By Rita Okoye
Ezinne Obi Okoli, widely known in the music scene as Iva Tracy, daughter of veteran Nollywood actor Obi Okoli, has candidly shared the unusual nature of her relationship with her father.
In a recent interview with Saturday Sun, the singer revealed the striking fact that she had only met her father on a single occasion, many years ago, when she was in junior secondary school.
“My father is Igbo from Anambra State, and my mother is from Taraba State. I grew up with her, and my father was always on set, working. I had only set my eyes on him once when he visited my school to see me. Growing up without the consistent presence of my father was hard.”
She admitted that as a child, she often longed for that paternal figure in her life.
“Sometimes, I wanted that father figure to be there for me. Sometimes, I wish there was a father I could confide in. You know daughters are often closer to their fathers, while mothers share a special bond with their sons.”
Despite the physical distance, Iva Tracy expressed a deep affection for her father. “It came to a point that I always post my father on social media. There’s a special love I have for him. Whenever he crosses my mind, I am happy that I have a father and I know him, irrespective of what people might be saying.”
Reflecting on the dynamics between her parents and the lessons she gleaned from them, Miss Iva shared poignant insights. “From my mom, I learned that you should not love someone to the extent of neglecting all the red flags. As a human, you will always get a hint when someone is not being straightforward with you. Your spirit will always give you a hint, but you can be carried away by love. The fear of losing the person can make you stay.”
From her father, the lesson was different. “From my father, I learned that too much of everything is bad. Too much love is also bad. Sometimes, you need to distance yourself from some people to feel at peace with your inner self. You are not meant to love everybody. What isn’t yours will never become yours.”
