Omotayo Fashola
Afrobeats sensation Simisola Kosoko, popularly known as Simi, has dropped a heartfelt plea for Nigerians to respect her daughter’s identity.
The award-winning artist urged fans to stop referring to her little girl, Adejare, by the nickname “Duduke.”
This clarification comes nearly four years after Simi released her chart-topping single ‘Duduke’—a melodic ode to motherhood during her pregnancy journey in 2020.
When she and her musician husband, Adekunle Gold, welcomed their bundle of joy that same year, eager fans lovingly (but mistakenly) adopted “Duduke” as the toddler’s unofficial moniker.
During a candid chat with media personality VJ Adams, the ‘Joromi’ hitmaker revealed why the nickname doesn’t sit well with her—it’s simply onomatopoeic magic from her song, not an actual name.
“‘Duduke’ was never meant to be a name—it’s the rhythmic sound of a heartbeat,” Simi explained with her signature warmth. “Imagine your child being called ‘Boom Boom’ or ‘Tick Tock’—that’s how random it feels. My baby has a beautiful name—Adejare.”
Though understanding of fans’ good intentions, the doting mom playfully added: “Please, let Duduke stay in the song where it belongs [laughs]. Adejare is growing into her own person, and we want her to own her identity fully.”
John Okoro
