Joke Silva Reveals she was an Adopted Child, Tells Story of How she Found Out
Who knew?
One of Nollywood’s foremost actresses, Joke Silva shook many yesterday as she revealed that she was an adopted child. This was at the recent Annual Conference of Heritage Adoption Support and Advocacy Group (HASAAG).
Speaking at the event, she told of how she found out that she was not a natural child of her parents. Her parents, late lawyer, Chief E.A Silva who was the then Babajiro of Lagos and his late wife, Dr Abimbola Silva, reputed to be Nigeria’s first female medical doctor had adopted her at an early age.
Her parents kept the news from her until she accidentally found out she said.
How she found out
…But I got to know years later when I wanted to travel and was looking for my passport where my mum kept it.
Since she was not around, I opened the box in her absence and I saw my adoption papers. I never discussed it with my mum because I felt it was something that would hurt her, that was why, it was kept secret from me.
According to her, before she discovered, an older cousin had tried to tell her.
“I remembered going out with my cousin and we met a big cousin. She introduced me as ‘my cousin’s daughter and this is Dr Silva’s daughter.’ Then, the older cousin was like, ‘Dr. Silva ke? Se Doctor Silva bimo ni? (meaning does Dr. Silva have a child?) . .
I was so confused and when I got home I told my mum, ‘I met this lady that says you never had a child.’ My mum froze and she said, ‘don’t mind them, they are used to rubbish talk.’
But I had incredible memories of my amazing legal parents for allowing me to do my A Level in England and going to one of the best schools in Bournemouth.
As reprted by kemiashefonlovehaven, the 56 year old said she lived in a Red Cross’ foster home in Yaba, before her adoption.
