Nollywood actress Stella Damasus has revealed that her family name was originally Ojukwu before it was changed during the Nigerian Civil War. She made this disclosure during a recent interview with media personality Ebuka Obi-Uchendu.
According to Stella, her family opted to change their surname to Damasus to avoid being targeted during the civil war. She explained that bearing the name Ojukwu, which was associated with the Biafran general Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, placed them in danger.
“My family name was Ojukwu, but it was changed to Damasus during the civil war to avoid being attacked by Nigerian soldiers,” she revealed.
The revelation sparked reactions online, with many expressing surprise about her Igbo roots. A user, @mma_obichere, commented, “Amazing! I didn’t even know she was Igbo.”
Others reflected on how similar name changes were common during the war for survival.
@weightloss_abuja remarked, “So many people changed their surnames during the war. It was for survival. Gladly, she’s setting the record straight.”
The discussion also brought up the lingering effects of the war, with @mr_abara noting, “This is the same reason many Igbo people in Delta, Rivers, and Edo still vehemently deny being Igbo. I guess it’s generational trauma.”
