Popular actress Esther Oluwaranti Moradeke, widely known as Ajirotutu, has shared a deeply personal account of her upbringing, revealing how she navigated a complex mix of religion, tradition, and a near-forced marriage in her early years.
In a reflective narration, the actress described growing up in a family deeply rooted in three major belief systems, Christianity, Islam, and traditional religion.
According to her, her father hailed from Oyan town and was a member of the Ogboni confraternity, while her mother was a devout Christian. She, however, chose to practise Christianity, even after marrying a Muslim husband from Offa, whom she described as liberal and supportive of her faith.
Ajirotutu noted that her early exposure to multiple religions shaped her worldview, adding that her daughter later strengthened her Christian faith.
She also spoke on the traditional practice of “Akosejaye,” a system of divination used at birth to determine a child’s destiny, saying it remains a reality in many communities.
Lamenting what she described as the erosion of African cultural values, the actress said there was once a time when adherents of different religions coexisted peacefully, unlike today when, in her view, material pursuits have overshadowed genuine spirituality.
The actress, however, revealed that her childhood was marked by a traumatic experience rooted in tradition.
She disclosed that she had been secretly betrothed at birth by her father to an elderly associate within the Ogboni circle, a decision she was unaware of while growing up.
Trouble began when she secured admission into a teacher training school in Ikiru. Instead of celebration, her mother reportedly broke down in tears upon learning of the development. Unknown to her, arrangements had already been concluded by her father to marry her off to the man, identified as Adelowo, who had long laid claim to her.
Ajirotutu recounted how her father allegedly received and shared her dowry among family members without her knowledge, before orchestrating her abduction.
She said she was sent on an errand, only to be seized by three men and taken to the man’s residence.
She said, “I was locked in a dark room, but I escaped that same night,” describing how she fled on foot from Oyan to a nearby town, seeking refuge with a family acquaintance before eventually finding her way to safety.
With the help of her brother, she later connected with a man she had chosen to marry, identified as Lasisi, with whom she had two children.
She subsequently remarried and had four more children before the death of her second husband.
Reflecting on her life journey, Ajirotutu maintained that while tradition played a significant role in her upbringing, individual choice and faith ultimately shaped her path.
