Simi: Raise your daughters to stand on their own, not rely on others

Nigerian singer Simi recently opened up about her journey into music and the importance of women being financially and emotionally independent.

Speaking on her TikTok account, Simi reflected on her early days and the challenges she faced in pursuing her passion.

"The first thing I ever had to fight for in my life was music," she shared. As the last-born and only girl in her family, Simi admitted to being "pretty spoiled."

She grew up in a supportive environment, attending good schools and achieving good grades, "except for that one year," she joked.

However, things changed after school. "When I was done with school, I told my mom, I don’t wanna work, I wanna do music."

Determined to stand on her own, Simi made a significant decision. "I stopped asking my mom for money. It was time for me to stand on my own two feet and be my own woman," she said.

While the decision to pursue music was difficult, she found it rewarding. "It was one of the hardest things I had to do at the time but also one of the most beautiful things I ever did because music belonged to me, it was mine. I wasn’t doing it to make a point to nobody."

Simi also had a message for parents, especially when raising daughters. "Please do not raise your daughters to think that when they grow up, all they have to do is rely on someone they don't need to learn to take care of themselves."

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She stressed that women should be capable of spoiling themselves while receiving love and support from others. "As they are spoiling you, you too are spoiling them, and let them know that you're standing strong."

The singer highlighted the importance of financial independence for women. "There is security in knowing that you have got yourself. A woman’s economic power is about protecting herself, fending for herself, and confidently acknowledging that she’s a complete person. You deserve good things and you need to occupy space."

Simi acknowledged her privilege, noting that she grew up with people who believed in and supported her. "I had chances that took me from here to here," she said.

However, she also recognised that not all women have the same opportunities. "Some women had to work with less—less love, less faith, less kindness, and opportunities. And that's where we as a society have to step in."

She encouraged those in positions of power to uplift deserving women. "When you are in a position to give a deserving woman an opportunity, please give it to her," she urged.