Waje has long been known for her powerful voice and emotional candour, but in a recent interview she revealed a deeper story, one of teenage pregnancy, hidden burdens and single motherhood. Speaking on the Honest Brunch podcast, the Nigerian singer disclosed that she became pregnant at age 16, kept it hidden from her mother until she was about five months pregnant, and later raised her daughter largely on her own after the father denied responsibility.

In her telling, the shock of discovering she was pregnant hit during a crucial time: Waje was still in secondary school, writing her West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). She said she carried the secret alone until she could no longer hide it, telling her mother only when the pregnancy was advanced. Waje’s mother then confronted the young man’s family, but, as she recounts, he denied being the father. She describes how the boy’s family rejected any connection: “My mom had gone to his family and said, okay, so your son and my daughter… and he was like, no, it’s not him.”

Years later, Waje says the father resurfaced in Canada, claiming he was young at the time and wanted to meet his daughter. But by then she had grown into a young woman, and Waje resisted the outreach. Her concern was stability: “Many times when fathers or mothers are protecting their child, it’s because you already know that this person is not stable. This person can come and destabilize the life of the child.” she said. She also revealed they discussed a DNA test, but the man delayed repeatedly and eventually, when her daughter turned 18, any legal claim from him became moot.

What emerges in Waje’s story is not just the personal pain of early motherhood but the structural realities many Nigerian young women faces: shame, stigma, single parenting, and educational uphill battles. Waje said she made a decision early on to give her daughter the best possible education she could afford. She said to the father: “You are a citizen, fight for your child.” The financial burden she shouldered became real when her daughter entered university and Waje found herself paying fees in U.S. dollars. The man’s offer of symbolic support $200 was dismissed by Waje as insufficient: “You can’t be calling me to say you want to send $200. We could have avoided all this.”

Her reflections also shed light on the emotional dimension of her journey. Waje said that carrying a pregnancy in secret put pressure on her schooling and her self-image. She recalled how her church banned her from participating in the choir once the pregnancy was revealed. Yet through it all, she credits her mother and family support for helping her move forward. “My mom never raised her voice or insulted me…” she said of her mother’s response.

For Waje this revelation is more than biography, it is reclamation. By sharing her story, she confronts the stigma around teenage motherhood in Nigeria and offers a narrative of resilience rather than shame. In a society where adolescent pregnancy is often a silent burden, her openness may inspire young women facing similar circumstances to seek support rather than isolation. The message becomes clear: a slip into early motherhood does not define one’s future.

It also recontextualizes her music. Waje’s voice, her emotional authenticity, the stories she channels in her songs all gain added depth when one understands the hidden journey she’s lived. Her trajectory from Benin City to the national stage, from church choir to mainstream success while carrying the weight of a secret pregnancy speaks to a blend of talent, grit and survival.

Her story also raises questions about fatherhood, responsibility and cultural norms. The denial of paternity by the father, the legal limitations once the child reached adulthood, and the financial implications for single mothers all highlight systemic issues often excluded from celebrity narratives. Waje’s clear, firm stance protecting her daughter’s life over enabling a father’s late interest signals a shift in how such dynamics can be discussed.

In the end, Waje’s revelation is empowering because it honours truth without needing salvation. She does not claim perfection. Instead, she offers honesty. As she said: “When you make a mistake so young, it forces you to grow faster.” And perhaps that growth is the most striking note showing that what was hidden can become strength, that a teenage setback can lead to a powerful adult narrative.