Blissful unions crashing due to domestic violence, and infidelity, among other reasons necessitating a once happily married couple to part ways over irreconcilable differences, are common in society.
In Nigeria, the statistics in this regard are staggering. But as relatively few episodes of the collapse of marriages among common men and women make the headlines, experiences of celebrities usually spread like wildfire.
The reason is not far-fetched; their alluring role in society made them newsmakers. Recently, some celebrities made the news not just for their talents but over failed marriages. Midweek Entertainment reviewed some of these developments and the lessons that could be learnt from them.
Kunle Afod
Kunle Afod is a renowned Nigerian movie director and actor. The popular Yoruba actor and his wife, Desola, had their white wedding in 2003. However, in a short Instagram post on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, Desola announced the crash of their marriage.
She said, “The good news you wanna hear. I left Kunle Afod.” The actor had yet to give a comment as at the time this report was filed.
Gideon Okeke
In the same vein, Nollywood actor, Gideon Okeke, who married his longtime girlfriend, Chidera Uduezue, in 2018, also took to his Instagram handle to announce that he had separated from the union that produced two lovely sons.
The post read in part, “You wouldn’t believe it if I told you that I’m separated from my marriage right? It is in the interest of clarity and clear conscience that this becomes imperative.”
Funke Akindele
Currently vying for the seat of the Deputy Governor in the forthcoming general elections, popular actress and filmmaker, Funke Akindele, aka Jenifa, got married to filmmaker and director, Abdulrasheed Bello, aka JJC Skillz, in May 2016.
However, around June 2022, her husband announced their separation, noting that the marriage was “beyond repair.”
Chacha Eke
In the same month, Nollywood actress, Chacha Eke, also announced the end of her marriage to movie director, Austin Faani.
“I don’t want to ‘die’ or go inexplicably ‘missing’. For the second time in two years, I am here again on social media boldly declaring that I am done with my marriage,” Eke’s post read in part.
Yewande Adekoya
Nigerian actress and filmmaker, Yewande Adekoya’s marriage also hit the rock bottom in April 2022. The mother of two, while publicising the end of her marriage, said she had been experiencing emotional abuse for 14 years.
Korra Obidi
Few weeks after welcoming their second child, singer and dancer, Korra Obidi, separated from her American husband, Justin Dean, in March 2022.
Other celebrities whose marriages crashed include popular dancer, Kafayat Shafau, aka Kaffy, who separated from her husband, Joseph Ameh, in 2021; actor, Blossom Chukwujekwu, who separated from his wife, Maureen Esision, in 2019; musician, Sidney Esiri, aka Dr Sid, whose wife took to Instagram to declare that their marriage was over; actress, Osas Ighodaro, who parted ways with Gbenro Ajibade, in 2019, among others.
In her reaction, a retired Professor of Psychology, University of Lagos, Ibinabo Agiobu-Kemmer, said celebrities were prone to flaws like every human, adding that fame compounds their cases.
She said, “There is a vacuum in the home and in the church because that is where the values of the marriage institution should be properly portrayed for the young ones. Afterall, is it not God that instituted marriage? Whether you are a Muslim or a Christian, it is in the home, the Church or the Mosque that values are taught.
“But if there is a vacuum or the values aren’t strong enough to educate the young ones that this is the pattern of the society, something is definitely wrong. When this vacuum is there, these young ones turn to their peer groups who advise them wrongly.
“We call them celebrities because they are in the eye of the public but their situations are not much different from what ordinary people face every day in society. No matter what, marriage is still desirable for many people.
Agiobu-Kemmer said the public would not let celebrities be, adding that many of them were not wise enough to hide their privacy.
“Somebody needs to counsel them and tell them to keep their home affairs private, this is a part of their problems. If you know your job puts you in the public eye, then draw a line and give boundaries because the public is looking for scapegoats, amusement and entertainment,” she added.
Contacted, a relationship coach and marriage counsellor, Ijeoma Popoola, said the reason why celebrity marriages fail was that celebrities only prepare for a wonderful wedding and not the marriage itself.
“As cliche as this may sound, I would say build your romantic relationships on the right foundation. I think upcoming celebrities should understand that fame, money and power can work against them more than for them when it comes to romantic relationships if they do not know how to combine that with marriage,” Popoola said.
