Veteran actress Joke Silva has opened up about the initial opposition she faced from her father regarding her relationship with fellow Nollywood legend, Olu Jacobs. Speaking on the Stephen Akintayo Leadership podcast, Silva revealed that her father’s concern stemmed from the significant age difference between her and Jacobs.
According to Silva, she met the seasoned actor while still finding her feet in the entertainment industry. She had approached him for guidance, and the connection between them grew from there. Her sister, impressed by Jacobs, even remarked, “Joke, this is the man to take to daddy.”
Despite the blossoming romance, Silva said her father was initially uncomfortable with the age gap between them, while her mother had no issues supporting the relationship. Her mother, she explained, came from a background where such age differences were not uncommon.
Reflecting on their early bond, Silva shared that Jacobs, being an established name at the time, encouraged her to seek professional training in drama rather than pursue a traditional university degree in Theatre Arts.
Eventually, the couple tied the knot, and Silva said her decision was driven purely by love.
“We got married in 1984. I was 24, so it was 1985. He was 19 or 20 years older than me. (I accepted because) I was in love with him. It is as simple as that. He was just a very gorgeous person.”
She recounted how her sister Toyin Olawoye was supportive from the beginning, sharing a memory from around the time their relationship began.
“I remember one of my sisters, when she was home, I think it was 1984, and I had come back home. We met, and she called me aside and said, ‘Joke, this is the man to take to Daddy.’ That was Toyin Olawoye.”
Although her father had his reservations, Silva said her mother stood firmly with her, citing a personal understanding of such unions.
“My dad had issues with the fact that he was older, but my mum was like this is the person they know me with. And her parents had that kind of age gap as well. So it was no big deal.”
Another important decision the couple made was keeping Silva’s maiden name for professional reasons. Jacobs, understanding the importance of personal branding, suggested she retain it.
“He (Jacobs) was the one who advised that I do not change my name. Because he understood the importance of branding, he said my brand had started building before we met, and changing the brand could cause problems for me.”
“We kept the name Joke Silva as the brand, and within the brand, there was nobody who did not know I was Mrs Jacobs.”
