Wahu: My dad's love saved me from dying of depression

ELIZABETH NGIGI Lifestyle, Entertainment Journalist

12 November 2022

• Wahu opens up about her loving dad.

• Wahu was depressed in her early 20s but her dad's love saved her life.

Singer Wahu has revealed how the love she had for her dad saved her life.

In a long post dubbed, A letter to my dad', Wahu opened up about her close relationship with her late dad when she was growing up.

Wahu was celebrating fathers who are present in their daughters' lives as they grow up.

She noted that ever since she was a little girl, she knew she had her father's heart.

"Not because he bought me stuff (we weren't rich) but because he was present. He was there for every school event ( sports days, swimming competitions, performances, school debates...name it, Mr. Kagwi was there...(now as an adult I wonder what he used to tell his boss he was doing when we randomly left jobo to come and watch me recite a poem or something ).." she explained.

The mother of three added that she spent time together with her dad which included, random Sunday drives, evening walks, and doing homework.

They talked about anything and everything and even when she wanted to go on her first club date, she informed her dad.

"From boys I liked, my struggles & insecurities, politics, my dreams...just anything. we became so close, that when I wanted to go to the club for the 1st time, I couldn't lie...I came clean with him.. he was obviously nervous about it, but I told him to trust how he'd raised me. He allowed me to go, but told my big bro to accompany me," she said.

Wahu recounted when she was moving into her first little house, her dad was there to help her move and bought her a carpet.

In the darkest times of Wahu's life, late teens into their early twenties, Wahu revealed that she suffered from depression and even wanted to take her life during that period.

She said that there were times the only thing that kept her from taking her own life, was how much her dad would miss her.

"I knew he would blame himself Dad wasn't rich (financially) and he didn't always have the answers, but he was there for me emotionally," she said.

Wahu encouraged fathers to always support their daughters emotionally.

"Dear fathers of girls, and anyone who steps up and into this role, your little girl needs you emotionally..she needs acceptance, empathy, assurance, encouragement, she needs your time...your time....your time..I cannot over-emphasize this," she said.

Wahu added;

"Fathering a child doesn't make you a great dad....it is the investment in the intangible yet ever so important things in life that will help catapult your daughter into the queen she was born to be. I am writing to dads of girls because I have never been a boy (lol) I'm sharing my experience...but I imagine the same rules apply to raising strong amazing boys. Just be there physically and emotionally Ni hayo tu Kwa Sasa."