Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Fireboy DML has shared a deeply personal revelation, admitting that his love for tattoos has left his father heartbroken and possibly unforgiving.
Speaking on a recent episode of the 90s Baby Show, the 29-year-old singer, whose real name is Adedamola Adefolahan, opened up about the emotional tension his tattoos have created within his family, especially with his father.
“One thing that I would do that can break my dad’s heart? I think I already did my tattoos,” he confessed.
“Whenever he comes to visit me, I’m always in a jalabiya, fully covered. Because tattoos… they break his heart every time he sees them.”
Interestingly, Fireboy revealed that while his father is unbothered by his piercings, it’s the ink on his body that has proven too much to bear.
“He will never forgive me for these things,” he added.
Despite his dad’s disapproval, Fireboy stands firm on his love for tattoos, stressing that it’s not just about being an artist, but a form of self-expression he would have embraced even as a banker.
“I see it as art. Sometimes, I want to be shirtless and still look like I’m dressed up,” he said.
“I want to wear a singlet and step into a place and still have a presence. That is what tattoos are to me.”
Fireboy’s raw honesty shines a light on the cultural clash between self-expression and traditional family values, a reality many young creatives in Nigeria continue to navigate.
