Bucci Franklin, the Nollywood actor, has revealed the impact growing up without a father figure had on his life.
During a recent appearance on the WithChude podcast, Franklin clarified that while his father was alive, he was entirely absent.
He said the void left him vulnerable to negative influences during his formative years.
Franklin paid tribute to his mother’s struggle as a single parent. He also extended his “maximum respect” to single mothers, but emphasised the irreplaceable role of a male influence for young boys.
“As a kid, I had my woman shege. Like I said, it is not easy to be a single parent. She had to go to work. I had mates. Not having a father figure is quite difficult,” he said.
“Maximum respect to other women out there taking care of their children by themselves. You need a man in your life. If you do not want to get married, you need a brother to take your life. You just need a father figure for those boys.
“It is easy for girls as a mother. But for a boy, an African boy, a Nigerian boy, an Igbo boy… it is not easy.
“As a teenager listening right now, look for a role model, not for himself, the society, and I do not mean thieves, but someone of a father figure. The man that I am today, and that I would continue to be, is because of Mrs Joy.”
Franklin said that without that guidance from a father figure, he fell in with a bad crowd. He admitted to underage drinking, smoking cigarettes, and engaging in illicit activities with girls, often coming home “completely wasted”.
“(I was into) girls. Drugs. And by drugs, I am saying cigarettes. Drinking beer at a very young age. Coming back completely wasted,” he said.
“My dad is good, but he was not in the picture. Now I see him for the man that he is, not for the man that he was. And I have also forgiven him. Nobody is perfect. I do not pray to be such a man, but maybe I would have done worse if I were in his shoes.
“He never told me (why he was absent). Frankly enough, I do not care. I just honour him for the human being that he is. Thank you for not using a condom or jerking me off.
“As a teenager, I did not want to hear anything about him. I went to school and came out. I started working.”
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