Nigerian singer Mayorkun has said adults should have the freedom to choose their marriage partners, arguing that parents should not dictate whom their children marry.
The singer made the remarks during a recent episode of the Uncut Podcast, where he discussed family expectations, romantic relationships and the role parents should play in their children’s decisions about marriage.
Mayorkun said he would make efforts to help his mother understand and accept his choice of partner but would not surrender the final decision to her.
“I think I’m old enough to make my decisions when it comes to who I spend my life with,” he said.
He added that the era when parents were expected to determine their children’s spouses should give way to greater individual choice.
Singer challenges restrictions based on religion
Mayorkun also questioned the practice of rejecting a potential spouse solely because of religious differences.
Using an example involving a Muslim partner, he argued that adults should be able to choose whom they love without unnecessary restrictions based on faith or background.
“Bro, this is not 1800, this is not BC. There’s no civil war going on. I can get married to a Somalian if that’s who I like,” he said.
The singer added that he believed his mother would ultimately be accepting of his decision.
His comments touch on a broader debate about the balance between family influence, cultural expectations and personal autonomy in marriage.
Family guidance versus personal choice
In many families, parents play an important role in relationship decisions, offering guidance shaped by religious beliefs, cultural traditions and expectations about long-term compatibility.
However, disagreements can arise when family preferences conflict with an adult child’s choice of partner.
Mayorkun’s position is that parental advice may be considered without giving parents the final authority over whom an adult marries.
His remarks have added a celebrity perspective to an ongoing conversation about marriage, interfaith relationships and changing expectations among younger Nigerians.