Literary

Why I Stand with Annie

Opinion

 

For starters, I am a die-hard fan of Tubaba from the days of Plantashun Boiz and Kennis Music. His classic, “African Queen” is the best thing that happened to me as a young black girl who wanted fair skin at all cost. But I’m not concerned about his private life or love life. The only reason why I feel inclined to write my position on Annie is to put things in perspective where divorce is imminent.

 

Annie and Tubaba’s love story has inspired a generation of young men with babymamas to tie the knot with the love of their lives. And their destination wedding in Dubai seemed like a happy ending to the drama surrounding Tubaba’s love life. 

 

I’m throwing my weight of support behind Annie not because she is a woman or the only victim of the estranged union but because she has a special needs child and a mental health condition resulting from the tumultuous marriage to Tubaba.

 

This read should actually serve as a public petition to Tubaba and his family members to show mercy towards Annie and her children. What I mean is that they should allow room for dialogue and if there is no room for reconciliation, they should work together to give a proper and befitting divorce settlement to Annie and her children.

 

Annie’s family members need to appoint proper guardianship over the children as Annie is given time to process this divorce and push herself back into her career. Annie is stronger than she knows but she has been channelling her energy in the wrong direction for many years: fighting babymamas, weaponising social media and allowing herself to relive the trauma in a damaging continental-wide reality show. 

 

For the records, Annie Macaulay was a big name in showbiz before Tubaba gained global recognition. But the moment she became Tubaba’s babymama, her career was buried under the music legend’s. This had happened to Wizkid’s manager, Jada Pollock who is a very influential person in music management for international stars. She is a stylist, brand consultant and entrepreneur. Now she is known mostly as Wizkid’s babymama. 

 

Annie needs to detox and recalibrate. She fell in love at an age where she was vulnerable. She didn’t have anyone to guide her and she became attached to Tubaba. Also, a tinge of entitlement crept in when African Queen became a most successful hit of Tubaba’s career and she was his love interest in the music video. 

 

Annie should get well and be strong for her children. She is a passionate lover and would have succeeded in her marriage if her husband knew how to manage the attention she was giving him. It was on a toxic level. He should have set her up with very good distraction like acquiring further educational qualifications or creating more businesses. 

 

Her strong personality was vested in securing her seat in her home whereas it takes more than just one’s will power to keep a man. She as well as other women should understand that you can’t keep a man who doesn’t want to be kept. As a matter of fact, his babymamas are not the problem. That is quite clear. They have moved on- married and happy- or seemingly so. It is infidelity that ruined the marriage and it is agonising for a woman who is that beautiful to watch her husband enjoy the warmth of other women. If she was in the marriage for money as many alleged, she wouldn’t be bothered. But her soul is committed to Tubaba and she is a rare lover- the type that love ballads are all about. She epitomises unconditional love. She loves so much and it drives her crazy. She is obsessed with Tubaba. She needs therapy and be made to realise that one’s heart and dignity must be protected at all times whether in a relationship or a marriage.

 

Also, a lot of women who have stayed with unfaithful partners have developed coping mechanisms that work for them. Some are less temperamental, quiet and strategic in getting their revenge. Some inflate prices of everything they buy for the home to get back at their unfaithful husbands. Some damage things around the house. Bottomline: it is often toxic.

 

Annie, I cry for you everyday and I hope you get to read this and feel strong and empowered. You will always be the African Queen.

 

With Love,

Ashley.

 

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