Celebrities
Celebs who got married off public. A popular artist, Johnny Drille, married around a year ago, unknown to his fans and some business colleagues, according to news that appeared on the Internet about a week ago. Drille, however, is not the first entertainer who has pulled such a trick. Saturday Beats looks at other entertainers who have performed similarly.
Rima and Johnny Drille
Earlier this month, Johnny Drille, a Mavin Records signed singer and songwriter, released a song named ‘The Best Part,’ along with a music video. The song was written in honor of his wife, Rima Tahini-Ighodaro, who works as an A&R executive for Mavin Records.
Shortly after, his record label boss, Don Jazzy, captioned a photo of himself with the couple on their wedding day, “With all the amazing love songs that @johnnydrille has written, it is only right that he bags one of the most amazing women I have met to share #TheBestPartofHisLifeWith.” I am overjoyed for both of you. God bless your union in the future. @rimouuune, happy birthday once more.”
The post apparently confirmed that the couple was married, and many were shocked that the couple could have kept such big news a secret for over a year.
Meanwhile, Rima had revealed that she was married a few months before, however she did not tell who her partner was. “Exactly a year ago yesterday— the most beautiful day, and it has been the most beautiful first year of marriage,” she said in a post on January 5, 2023, which included photos from her wedding. Every day, I am filled with appreciation to God and look forward to eternal life through his generosity.”
Adekunle Gold and Simi
Both singers’ fans were aware that they were in a relationship, but the majority of them were unaware when they married. The couple, who had been dating for five years, married in January 2019. Their marriage, however, caught some people off guard, as some fans assumed Simi was in a relationship with another colleague, Falz.
The pair reportedly got engaged in December 2018, and their traditional and white weddings were held on January 9 and 10, 2019, respectively. The event was attended by only a few members of their family and friends. It was also said that photographs were not permitted at the ceremony, making it more difficult for the word to circulate.
Gold revealed their marriage in a newsletter to fans in January 2019. “Earlier this year, I asked my girlfriend of five years to be my wife,” he wrote. Despite knowing all of my flaws and weaknesses, she answered ‘yes’!
“In front of God and our families this January, we vowed to do this thing called life together.” To be honest, it is easy to get lost in the limelight; so we definitely have a slightly obsessive desire for a private life that belongs to just us.
“We planned on sharing a little bit of the beginning of our forever with you. Thankfully, my team got kudus on our little island with us to capture some of these moments for you.”
Shortly after, he released ‘Promise,’ a song in which he featured his wife.
Di’ja and Rotimi
Di’ja, a former Mavin Records signee, married Rotimi in a secret wedding in 2015, and attendance was strictly by invitation only.
According to reports, the photographer at the event did not know who his customers were until he arrived at the venue in Kaduna State.
Taking to social media on January 6, 2017, about two years after the wedding took place, Di’ja, posted pictures of her husband and her son, and added the caption, “2015, I became a wife; 2016, I became a mother. We are all alive and healthy in 2017.”
She also complimented the event’s merchants for their hard work.”
Di’ja, a former Mavin Records signee, married Rotimi in a secret wedding in 2015, and attendance was strictly by invitation only.
According to reports, the photographer at the event did not know who his customers were until he arrived at the venue in Kaduna State.
Di’ja turned to social media on January 6, 2017, about two years after her wedding, and shared photos of her husband and kid with the message, “2015, I became a wife; 2016, I became a mother.” We are all alive and healthy in 2017.”
She also complimented the event’s merchants for their hard work.”
She added, “Thank you, my family, friends and Mavin Records for all the support. Thank you all for your kindness and respect. I love my life anytime I’m with you. To my fans; thank you.”
A few hours after Di’ja posted the now-deleted image, Di’ja’s wedding photographer, Henry Oji, also shared a photo from her wedding on social media. “One of the highlights of 2015 was documenting @aphrodija’s wedding,” he wrote. I’d never had to do a wedding where I didn’t know who the bride was until we were in Kaduna. She was really stunning. I adore this image of Di’ja and her father. The bond that fathers share with their daughters is one-of-a-kind. I did not know then; but now, I know. God bless you Di’ja for trusting us with your big day. God bless your calm husband and your handsome son.”
Di’ja has kept her personal life out of the spotlight since that statement. However, the marriage has produced three children, one male and two daughters.
Didi and Dbanj
Oladapo Oyebanjo, aka D’banj, was a self-proclaimed koko master who was adored by admirers all over the world. He was also the ‘dream husband’ of many women, and many were waiting to see who he would marry.
On July 2, 2016, the musician was claimed to have secretly married his wife, Didi Kilgrow, in Maryland, Lagos. It was reported that the few guests who were invited for the wedding actually thought they were attending a birthday party in celebration of D’banj’s father, not knowing to them that it was the wedding of the ‘Why Me’ singer and his wife who he had proposed to four months earlier.
According to an online website, The Cable, an unnamed source said the wedding took place at the Oyebanjo family home in Maryland.
“D’banj has been in a serious relationship with Didi for the past year, and he was a regular visitor to her house in Lekki Phase 1,” a source was quoted as saying. He regularly paid at least two to three visits per week.”
According to the source, D’banj’s vehicle brought Didi home on Saturday night after the secret wedding, and she was extremely excited.
However, the couple’s marriage was not announced until October 1, 2017, when the singer introduced his wife and now-deceased son, Daniel, to the audience at a concert.
About a year earlier, in an interview with Premium Times on April 24, 2017, the singer had hinted that he would have a ‘quiet’ wedding. Asked when he would be getting married, the singer had replied, “Who said I am not married? I am not married but if I am, nobody would hear about it. It is going to be a very quiet wedding, because I am tired of people asking me that question. It is my personal life, and it is not going to change my music or brand.
“I will not marry because people expect me to; nor will I marry simply to enter another stage of my life, as some of my colleagues have done.” They make it appear as if once married, one is no longer employed (in the music industry). However, this should not be the case. Marriage would not change anything about me, and if it occurred, no one would know about it. There would just be rumors. My wife would not be seeking fame, because the one (popularity) I have is already enough for all my family members. When I get married, it would be a very quiet one. Who knows, it might have already happened.”
In an August 8, 2017 interview, the singer revealed that he kept his wedding a secret because he did not want the problems that come with being in a celebrity relationship. “I decided to keep my marriage to Didi a secret because, in my experience, relationships like this get mixed with media hype and speculation, and it becomes complicated,” he explained.
“I was under pressure to marry, and my mother said she wanted to see the girl I was dating and planning to marry.” I told her I had a girlfriend, but we didn’t want to marry just yet. My mother, on the other hand, urged that she was the one for me and that we hold a minor ceremony. I am glad I listened to her.”
Akindele, Funke
Funke Akindele, a prominent actress, is alleged to have married Abdulrasheed Bello, alias JJC Skillz, a singer, producer, and director, in London, United Kingdom.
Although the two are no longer together, they were once one of the most admired couples in the entertainment industry.
Skillz, on the other hand, alluded of their marriage on Akindele’s birthday in 2016. He congratulated her on social media, writing, “Happy birthday @funkejenifaakindele, aka FAB.” Many happy returns to you. May your days be filled with love and joy. You will find tranquillity in your home, workplace, body, mind, and spirit. You’ll never run out. Your share of health and prosperity is yours. Prosperity and long life. “Bless you, my best friend.”
Many people were unaware that FAB stood for ‘Funke Akindele-Bello’ at the time.
Also, at an event in August 2016, she was spotted wearing two wedding bands, and she introduced herself as Olufunke Akindele-Bello.
When she added ‘Bello’ to her name on her social media profiles, she officially verified the news to her admirers and the broader public.
In keeping with their desire for solitude, the couple kept the birth of their children a secret for some time. They were rumored to have twins in December of 2018, yet many of their followers were unaware of this for quite some time.