Davido: Has success become a bane for marital responsibility?
Nigerian male artistes are among the most successful artistes on the continent but the growing trend of their sexual and marital irresponsibility is becoming disturbing.
Hardly would anyone believe me - except for my copyeditor - if I said that I had the idea of this opinion piece a few days before Father's Day with the intention to publish it days after.
I found it an interesting coincidence that Davido took over the trend charts barely a week after for his women-empowering exploits. Perhaps another lesson to always execute on time. Nonetheless, the timing even feels rather perfect to discuss the sexual and marital comportment of male music superstars.
The events of this year are enough to raise an argument without having to go back in time to remind you of 2Baba’s many baby mamas, Wizkid’s own trail of having multiple mothers for his children or Yul Edochie’s distressing polygamous disputes, among numerous others.
2Baba is probably the GOAT when it comes to baby mamas and the attendant drama. His children are now grown-ups and after his renewal of nuptial vows with Annie Idibia, we thought we had seen the end of it until he publicly stated in season two of Young, Famous and African that:
“Like it or not, men are wired like that. A man would love a woman to hell… His dick would just decide something [else].”
He adds, in that same conversation, “He will fuck but he won’t even give a fuck about that person. He just wants to sort out that shit.”
When quizzed by Annie, his wife, who was sitting right beside him when making that philosophical pronouncement, whether that was him or what he believes, he emphatically says, “It’s what I believe!”
It’s hard to tell which was fiercer between how critics came at him for making such a statement or Davido’s trending alleged commissioning of pregnancies.
But more importantly, it causes an average person to ponder on the conduct of Nigerian music superstars when it comes to raising kids and starting a family. Going by the events of the past week and of years past, successful artistes seem to put more thought, effort and intentionality into releasing music projects than choosing a partner.
They can’t be blamed for this after all, they are the envy of women because of their success in the industry. Without the booming of their craft, not many would literally die to bear children for them or use their fame for clout-chasing.
So, while the flocking of women naturally attends the success of artistes, should it be at the expense of children who will be raised outside a proper home, who will grow up witnessing public spats between their parents and will have inerasable internet evidence of parental ugliness hanging over their heads throughout their lifetime?
Single parenthood may fast becoming a global trend but the demerits outweigh the merits, especially for the children. Some of the negative effects, as posited by scholars, include: emotional and psychological instability, low self-esteem, depression, suicidal tendencies and a repeat of the cycle.
With all these at risk, would it now be a crime to have a music star as a father? Without a doubt, there are a few examples of those who do not have children outside of wedlock and still have their marriages intact.
However, this growing trend throws up the question if musical success has not indeed become an obstacle to successful fatherhood.