Nigerian entrepreneur Sophia Momodu has opened up about the stigma she faced after having a child outside marriage for Afrobeats superstar Davido.
Momodu, who described herself as a pastor’s daughter, said public scrutiny left her struggling to find her voice.
She shared the experience while speaking at an event connected to the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, on Monday, September 21. 
‘I was mocked, it was crazy’ – Sophia Momodu Recalls
Recalling the period, Momodu said her situation attracted intense public attention.
“I was a pastor’s daughter who got pregnant out of wedlock by a global superstar. I was mocked. It was crazy. I had to find my strength in the midst of all of that.”
According to her, fame did not protect her from the negativity surrounding her story. She said the constant negativity repeatedly drowned out her perspective.
“For the longest time, I didn’t have a voice. I was famous, I was popular, but I didn’t have a voice.”
Breaking The Silence Around Stigma
Momodu explained that societal expectations made her experience even more difficult. She said Nigerians often attach strong expectations to pastors’ children, especially regarding marriage and family.
“If you are Nigerian, you know it is almost a taboo to be a pastor’s daughter and have a child out of wedlock,” she said.
She also recalled an aunt asking her to remain silent after receiving advice from someone else.
“Please keep quiet because this is not a topic that we are allowed to talk about as black women,” she recalled.
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Sophia Momodu Finds Strength by Telling Her Story
However, Momodu eventually chose to speak openly about her experience. She said sharing her story, including during appearances in South Africa, helped her realise she was not alone.
“People will attempt to silence us, but it is important to tell our stories as women. It matters,” she said.
Women who heard her story also approached her with similar experiences. And for Momodu, those encounters reinforced the importance of speaking about issues that are often hidden.
Sophia Momodu Calls for Maternal Mental Health Support
Momodu also used the platform to discuss postpartum depression and maternal mental health. In an Instagram post, she described postpartum depression as a health condition deserving compassion rather than shame. She urged women to seek help without feeling ashamed.
“No mother should suffer in silence,” she wrote.
She also stressed the importance of supporting mothers and educating communities about maternal mental health.
“When we care for the mother, we care for the child,” Momodu said.
READ ALSO: Davido and Chioma Threaten Lawsuit Over Alleged Cyberbullying by Sophia Momodu’s ‘Lovers’
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