Actress Kemi Lala Akindoju has opened up about the emotional journey of becoming a mother shortly after losing her father, describing the past year as both fulfilling and challenging.
On Wednesday, the award-winning actress shared photos of her son, family, and friends on Instagram as she marked her child’s first birthday.
Akindoju reflected on how the joy of motherhood came at a time of deep personal loss, as she welcomed her baby only weeks after her father’s death.
She explained that the experience tested her strength, as she had to balance grief and the demands of caring for a newborn.
According to her, motherhood requires selflessness and endurance because a child’s survival depends entirely on the parent’s ability to keep going, no matter the circumstances.
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The 38-year-old actress expressed gratitude to her family, friends, and support network for helping her cope with the pressures of raising her son while maintaining her acting career.
She described the past year as a period of learning and growth, combining work, travel, and parenting with emotional recovery.
Akindoju celebrated her son, whom she described as joyful and easy to care for, noting that he adapted quickly to her busy schedule and often accompanied her on travels and film sets.
Lala Akindoju, who is married to celebrity chef Gbubemi Fregene, welcomed her son, Adéìyèolú Monoyooritse Chioke Ayanfe, in 2024, just weeks after the passing of her father, Williams Akindoju.
She wrote:
“Having a child and losing my daddy weeks apart was not something I hoped for, neither was I ready for it. But having a child is such a divine, selfless, high calling because another human being literally depends on you for their survival.
“And so, in spite of whatever life throws at you, you have to brace up and be a parent, a mother, because this beautiful being whom you love beyond words needs you.
“So, as I look back at this past one year of having Adéìyèolú in our lives, I look back with so much gratitude. Navigating building a career, grief, and being a new mum, breastfeeding, travelling and raising a four-year-old is no joke, and I don’t mince words when I say it has taken a village.
“We are grateful for the gift of Adéìyèolú Monoyooritse Chioke Ayanfe (aka A.D.B, aka Jagzzz)… I’m also grateful for the most understanding baby; from being on set with me in my first and second trimesters, to hopping on planes with me from as young as four weeks old.”
