Media entrepreneur and storyteller Chude Jideonwo is set to formally begin the global journey of his deeply personal memoir, How Depression Saved My Life, with two landmark book launch events scheduled for January 29, 2026. The launches mark a significant moment in Chude’s career and personal journey, opening a new chapter focused on mental health, faith, purpose, and joy.

Chude announced the launch dates after deliberately shifting the book’s rollout from 2025 to 2026. According to him, the decision was intentional. After what he described as an intense year, he chose to give the memoir the emotional presence, clarity, and focus it deserved. The book, which has already generated strong anticipation within media and wellness circles, is positioned not just as a personal story, but as the beginning of a wider conversation.

The book will be unveiled through two carefully curated events that reflect the spirit of the memoir itself. The first is an intimate book party limited to 100 culture leaders, bringing together thinkers, creators, and builders who have influenced conversations across media, business, arts, and public life. This private gathering is designed to encourage thoughtful dialogue rather than spectacle, setting a reflective tone for the book’s journey.

The second event is a global invite-only book launch welcoming 1,000 members of the #WithChude community. Attendees include close friends, family members, collaborators, and long-time supporters who have followed Chude’s work and advocacy over the years. Together, the two events are meant to mirror the core themes of the memoir: depth over noise, honesty over performance, and community over hype.

Chude’s team describes the launch not as a one-day celebration but as the foundation of a movement rooted in vulnerability, shared humanity, and intentional living.

How Depression Saved My Life is a candid exploration of Chude’s personal experience with depression and how confronting it reshaped his understanding of himself, his faith, and his purpose. Rather than presenting depression solely as an enemy, the memoir examines how painful seasons can become turning points when faced with honesty and support.

The book adds to the growing body of African narratives addressing mental health from lived experience, a space that has historically been underrepresented or treated with stigma. Chude’s approach blends storytelling, reflection, and spiritual insight, making the book accessible to readers navigating their own emotional challenges.

Mental health advocates have already praised the project for centering vulnerability without sensationalism, and for framing healing as a journey rather than a destination.

Global Book Tour Begins February 2026

Following the launch events, How Depression Saved My Life will embark on an international tour running from February to April 2026. Planned stops include Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Cape Town, Accra, London, Manchester, Berlin, New York, and Toronto.

Each city will host intimate gatherings designed to create safe spaces for reflection and open dialogue around mental wellbeing, faith, and emotional resilience. Rather than large-scale performances, the tour emphasizes connection, conversation, and presence, allowing attendees to engage meaningfully with the themes of the book.

Chude has described the tour as an opportunity to “hold space” for people who may be carrying unspoken struggles, reinforcing that the project is as much about listening as it is about storytelling.

Chude Jideonwo is widely known for his work as a media entrepreneur and host of WithChude, a platform built on honest, vulnerable conversations with public figures across Africa and the diaspora. His memoir represents a personal extension of that work, turning the lens inward while inviting others to reflect on their own journeys.

As anticipation builds ahead of tomorrow’s launch, many within the #WithChude community see the memoir as a timely contribution to conversations about mental health in Africa and beyond, particularly in a world still grappling with collective fatigue and emotional strain.