Soulful singer Simisola Kosoko, publicly known as Simi, has appealed to fans to stop referring to her daughter, Adejare, by the nickname “Duduke.”
The nickname gained popularity following the release of Simi’s 2020 hit single Duduke, which she dedicated to her unborn child at the time. The emotional track quickly resonated with expectant mothers and fans, many of whom began calling her daughter by the song’s title.
In a recent conversation with media personality VJ Adams, Simi expressed her discomfort with the nickname, clarifying that “Duduke” was never intended as a name. She explained that the word was simply a sound she used in the song to describe the rhythmic beating of her heart while anticipating the birth of her child.
“People call my daughter Duduke, which I don’t like. That’s not her name. It doesn’t even mean anything,” she said. “Had it meant something good, I would have allowed it. But it’s just a beat — duduke, duduke. That was what I meant. My heart beats like a drum.”
Simi acknowledged that fans mean well but urged them to respect her daughter’s actual name. “Stop calling my child Duduke [laughs]. But you know what? I get it, it’s coming from a good place, so I try not to react,” she added.
Adejare is the first child of Simi and fellow Nigerian music star Adekunle Gold.