How my parents almost divorced – Tunde Bakare’s daughter

Weeks after celebrating his 70th birthday, Pastor Tunde Bakare and his wife, Olayide, fondly called “Authentic Mrs. B,” marked another milestone: their 40th wedding anniversary on November 30, 2024.

The joyous occasion was filled with love and gratitude as the couple celebrated with their children, grandchildren, friends, and well-wishers.

During the event, their eldest daughter, Olubunmi Fabode, shared a deeply personal story, describing her parents’ marriage as a battleground against generational curses. Reflecting on a pivotal moment from her childhood, Fabode revealed that her father once informed her of an impending separation between him and her mother.

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“When I was seven years old, my father came to the room and told me, ‘Your mother and I are going our separate ways. I am telling you this so you can decide who you want to live with,’” she recounted.

Fabode explained that her love for her siblings and her determination to keep the family together motivated her to pray fervently for her parents’ reconciliation. “I didn’t care so much about my mum and dad not living together, but I thought if they were separated, my siblings may choose either of our parents. And I knew that could not work because I absolutely love my siblings. They are the joy of my life.”

She attributed the challenges her parents faced to their respective upbringings. Pastor Bakare grew up in a polygamous household of 12 wives and 22 children, losing his father at the age of three. His wife, Olayide, was born in Leicester and raised by various guardians, including a foster parent, her grandmother, and later her father and stepmother.

“They each came from brokenness, dysfunction, and upheaval,” Fabode said. “Somehow, they found each other and decided to try—with nothing but their faith in God and the Bible as a guide—to create something new that they had not experienced.”

Fabode described her parents’ union as a battleground where generational curses were confronted and defeated. “Their marriage was not just a union; it was a battleground. A place where generational curses were confronted and wrestled to the ground,” she said.

Quoting a family member, Fabode emphasized the unique challenges faced by the first generation emerging from broken homes. “A dear aunty once told me that the first generation of any marriage from a broken home always faces an extraordinary battle because the enemy works to perpetuate darkness for one more generation. Both of them stood in the gap and said, ‘This far and no further.’”

She credited her parents’ faith, resilience, and commitment for the love-filled home they built. “My father, who was a casual Christian before marriage, became a man of prayer when he saw the generational curses. My mother became resilient and nurturing through the marriage, despite lacking a role model. Together, they created an atmosphere of love,” Fabode said.

Tunde Bakare and Olayide tied the knot in 1984 and are proud parents of five children.