31st March, 2023
By Eluemelem Jennifer Chinenye
While death is inevitable, there is a different kind of pain when it comes to parents having to bury their children.
This sort of pain is not one that anyone would wish for any parent to experience but unfortunately, life can be unfair.
If anything, learning that these celebrities lost a child heightens the realization that stars are people, too. In sharing these tragic losses, our eyes are opened to the difficulties everyone faces, regardless of their profession, wealth, or fame. It’s one thing that no parent should ever have to experience, but it still happens.
Here are some African celebrities who have experienced such pain.
1: Yul Edochie
On the 30th of March 2023, the Nigerian actor lost his first son from his first marriage Kambilichukwu Edochie.
According to reports, the 16-year-old slumped while playing football with his friends after school and was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The family is mourning as of the time of filing this report. We pray that God upholds them till the end.
2: Davido
The loss of Davido’s first son Ifeanyi in the family’s home on Banana island was one which shook Africans.
The little boy died by drowning in the family pool at the age of 3 years of age. He died on the first of November 2022
3: Adah Ameh
Actress Adah Ameh lost her daughter in October 2020.
Her daughter Aladi Godgift died after an unsuccessful surgery in Abuja.
4: D’banj
On the 24th of June 2018, Dapo Oyebanjo also known as D’banj lost his baby boy Daniel Oyebanjo in his home in Ikoyi Lagos state.
The baby boy drowned in the family swimming pool. He was just a year old.
5: Eucharia Anunobi
The actress lost her 15-year-old son Raymond Elue on the 22nd of August, 2017 to complications arising from having sickle cell anemia.
The boy had sickle cell anemia from birth and was laid to rest on the 5th of November 2017.
6: Mona Monyane
The South African actress lost her 7-day-old daughter with Khulu Skenjane in 2016. The death of the child in her infancy really shook the actress causing her to go through depression.
7: Florence Massebe
The 14th of November, 2015 will forever remain a dark day for the actress as a day meant to be a day of joy for her, being her birthday ended tragically when her 18- month old son was found drowned in the family swimming pool in Johannesburg.
The child was pronounced dead at the scene.
8: John Okafor
Mr Ibu lost his son Emmanuel Mandela Okafor on the 25th of January, 2012
The actor informed the public through a post on his Facebook page.
“R.I.P Mandy, my son … mummy and daddy love you so much but God loves you more.”
9: Zoleka Mandela
Grief is no stranger to the granddaughter of Nelson Mandela as she has buried two of her children.
She lost her daughter Zenani Mandela in 2010 just days after her 13th birthday when she was on her way back home from the World Cup concert. She was hit by a drunk driver.
A year later in 2011, her infant son Zenawe died due to complications associated with being born prematurely.
10: Nhlanhla Nciza
The singer’s daughter Zinathi was killed in a car wreck in 2009 at the young age of 5 years old.
The little girl was traveling with her grandmother when the vehicle had an accident and hit a tree leading to her sustaining severe head and neck injuries she did not recover from.
11: Aisha Falode
On the 15th of February 2014, Oloruntoba son of Aisha Falode, Chairperson of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) media committee died in Dubai at the age of 19.
These celebrities have after such severe losses, tried to work hard and move on with their lives while also choosing to celebrate the happy memories they had with their children and celebrating them posthumously.