Nigerian gospel singer Damilare Odunuga, aka Dare Melody, has recounted the hardships he faced with his late wife Adedoyin, including how his family’s behaviour created difficulties for her.
Dare Melody’s wife passed away on October 24, 2024, at age 47.
During her Christian wake held at his residence, Dare Melody opened up about how his family consistently frustrated Adedoyin when she was alive. “My family frustrated Adedoyin; I’ll hold her and say, ‘Adedoyin, I’m the one you married, and whenever you see me, put your mind at rest,’” he said.
He spoke about how she stood by him through times of financial hardship, showing resilience even when there was little to eat. He recalled a particularly challenging period during his early career when he was blacklisted by a promoter, limiting his exposure and making it nearly impossible for his music to be heard.
Dare Melody shared a personal experience, saying, “When people celebrated the New Year, I ate biscuits with her and our one-year-old daughter. I told the Lord, ‘If truly you’re the one who called me, let people know you did.’ God told me I’d release a record in 2010, which became ‘Goodness and Mercy’. That record revived my career, and people started to recognise me.”
Dare Melody’s brother also shared a painful incident where Adedoyin was taunted by their family members at their mother’s 50th birthday party. He narrated the incident, highlighting the family’s harsh treatment of Adedoyin.
