Several Nigerian musicians have found creative ways to honor their late parents, turning personal loss into lasting tributes that celebrate love, legacy, and memory.
In Nigerian entertainment, the boundary between personal life and public image is often blurred, especially when it comes to grief. When celebrities lose their parents, their tributes frequently transcend private mourning and evolve into public legacies.
In a culture where honoring one’s parents holds deep significance, many Nigerian musicians have chosen to immortalize their late parents through creative works, philanthropy, and lasting social impact. From music albums to educational infrastructure, these acts of remembrance stand as powerful reminders of love, respect, and continuity.
Over the years, several Nigerian artists have gone beyond mere emotional tributes to ensure their parents’ names live on through art, advocacy, and tangible institutions.
Davido: Turning memory into legacyAfrobeats superstar David Adeleke, famously known as Davido, has carried the memory of his late mother, Dr. Veronica Imade Adeleke, as a guiding force throughout his life and career. Her death in 2003 left a lasting void that shaped his humanitarian vision and philanthropic drive.
Davido has honored his mother in remarkable ways, aligning with her lifelong dedication to education and compassion. At Adeleke University in Osun State, one of the major faculties, The Dr. Veronica Imade Adeleke Faculty of Business and Social Sciences, bears her name, ensuring her legacy thrives within Nigeria’s educational system.
In October 19, 2025, Davido extended this act of remembrance beyond his family’s university by dedicating a newly built female hostel at Clifford University, Abia State, to her memory, the Veronica Imade Adeleke Female Hostel. During the unveiling, Davido stated that the tribute reflected his mother’s belief that “education and compassion could change lives.”
Beyond infrastructure, his charitable arm, The David Adeleke Foundation (DAF), established in 2022, channels his mother’s giving spirit. The foundation has distributed hundreds of millions of naira to orphanages across Nigeria, benefiting thousands of children in need, an enduring example of turning personal grief into measurable social impact.
Wizkid: The Morayo legacyWhen Wizkid lost his mother, Jane Dolapo Morayo Balogun, in August 2023, the global superstar turned to music as his canvas of remembrance. His 2024 album, Morayo, named after her middle name, was his most personal project yet.
The album captured the essence of his mother’s influence, love, and guidance, merging grief with gratitude in a body of work that resonated deeply with fans. Wizkid also made a charitable pledge of ₦100 million to children during the Christmas season in her honor, reflecting her nurturing spirit. Years earlier, he had released Mummy Mi, a touching song from his 2014 Ayo album, making his tribute both historical and evolving.
Tiwa Savage: Celebrating the strength of CeliaTiwa Savage’s Celia album, released in 2020, remains one of the most heartfelt artistic dedications in modern Afrobeats. Named after her mother, Cecilia Savage, the project was a celebration of womanhood and resilience, attributes Tiwa says her mother embodies.
According to Savage, Celia was designed to showcase the perspective of a “strong, modern African woman,” and her mother served as the living example of that identity. In a touching moment, Cecilia Savage appeared in a promotional video for the album, symbolizing the emotional depth behind the project.
The tribute extended to a specific track, Celia’s Song, which draws directly from her mother’s prayers and encouragement during difficult times. With its gospel undertones and raw emotion, the song stands as a moving homage to the faith and strength passed down from mother to daughter.
Much like Wizkid’s Morayo, Tiwa Savage’s Celia is an example of how music can serve as an enduring emotional monument, immortalizing a parent not through stone or institution, but through sound and storytelling.
Olamide: Mama Mi and the power of simplicityFor rapper Olamide, remembrance came in the form of music. His 2015 song Mama Mi, from the album Eyan Mayweather, remains one of his most emotional performances, a tribute to his late mother’s sacrifices and guidance.
Unlike large-scale philanthropic gestures, Olamide’s approach reflects a deeply personal form of commemoration; preserving memory through lyrics that speak to countless fans who have shared similar loss. The song’s heartfelt tone and vulnerability make it one of the most relatable maternal tributes in Nigerian hip-hop.
Skales: A son’s tribute through Martina’s SonRapper and singer Skales (Raoul John Njeng-Njeng) took a deeply personal route to honor his late mother, Martina, who passed away on October 25, 2022. In remembrance, he named his 2025 album Martina’s Son, released on September 12, 2025.
The 16-track project, which he described as his most personal work to date, chronicles his mother’s legacy and his journey of resilience after her passing. For Skales, the album serves as both therapy and tribute, a two-year labor of love that immortalizes his mother’s memory through sound, storytelling, and vulnerability.
By turning his grief into art, Skales joins the list of Nigerian musicians who’ve used music as a lasting monument to their parents’ lives and sacrifices.
In conclusion, from Davido’s educational foundations and Wizkid’s heartfelt album tributes, to Tiwa Savage’s empowering celebration of motherhood and Skales’ emotional storytelling, Nigerian musicians continue to show that fame and fortune can coexist with deep family values.
Through music, philanthropy, and legacy projects, they have immortalized their late parents not just in words or memories, but in living symbols of love, purpose, and impact, ensuring their names echo far beyond their lifetimes.
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