AfriPulse
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has openly discussed her struggle with depression.
In a CNN Africa interview, she shared that this battle nearly silenced her passion for writing fiction.
The revelation highlights the impact of mental health on creativity and artistic expression.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has revealed that she battled with depression.
In an interview with CNN Africa, she said it almost silenced her love for fiction.
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.”
The writer explained that one of the hardest parts of that season was not being able to write fiction, something she deeply loves.
“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.”
She recalled trying to fill the gap with other activities:
“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 is 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.”
According to her, books and poetry became her safe space.
“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 described her creativity as something spiritual:
“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.”
Finally, she expressed gratitude for overcoming that dark season:
“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.”
Source: GistLover | Read the Full Story…
