Award-winning Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has returned to the literary world with the release of Dream Count, her first novel in over ten years. The book, which explores themes of identity, love, and resilience, is her first long-form fiction since the widely acclaimed Americanah in 2013.
Adichie, celebrated for her compelling storytelling and exploration of complex social issues, revealed that the long gap between novels was due in part to major life changes, including the birth of her daughter and the loss of her parents, which she attributes to writer’s block.
“It’s a really frightening place to be because writing is the thing that gives me meaning,” the acclaimed Nigerian author, 47, said in a recent interview.
“I’m not sure that it was just entirely physiological but something changed, and I just could not get back into that magical place where I can write fiction,” she continued.
The challenges of balancing motherhood with creative work, coupled with the grief of losing her parents, significantly impacted her writing process.
“Grief recedes but only in waves and then, at some point, it comes back,” she explains about the loss of her parents. “Your heart really is very heavy, you feel as though your body is somehow no longer able to carry the weight of your heart.”
However, the loss of her mother eventually led her back to fiction, with Dream Count taking shape amid personal transformation and global upheaval.
Set against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dream Count follows the lives of four women—Chiamaka, Zikora, Omelogor, and Kadiatou—whose personal and professional struggles intertwine between Nigeria and the United States.
The novel examines themes of friendship, ambition, and the emotional toll of life’s unexpected turns. Chiamaka, a Nigerian-born travel writer navigating lockdown in the U.S., reminisces on past relationships, while Zikora, a high-flying lawyer, Omelogor, a daring banker, and Kadiatou, a housekeeper facing adversity, each grapple with their own challenges. Through their intertwined narratives, Adichie paints a vivid picture of resilience and female solidarity.
Adichie’s return to fiction has been met with widespread excitement, particularly in Nigeria, where she remains a literary icon. Her ability to capture everyday realities with unfiltered honesty has made her a beloved storyteller both at home and internationally.
Dream Count is now available in bookstores and online platforms such Nuria Bookstore, Textbook Centre and Soma Nami with a price range beginning at KSh. 2,200 to KSh. 2,900 depending on the bookstore.
