₦airaland Forum

Award-winning Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has spoken about her decision to welcome twin sons via surrogacy, addressing the public reaction and societal pressures surrounding non-traditional paths to motherhood.

Speaking during the #WithChude Live talk hosted by media entrepreneur Chude Jideonwo, Adichie expressed disappointment over the way her personal decision became politicised online, stating that she chose to be transparent about the surrogacy to counter harmful narratives that could pressure other women.

She said, “There are certain things you cannot hide, you cannot hide the existence of two perfect human beings. People just went off with this thing, ‘She’s 47, she’s had babies,’ and I don’t like to lie about things that can be consequential for other people.

“I felt that there were many women who would then be pressured by people and be told ‘Look she’s 47 and she had twins, what about you?"

“An interviewer said to me that I looked so fantastic for someone who just had babies and I’m not going to say oh, thank you because that’s a lie so I said ‘Well, they were born by a surrogate,’ and apparently, I hear that there was a bit of noise about that.

“My boys are so precious to me, and I hated that anything about them would become politicised – so on the one hand I wished I hadn’t talked about it but on the other hand there is no way I am going to lie and claim that I have babies that I didn’t birth myself.”

Speaking about the stigma surrounding fertility challenges, Adichie said, “I think there is so much shame around issues of fertility, that I just think it’s too much of a burden for women.

“Women are ashamed when they have fibroids, women are ashamed when they have trouble getting pregnant, and I don’t believe in that sort of shame.”

She also responded to critics who view surrogacy as dehumanising and acknowledged that it can be done responsibly.

“They think that you cannot rent a woman’s body, they argue that it’s dehumanising. I think it can be, but I think it matters how it’s done. It can be done ethically.

“Also, the same people will say that a woman can do whatever she wants with her body. There’s a contradiction there… that was what all the noise was all about,” she said.

Despite the backlash, Adichie said she had no regrets and emphasised the joy her children have brought her.

She said, “I am hoping that if anything good comes out of this, it would be that more women will feel less ashamed of talking about reaching motherhood through non-traditional means.

“There are other women who have babies by surrogates but they sort of go and hide for nine months or people who adopt babies and they go and hide because our society is so judgemental, and I don’t think that that is good for anybody.

“I think my daughter and my babies are the greatest gifts I’ve been given, so, zero regrets.”

PUNCH Online reported in February that Adichie revealed she gave birth to twin boys in 2024, adding to her family, including her nine-year-old daughter, stating that she was always cautious about revealing too much, particularly when it came to her family.

She also expressed her commitment to raising her twin sons with values that promote gender equality and respect for women.

PressMyButton:
➜Speaking about the stigma surrounding fertility challenges, Adichie said, “I think there is so much shame around issues of fertility, that I just think it’s too much of a burden for women.
“Women are ashamed when they have fibroids, women are ashamed when they have trouble getting pregnant, and I don’t believe in that sort of shame.”
She also responded to critics who view surrogacy as dehumanising and acknowledged that it can be done responsibly.
“They think that you cannot rent a woman’s body, they argue that it’s dehumanising. I think it can be, but I think it matters how it’s done. It can be done ethically.
“Also, the same people will say that a woman can do whatever she wants with her body. There’s a contradiction there… that was what all the noise was all about,” she said.

Kobojunkie:
This just brought a thought to mind. While we congratulate the mother of the babies, shouldn't we also congratulate the surrogate for making it out of the ordeal alive and well? This isn't meant as a jab,so don't bother quoting me to say nonsense.

PressMyButton:
➜I don't want to say what's on my mind. However, this is double standards coming from Chimamanda who is a self acclaimed feminist. Is she not supposed to be a voice for women being a feminist?. Surrogacy is a form of slavery, prostitution, exploitation of a woman's body. She knew she didn't practice what she preaches, little wonder she didn't come out earlier. Like it or not, accept it or not, any baby born through surrogacy does not belong to you biologically.
➜ No matter how some states or countries might legalize it, biologically, the child isn't yours still. Well, I wish her well. But next time, stay one place, if you want to practice feminism, do it with your full chest, otherwise, commot. Reminds me of Linda Ileki preaching abstinence but lo and behold, aunty was busy jumping on Uber to go and collect. I hate double standards.

PressMyButton:
I don't want to say what's on my mind. However, this is double standards coming from Chimamanda who is a self acclaimed feminist. Is she not supposed to be a voice for women being a feminist?. Surrogacy is a form of slavery, prostitution, exploitation of a woman's body. She knew she didn't practice what she preaches, little wonder she didn't come out earlier. Like it or not, accept it or not, any baby born through surrogacy does not belong to you biologically. No matter how some states or countries might legalize it, biologically, the child isn't yours still. Well, I wish her well. But next time, stay one place, if you want to practice feminism, do it with your full chest, otherwise, commot. Reminds me of Linda Ileki preaching abstinence but lo and behold, aunty was busy jumping on Uber to go and collect. I hate double standards.

Kobojunkie:
This is total bullsheet reasoning! 🙄🙄🙄🙄

Bullsheet! 🙄🙄🙄

Eboofa:
I disagree with you completely..............so what about IVF then? this is assisted reproduction, she obviously wants more children and she had one by herself! If a woman is ready to put to bed for her ...whats the big deal! the fact she was open about it is also a big positive!

PressMyButton:
➜While I thought your head was on your shoulders tonight..my bad.
Tell me the agreement between you and a surrogate mother before she agreed to carry your baby and tell me if there's any difference with same agreement as in prostitution. Biologically, a woman whose egg receives the spermatozoa is the mother of the baby. Enough said.

Kobojunkie:
What sort of eeijiotic nonsense is this?

PressMyButton:
I don't want to say what's on my mind. However, this is double standards coming from Chimamanda who is a self acclaimed feminist. Is she not supposed to be a voice for women being a feminist?. Surrogacy is a form of slavery, prostitution, exploitation of a woman's body. She knew she didn't practice what she preaches, little wonder she didn't come out earlier. Like it or not, accept it or not, any baby born through surrogacy does not belong to you biologically. No matter how some states or countries might legalize it, biologically, the child isn't yours still. Well, I wish her well. But next time, stay one place, if you want to practice feminism, do it with your full chest, otherwise, commot. Reminds me of Linda Ikeji preaching abstinence but lo and behold, aunty was busy jumping on Uber to go and collect. I hate double standards.

PressMyButton:
I don't want to say what's on my mind. However, this is double standards coming from Chimamanda who is a self acclaimed feminist. Is she not supposed to be a voice for women being a feminist?. Surrogacy is a form of slavery, prostitution, exploitation of a woman's body. She knew she didn't practice what she preaches, little wonder she didn't come out earlier. Like it or not, accept it or not, any baby born through surrogacy does not belong to you biologically. No matter how some states or countries might legalize it, biologically, the child isn't yours still. Well, I wish her well. But next time, stay one place, if you want to practice feminism, do it with your full chest, otherwise, commot. Reminds me of Linda Ikeji preaching abstinence but lo and behold, aunty was busy jumping on Uber to go and collect. I hate double standards.

Xannadu:
Did you even check the meaning of surrogacy before posting this

NothingDoMe:
There's Gestational and Traditional surrogacy.

One of the above does not require the surrogate to use her own eggs.

PressMyButton:
I don't want to say what's on my mind. However, this is double standards coming from Chimamanda who is a self acclaimed feminist. Is she not supposed to be a voice for women being a feminist?. Surrogacy is a form of slavery, prostitution, exploitation of a woman's body. She knew she didn't practice what she preaches, little wonder she didn't come out earlier. Like it or not, accept it or not, any baby born through surrogacy does not belong to you biologically. No matter how some states or countries might legalize it, biologically, the child isn't yours still. Well, I wish her well. But next time, stay one place, if you want to practice feminism, do it with your full chest, otherwise, commot. Reminds me of Linda Ikeji preaching abstinence but lo and behold, aunty was busy jumping on Uber to go and collect. I hate double standards.

Kobojunkie:
This is total bullsheet reasoning! 🙄🙄🙄🙄

Bullsheet! 🙄🙄🙄

PressMyButton:
Maybe I was wrong, can you provide us with the appropriate definition?

PressMyButton:
While I thought your head was on your shoulders tonight..my bad.
Tell me the agreement between you and a surrogate mother before she agreed to carry your baby and tell me if there's any difference with same agreement as in prostitution.
Biologically, a woman whose egg receives the spermatozoa is the mother of the baby. Enough said.

mrvitalis:
Do you know how surrogacy works?

It's a choice they choose to do it n are paid very well

PressMyButton:
In IVF, it is your own egg that will be used but in surrogacy, it's another woman's egg.. big difference.

Xannadu:
I just did. Please check again. And I think I should know better as it's my line of work. And I'm only countering you so you can stop the misinformation, so you don't end up discouraging so many women out there who find it difficult to have children of on their own. Otherwise I'd have just kept quiet and keep scrolling.

mrvitalis:
So the baby is from the surrogate Eggs? Lmao u don't even know how this things works oga read up

@ bolded the Egg is chimamanda's Egg

Have you seen a feminists against prostitution?

PressMyButton:
While I thought your head was on your shoulders tonight..my bad.
Tell me the agreement between you and a surrogate mother before she agreed to carry your baby and tell me if there's any difference with same agreement as in prostitution.
Biologically, a woman whose egg receives the spermatozoa is the mother of the baby. Enough said.

PressMyButton:
Prostitution is also a choice. Sometimes the less privileged are forced into doing it for the money.

mrvitalis:
I don't know any feminists against prostitution
It's her body her choice

Most prostitutes are feminists... Maybe you don't really understand feminists ideology