Adewale Elesho, the veteran Nigerian actor widely known as Baba Elesho, has stated that his wife holds authority in their home and that he sees her as the head of the household. In a recent interview on African A-List, Elesho explained that he values his wife's opinion above others, especially in decisions involving family members. He recounted an incident when his mother, who had an eye problem, expressed discomfort while staying with one of his younger siblings. Elesho brought her to his home in Lagos for care. Upon arrival, he said he went upstairs, prostrated before his wife, and informed her he had brought a visitor. When she asked who it was, he replied, "Alhaja," and explained the situation. He emphasized that despite his mother being his parent, she was entering as a guest because his wife is the "owner of the home." Elesho said his wife responded by stating that if it were her own mother in such a situation, she would have done the same. He noted that his wife then asked where his mother was, and he told her she was outside in the car.
A man who prostrates to his wife upon bringing his mother home redefines traditional hierarchy in a culture where such gestures are typically reserved for elders. His claim that his wife is the "owner of the home" challenges prevailing patriarchal norms in Nigerian family structures. This shift in domestic authority, framed as personal choice, may spark debate among audiences accustomed to rigid familial roles. The act of prostration, symbolic and deliberate, underscores a rare public reversal of domestic power dynamics.
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