches us that we don’t have to be perfect, and we don’t have to have everything figured out. We just need faith, resilience, and the courage to keep going—even when the road is tough.

Today, let’s throw it back to that time between the late 90’s and the early 2000s when reading a book was really a thing of delight for the Nigerian child. If you ever attended primary school or secondary school in Nigeria, then you should be able to relate to this.

Here are a few books I remember reading in my younger days. Do you remember them to?

Chike and the River: This book, written by Chinua Achebe, was written with the mischievous kids in mind because it was used to caution us at school. It tells the story of a young Chike who left his mother in the village to go to the city to study. He also achieved his goal of crossing the bridge to Asaba, and got caught up in a lot of mishaps: Missed the ferry, landed in a bus, and other conundrums.

Eze Goes To School: There is no way you didn’t read this if you attended primary or secondary school in Nigeria. I’m pretty sure some of us still have our copies at home (at least, I still do). A fine tale of how Eze left home to attend school, the struggles he faced and everything in between.

Without a silver spoon: This was one of the books that caught my eye immediately I saw it amongst my brother’s stack of books. One would imagine the author had, at some point in his life, experienced these things first hand. The main theme of the book is that ‘honesty is the best policy’ especially for preteens and teenagers who are exceptional at lying. Honesty is the best policy kids!

Joys of motherhood: One of my favorite books ever! Of course it had to be on this list. I fell in love with “The Joys of Motherhood” the moment it was handed over to me back in Secondary School – JSS3 to be precise. It was set in two parts of Nigeria, rural Ibuza, where traditional values and lifestyles were maintained, and the urban Lagos, where traditional values gave way to the pressures of Western education, capitalism, and the mixture of various cultures (Hausa, Yoruba, Ibo, and European). If you haven’t read it, you should cop your copy now via amazon.

Sugar girl: This one in particular made me bawl my eyes out. It is a story of a poor, sweet adorable village girl, Ralia who spent all day taking care of her sick parents instead of going to school because of abject poverty yet aunty wicked witch, Ayawa wouldn’t let Ralia be. I mean, the poor girl already had enough troubles to deal with. Why kidnap her again? As expected, sweet Ralia won the sympathy of our darling little hearts. The book kept us on our toes because one kept anticipating what would happen next.

This is all we have for today’s throwback Thursday. Which of these were your favorite(s) back then?

Is there any book you think we didn’t include on the list that you feel deserved to be included? Let us know in the comments section below.

Photo credit: Instagram

“If we can’t treat each other right, amongst ourselves, how can we expect the government or people in authority to have any tinge of respect for us?” – Atoke.