Toke Makinwa’s former husband, Maje Ayida, has revealed he suffered depression after their widely publicized divorce in 2016, during a conversation with Pastor Bolaji Idowu at a church service.
Maje spoke about the intense public judgments and shame he faced, which led him to pull away from friends and family.
According to him, the isolation took a toll on his personal and professional life, causing his mental health to decline. He said he struggled to work, lost business opportunities, and dealt with insomnia and paranoia.
Maje said he felt deep shame about his situation and its impact on his family’s reputation.
However, he eventually realized he needed to take responsibility for his feelings and actions, marking the start of his journey to recovery.
He recounted that “I experienced a divorce that was very public, and it left me feeling incredibly alone. I felt embarrassed not just for myself but for what I thought I had done to my family’s name. Because of that, I went into hiding.”
Maje revealed that he became so down that he stopped going to work and lost motivation, wondering why he should even get out of bed each day.
He admitted that “I lost my focus and the will to do anything. I felt as though everyone looked at me in a negative way, which made me retreat even further.”
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After about a year of feeling hopeless and out of touch with life, he decided to make a change.
“I realized I was in a dark place and needed to find a way out,” he said.
Maje mentioned having difficulty sleeping and feeling paranoid, convinced that others were judging him whenever he ventured outside.
Despite the overwhelming feelings of hopelessness, he made a choice to not stay in that dark space. He sought out ways to cope and found that taking responsibility for his actions was crucial.
Although it initially made him feel worse, he began to take practical steps toward improving his situation.
His divorce was a major topic, notably highlighted in Toke Makinwa’s memoir: “On Becoming.”
Maje even took legal action against her for defamation, winning the case in 2020.
However, he acknowledged that the entire experience had a lasting impact on his mental health.
