“He left us, and then he came back to die in our home.” T. Apala Terry

Nigerian musician Terry Apala has spoken publicly about his father’s abandonment of the family.

He insisted that his father was not in his life, saying that he had been gone for 17 years until he returned for a single visit before dying at their home.

In an interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, the Apala singer revealed this information.

His father, he explained, “was not there [for me]. We couldn’t find him. He was just out there, doing his thing, somewhere. There is zero connection between us.

I last saw my father on the day he passed away, the day after I had left him in 1990. He trekked from Apapa to our Mushin residence. Physique-wise, he looked great. He enquired after my mum and I informed him she wasn’t around. My mom urged me to tell my dad to leave when I called and told her he was there. I informed my father about my mother’s statement, but he suggested he wait for her return. My other siblings couldn’t come over that night since they heard he was there.

“So, there was just myself, my dad, and our lastborn, Obi. Yes, we did share a bed. My younger brother and I shared a bed with him. When I woke up, he must have been sick. I was moved to tears. You know, you go pity person wey don die, even if I didn’t really feel awful because this man wasn’t there. That was the last time I saw my dad, I guess. Our home turned into a morgue.

We hadn’t seen him in 15–17 years when, out of the blue, he came to rest at our house before heading to the morgue. “I think he knew that he was going to die,” said his son.