Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie returns to The New Yorker with “Chuka”

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a widely recognised Nigerian writer, has returned to short fiction with a new story titled “Chuka,” published in The New Yorker on February 17 and February 24, 2025. This story is adapted from her upcoming novel, Dream Count, to be released in March.

Adichie’s first story in The New Yorker, “Cell One,” was published years ago, marking the beginning of her engagement with the magazine. Since then, she has gained global recognition for her novels, including Half of a Yellow Sun, which won the Orange Prize for Fiction, and Americanah, which received the National Book Critics Circle Award. Her most recent short story before Chuka was Zikora, which explored themes of motherhood and family.

In her previous short story, Zikora, published in 2020, Adichie explored themes of motherhood, relationships, and cultural expectations through the lens of a woman navigating the complexities of childbirth and family dynamics. Like “Chuka,” Zikora showcased Adichie’s ability to delve into intimate human experiences with clarity and emotional resonance.

Read also: Chimamanda Adichie sets March 2025 for release of latest novel

Adichie reads “Chuka” on The New Yorker’s The Writer’s Voice “I have always longed to be known, truly known by another human being, sometimes we live for years with yearnings that we cannot name until a crack appears in the sky and widens…” Listen here.

Adichie has built a career in storytelling that resonates with readers across cultures. Her ability to capture personal and collective histories has positioned her as one of the most influential writers of her generation. Her works often address themes of identity, displacement, love, and power dynamics, making them widely discussed in literary and academic circles.

Dream Count, the novel from which Chuka is drawn, is expected to continue Adichie’s exploration of personal and societal themes. Her novels and essays often draw from real-life experiences, blending fiction with the realities of contemporary African and global identities.

Her previous novels have left a lasting impact on readers and critics alike. Half of a Yellow Sun explored the Nigerian Civil War through personal narratives, bringing historical events to life with intimate storytelling. Americanah examined race, immigration, and love, engaging readers with its honest portrayal of lived experiences. Her work in nonfiction, including We Should All Be Feminists, has also sparked important discussions on gender and society.

As Dream Count approaches its release, anticipation grows. The novel is expected to build upon the themes introduced in Chuka.