Veteran Nigerian gospel singer Asu Ekiye has disclosed that his estranged wife, Kunemofa Asu, was the one who initiated the process that brought their 28-year marriage to an end, saying she moved out of their home and subsequently filed for divorce.
Ekiye clarified in a fresh statement on Saturday, August 22, 2026, two days after he publicly announced that the marriage had ended.
The development has generated renewed interest in the private life of the gospel musician, particularly because his initial announcement did not disclose what led to the collapse of the marriage.
In that earlier statement, Ekiye simply said that his marriage to Kunemofa, whom he married in 1998, had come to an end after 28 years. He explained that the marriage had actually ended a year earlier but that he deliberately waited before making the matter public.
His latest clarification, however, provides more insight into the circumstances surrounding the separation.
According to Ekiye, the decision to end the marriage did not originate from him.
“The decision regarding the dissolution of my marriage was not one I initiated. My wife expressed her desire to end the marriage, packed out of my house and subsequently instituted divorce proceedings without any quarrels,” he said.
‘I did all I could’
The singer said he did not immediately accept the end of the relationship, revealing that he spent about a year trying to reconcile with his wife and preserve the marriage.
Ekiye said he appealed to her through different means in the hope that she would reconsider her decision and that both of them could rebuild their relationship.
However, he said his efforts did not change her position.
“Having done all I could to seek reconciliation, I eventually came to the difficult decision to accept the reality of the situation and allow the divorce process to take its course,” Ekiye stated.
The account marks a significant addition to the story first made public on August 20, when the singer announced the end of the marriage without revealing the circumstances that led to it. Contemporary reports of that initial announcement said Ekiye described the 28-year union as a deeply personal journey of “growth, experience and reflection” and said he wanted to close the chapter with “grace, gratitude and dignity.”
A marriage once described as ‘divinely inspired’
The disclosure is particularly striking against the picture Ekiye once painted of his marriage.
In a 2018 interview with Punch, the singer described his marriage as the product of what he called “divine incubation”. He said he had spent years preparing spiritually for marriage and believed he had found a “divinely inspired soul mate.”
At the time, Ekiye spoke warmly about Kunemofa, describing her as beautiful, spiritual, focused, intelligent, motherly, enterprising and resourceful. He also said she was a companion who could help him fulfil his dreams.
The couple’s marriage subsequently lasted for 28 years and produced four children, according to reports on Ekiye’s announcement.
‘No bitterness or ill will’
Despite the painful end to the relationship, Ekiye said his latest clarification was not intended to attack or embarrass his former wife.
He said he had no bitterness towards her or anyone involved in the circumstances surrounding the dissolution of the marriage.
“I bear no bitterness or ill will toward anyone,” he said.
The gospel singer added that he wanted to approach the next phase of his life with “grace, dignity, maturity and respect for all concerned.”
What is established — and what remains private
The available accounts establish that Ekiye and Kunemofa married in 1998 and that their marriage ended after 28 years. Ekiye first announced the development publicly on August 20, 2026, saying the marriage had actually ended a year earlier.
His August 22 clarification further establishes his account that Kunemofa initiated the divorce, moved out and later instituted proceedings, while he spent about a year seeking reconciliation.
However, the specific underlying reasons for Kunemofa’s decision have not been publicly established in the reports reviewed. There is also no publicly reported response from her explaining her side of the circumstances.
For that reason, claims suggesting a particular cause for the divorce should be treated cautiously unless supported by a direct statement from either party or reliable documentary evidence.
For Ekiye, the emphasis now appears to be on acceptance rather than public recrimination.
After nearly three decades of marriage, the gospel singer says he has accepted that the relationship has reached its legal and personal conclusion and is choosing to move forward without bitterness.
