Singer Waje has paid tribute to her late father on the first anniversary of his death.
The 42-year-old who won the Best Vocal Performance (Female) at this year’s Headies, posted a video from her dad’s funeral on Instagram Tuesday with the caption: “It’s 1 year since dad’s burial. Rest on daddy.”
Waje has previously spoken about her close relationship with her family and their support after she found out she was pregnant as a teenager.
“I know I had a very strong support system. My mum was there for me, my brothers, my family,” she told Arise Play in 2021.
“Nobody made you feel bad. What was important to my family was me going back to school and being the Waje I’m today.”
“In her early years, my mum took her. My mum’s sister helped as well. So I didn’t have that story of being dejected. Of course, people made me feel that way, we’re in Nigeria. It’s a normal thing but I’m still here. That’s my story.”
She also talked about her pastor’s reaction after finding out that she was pregnant with her daughter Emerald, who is now 22.
“I got into a relationship in SS3 and the relationship went from ‘puppy love’ to sexual. At that time, I felt I loved him and that (sex) was the only way I could express my love,” she recalled.
“At that time, I saw a fine boy who liked me, though we quarreled on several occasions. I didn’t understand the responsibility that came with making decisions like that.
“I got pregnant. One afternoon, someone came to my house and told me my pastor wanted to see me. I knew that day, there were two things that would happen ― either I died or I died.
“Everything in me drained. I went to see the pastor. He was in a conference room with others and he said to me, ‘If you lie, you will die, because you are standing in front of God, holy spirit, and me.’
“He asked me, ‘Are you pregnant?’ and I said, ‘Yes’. He was so disappointed. He told me he wanted to see me in church every Wednesday and Sunday but I would no longer sing in the choir.”
