Nollywood actress Kemi Lala Akindoju has sparked a conversation about the tradition of women taking their husbands’ surnames after marriage, calling it outdated and unscriptural. She believes that women should have the freedom to decide whether they want to keep their maiden names or adopt their husbands’ surnames.
Kemi also questioned the practice of children automatically taking their father’s surname and being considered part of the man’s lineage. She pointed out that women, who go through the transformative process of childbirth, often feel sidelined by these traditions.
On her X handle, Kemi shared her thoughts, saying, “If we’re truly following the idea of ‘two shall become one,’ then why not merge both surnames? I find it troubling that children are automatically linked to the father’s state of origin, his surname, and that he is seen as the sole ‘owner’ of the child. Meanwhile, it’s the woman who physically experiences childbirth, yet she’s often overlooked.”
She continued by expressing her struggle to find any scriptural basis for women being required to take their husband’s name. “Scripture actually mentions the man cleaving to the woman. But regardless, a woman should have the choice. Whether she wants to change her name, keep it, or combine it, it should be up to her. It’s also worth noting that boys are never raised to think their identity might change.”
Kemi added that the expectation for women to change their surnames is just another way of undermining the female gender. “It’s unsettling that girls are socialized to understand that they might have to give up the name and identity they’ve known all their lives just because of their gender. While I don’t have all the answers, I deeply question this tradition.”
