The Lagos launch of ‘How Depression Saved My Life’, the new memoir by award-winning filmmaker and media entrepreneur Chude Jideonwo, unfolded as one of the most emotionally resonant literary moments of the year. Held on January 29th, the event drew an intimate gathering of cultural leaders, creatives, and public figures who came not just to celebrate a book, but to sit with truth. In a room charged with honesty, media icon Betty Irabor was visibly moved to tears, capturing the emotional weight and vulnerability that defined the evening.
The book, which has since become an Amazon Top 100 Bestseller, explores Jideonwo’s personal journey through clinical depression and the unlikely ways it reshaped his understanding of joy, faith, ambition, and healing. Conversations at the launch reflected the book’s central thesis: that emotional honesty is not weakness, but power. In a culture where success is often performed and pain concealed, ‘How Depression Saved My Life’ insists on a more humane narrative. Guests including Funke Akindele, Shaffy Bello, MI Abaga, and Pat Utomi bore witness to moments of deep reflection, shared silences, and personal reckonings that extended far beyond the pages of the book.
More than a celebration, the launch affirmed the book’s growing cultural relevance and urgency. As readers lined up to have their copies signed, many lingered to share their own stories, showing the ripple effect of Jideonwo’s work.
‘How Depression Saved My Life’ has quickly positioned itself as both a personal memoir and a social intervention, opening space for conversations Nigeria urgently needs around mental health, and emotional wellbeing. In a society learning, slowly, to make room for vulnerability, the book’s impact is already clear, and its journey has only just begun.
‘How Depression Saved My Life’ is now available in all bookstores and on Amazon and Kindle. You can also visit book.withchude.com to get a copy.
