•Chimamanda Adichie
Renowned writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has opened up on her struggles with depression, revealing how it affected her passion for writing fiction.
In an interview with CNN Africa, Adichie said during the challenging period, she felt deeply unhappy, describing depression as a constant shadow that was hard to escape.
She admitted: “I was fighting depression. In that period, just deeply unhappy. Deeply unhappy. And there are ways to try and hide your unhappiness, but you know, it’s there. It’s a constant sort of shadow with you. And it’s not a good place to be.
“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.”
According to her, she tried to fill the creative gap by taking on more speaking engagements, hoping to find inspiration, but often returned feeling miserable, instead, she found solace in reading books and poetry, which helped her reconnect with language and her craft.
“I did a number of things. I tried to distract myself. I said yes to many more things than I ordinarily would because I just thought the writing was not happening. Okay, why don’t I just go and give the speech? And part of it was also, maybe if I go, then I’ll get inspired… but then I wouldn’t. Then I’d come back and be miserable.
“But I think also I did things like I read the books I love. I read a lot more poetry in that period because I think 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 said.
The writer said she views creativity as a spiritual experience, stating that stories come from ancestors and spirits speaking to her.
“There are stories that are — so I call it the ancestors and the spirits speaking to me. So they’re really speaking to me now. And I’m very happy to be running around and singing and dancing for this novel, Dream Count, because it means a lot to me”, she said.
She expressed gratitude after overcoming her struggles and finished her novel, “Dream Count,” which has found success with readers.
“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.”
