Nigerian recording artiste, Timi Dakolo, has opened up about the emotional and financial pressure men face, saying society expects them to provide without complaint while denying them the space to be vulnerable.
Speaking during a recent podcast, Dakolo reflected on the heavy expectations placed on men to constantly show strength. According to him, men are told to speak up, but when they do, they are often judged.
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“They say make we talk, but when we talk, and tears fall, they say we be weak,” he said.
He questioned why people rarely consider the emotional needs of the man everyone depends on.
“Who helps the person that helps everybody?” he asked, pointing out that many assume a provider already has support simply because he appears strong.
Dakolo added that beyond rent, school fees, and daily expenses, men also battle internal fears and insecurities but suppress them to avoid seeming weak.
Despite the pressure, he said moments of appreciation make it worthwhile. Recounting how his daughter recently called him “the best guy” after he sent her money for a school trip, he described her joy as enough reward for his efforts.
He concluded by urging men to talk more openly with one another and encouraged women to listen even to the things men struggle to say out loud.
