Veteran Nollywood actress Joke Silva has opened up about her decision to retain her maiden name after marrying fellow film legend, Olu Jacobs.
Speaking during a recent episode of the Leadership Podcast hosted by Stephen Akintayo, the 62-year-old screen icon revealed that the choice to keep her surname was not out of defiance or feminism, but rather a strategic move supported by her husband.
According to Joke Silva, it was her husband who first suggested she retain the name “Joke Silva” for professional purposes. At the time, she had already built a recognizable brand in the entertainment industry, and he believed a name change could interfere with her momentum.
“He [Olu Jacobs] was the one who actually advised that I don’t,” she said. “Because he understood the importance of branding. He was like, my brand has started building as Joke Silva and changing brands several years after one has been using that brand, as far as he was concerned, could cause problems for me.”
Joke Silva also clarified that while she kept her maiden name publicly for professional reasons, those in their private circles knew her as Mrs. Jacobs, and the name issue was never a point of contention.
“Within the circles, there was nobody who didn’t know I was Mrs. Jacobs. It really didn’t matter.”
Her comments have sparked discussions online, particularly around the evolving role of women in public life, and how more couples are choosing mutual respect over tradition when it comes to name changes after marriage.
The actress’s revelation adds to the growing list of public figures who are redefining the norms of marital identity, proving once again that personal choices, especially in marriage, should be rooted in understanding and support.
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