Actress and movie producer, Lala Akindoju, has voiced her perspective on the tradition of women adopting their husbands’ surnames after marriage.
Taking to her X account, Akindoju expressed that women should not feel obligated to take their husband’s surname, noting that this practice lacks scriptural basis.
She suggested that a more modern approach might involve couples merging their surnames, emphasising the importance of choice and individual identity for women.
Lala highlighted that the tradition stems from outdated beliefs and argued that maintaining a maiden name could be vital for preserving a woman’s sense of self.
She encouraged couples to have open discussions and make decisions that best suit their relationship, free from societal pressures.
“Honestly, if we really want to follow the idea of ‘two shall become one,’ the couple should consider merging both surnames,” she wrote.
“I still question why children automatically inherit their father’s surname, originate from his state, and why the father is seen as the primary owner of the child. This concept confuses me greatly.”
She continued.
“It’s the woman who physically endures the life-transforming process of childbirth, yet she’s often sidelined. I don’t have all the answers, but this deeply troubles me, and I have yet to find any scriptural directive that requires a woman to take her husband’s name.”
“It’s puzzling that boys are never raised to expect their identity to change, but because of a woman’s gender, she’s conditioned to believe that she must eventually let go of the name and identity she’s known all her life. I don’t have all the answers, but I strongly question this practice.”
Lala Akindoju has been married to Nigerian chef Gbubemi Fregene, popularly known as Chef Fregz, since September 2018.
The couple welcomed their first child, a son, in February 2021.
