Singer Segun Johnson has shared how being raised by a single mother shaped his view of his father and how that understanding evolved, offering insight into their family dynamics.
Speaking on the WithChude Podcast, Johnson mentioned that his father was polygamous and explained that his father’s choices were influenced by a common desire among some African men to have a male heir.
“My dad was polygamous. So I realised later when I grew up that my mom just followed the same steps that six other women had followed before her.”
“So most African men usually want to have a male child. Right. So when they get married to a woman and the woman is not giving them a male child, usually you see them chasing the women out of the house.”
Johnson stated that his father’s mindset at the time contributed to his decision to have multiple wives.
“But his orientation and mentality at that time was what led him to being polygamous.”
He recalled growing up with his mother after they left his father’s house when he was about four. “So I grew up under a single mother. I remember, I think we were out of my dad’s house when I was, I think, four.”
“I think one image that I think I can still remember was my mom backing my younger sister, Temidayo, and she had me in her hand. Okay. I think that was leaving the house.”
Johnson said that the story his mother told him, along with his own childhood experiences, made him dislike his father.
“So I actually grew up not liking my dad. Yeah. It was like, ‘Who be this one?’”
However, he shared that hearing his father’s perspective later in life changed his understanding of what really happened.
“I grew up not liking my Dad because of the version of the story my mom told me about him and what I saw as a kid. I was lucky to hear my father’s version of the story then I came to understand why what happened actually happened.”
