Entrepreneur Sophia Momodu took the stage at a side panel during the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York to recount how she became pregnant by Ghanaian singer Davido outside of marriage. She revealed that, as the daughter of a pastor, the social stigma in Nigerian society made the experience particularly painful.
Momodu told the audience that she had been mocked and ridiculed for her situation, describing it as a “crazy” ordeal that left her feeling voiceless. “I am a pastor’s daughter who got pregnant out of wedlock by a global superstar. And I was mocked,” she said. “I had to find my strength in the midst of all of that.”
She explained that the taboo surrounding a pastor’s daughter having a child outside of wedlock intensified the backlash. “If you’re Nigerian and you’re here, you know that it’s almost a taboo to be a pastor’s daughter and have a child out of wedlock,” Momodu added. The pressure was compounded by an aunt who urged her to stay silent, claiming it was not a topic allowed for Black women to discuss.
Despite the challenges, Momodu found empowerment by speaking publicly. She has shared her story at various forums, including in South Africa, and discovered that many other women had similar experiences. “I’m just grateful for the platform, I’m grateful to be able to tell my story,” she said. “Because of people like Stephanie and these amazing women on this panel, I don’t think I would ever stop telling my story.”
The singer and Momodu welcomed their daughter, Imade Adeleke, on May 14, 2015, after a DNA test confirmed Davido’s paternity. The couple were intermittently involved until their relationship ended in 2022, and they never married.
