Adichie-Sister-Essay-2016

News of Adichie’s pregnancy surfaced on the internet in July. [read here if you missed it.]

We have since heard that the Adichie-Esege baby has graced the world with its presence. Adichie returned to work soon after. She was in Paris earlier this year [read here],  in addition to two speaking engagements in the US. But she has kept a generally low profile and fans have been itching to see the newly-minted mom-of-one.

In Vanity Fair‘s May issue celebrating sisterhood, Adichie has a piece about her relationship with her older sister, Uche. As usual, the essay does not disappoint. It hits all the high notes we’ve come to expect from Adichie’s writing—gorgeously crafted sentences and deliciously girlie details about sisters-in-love.

“When she was at home from boarding school, she once sneaked into my mother’s wardrobe and took her high-heeled sandals back to school. They were promptly seized by a prefect. She told my mother about it more than 10 years later, describing the sandals in detail, laughing. She laughs easily and often. She sends funny jokes by e-mail and WhatsApp….To be her little sister  is to feel always that a firm cushion exists at my back. [read more]

We could go on and on about how lovely the essay is, but we figured it’s way more fun deconstructing the accompanying photograph for signs of post-baby wellbeing.

The photograph is recent enough. Adichie and her sister are smiling into the camera while standing in a slightly model-like pose. It’s hard to believe her sister is 50 years old, 30-something maybe, but not 50. Adichie is equally age-defying. She is wearing a print top with a pair of red shorts. The bright colors match the glow in her face. Her afro is bigger and thicker than usual. Her hair has grown longer. It suits her.

If this photograph is anything to go by, there is enough glow all round to prove that the award winning author is carrying the joys and troubles of motherhood with all the grace and beauty her fans imagined she would.

Congrats to Adichie!