Actress Mercy Aigbe has revealed that she recently apologised to her daughter Michelle for the tough parenting she gave her while raising her as a single mother.
The 47-year-old made the emotional revelation at the premiere of the soon-to-be-released Nollywood film ‘My Mother Is a Witch’, which held at Filmhouse Cinemas, Palms Mall, Lekki on Sunday.
During a press interview at the event, Mercy said she had to reflect on how her parenting style affected her daughter.
“I’ve been a single mother before I got married. For years I was a single mom to Michelle. Three days ago I had to send an apology text to her for the harsh upbringing I gave her. I said, ‘I am so sorry, you might think the upbringing I gave you was so hard.’ Yes, it was harsh, I can’t lie. But I raised a vessel for God,” she said.
The ‘Thin Line’ actress also recounted a moment that made her realise the impact of her past actions.
“One day I was calling her, she didn’t pick my call. I had to call her friend who later called me to call her back. When I called, I said, ‘Michelle, I have been calling but you didn’t pick my call.’ She responded, ‘Mommy, I’m traumatised. I remember you hit a bucket on my head one day.’”
Mercy plays a central role in My Mother Is a Witch, where she stars as the estranged mother of Efe Irele’s character.
The psychological drama, written and directed by Niyi Akinmolayan, is slated for nationwide release on May 23.
Set in Benin City and London, the film explores the tense bond between a mother and daughter, highlighting themes of family trauma, buried secrets and the pursuit of forgiveness.
Efe, who plays a fashion editor returning from London to confront her past, also serves as the film’s executive producer.
The movie’s slow-burn narrative focuses on how silence and unresolved emotional wounds impact generations. According to Efe, the story demanded a lot of emotional depth, which she fully embraced.
Produced by Anthill Studios in collaboration with Frame Flix HQ, My Mother Is a Witch also stars Timini Egbuson and Neo Akpofure.