Award-winning Nigerian singer, Simisola Kosoko, popularly known as Simi, has issued a gentle but firm warning to fans and the general public regarding her daughter’s identity.
The singer, who captured hearts with her 2020 hit single “Duduke”, has asked people to stop calling her child by the song’s title.
In a candid conversation with media personality VJ Adams, the mother of one explained that while she understands the nickname comes from a place of affection, it is ultimately misplaced.
“People call my daughter Duduke, which I don’t like. That’s not her name. It doesn’t even mean anything. Had it meant something good, I would have allowed it. But it’s just a beat, duduke, duduke. That was what I meant. My heart beats like a drum,” she said.
The song Duduke, released while Simi was pregnant with her first child, became an instant classic and a heartfelt anthem for expecting mothers across the country. The emotional lyrics and symbolic visuals led many fans to associate the title directly with Simi’s daughter, whose real name is Adejare Kosoko, born in June 2020.
However, Simi revealed that “Duduke” was simply onomatopoeia; a rhythmic representation of her heartbeat filled with love and anticipation for her unborn child. It was never intended to be a name.
Despite her clear preference for her daughter’s real name, Simi also acknowledged the good intentions behind the nickname.
“Stop calling my child Duduke [laughs]. But you know what? I get it, it’s coming from a good place, so I try not to react.”
Simi and her husband, fellow singer Adekunle Gold, have mostly kept their daughter’s life private, choosing only to share glimpses of her online. With this latest statement, Simi is setting boundaries while still expressing gratitude for the love her fans continue to show.
And while “Duduke” remains one of her most iconic songs to date, Simi is reminding the world that it was a song for her child, not a name for her.
