Popular actress Stella Damasus has revealed that her family’s original surname was Ojukwu before it was changed during the Nigerian civil war.
In a recent interview with media personality Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, Stella shared that her family name, Ojukwu, was changed to Damasus to avoid being targeted during the war.
She explained that, at the time, anyone with the Ojukwu name was often assumed to be related to the Biafran general and faced attacks as a result.
“My family name was Ojukwu, but it was changed to Damasus during the civil war to avoid being attacked by Nigerian soldiers,” she disclosed.
Here are some reactions to her revelation:
- mma_obichere: “Amazing! I didn’t even know she was Igbo.”
- weightloss_abuja: “So many people changed their surnames during the war. It was a matter of survival. Glad she’s sharing this.”
- dds_express_services: “Ikwerre man will soon say his name is Eze Okechukwu, but he’s not Igbo.”
- mr_abara: “Not surprised. This explains why many Igbo people in Delta, Rivers, and Edo deny being Igbo. It’s generational trauma.”
- segun_adegoke: “So Stella Damasus is originally an Igbo woman!”
Watch the full video below.