Veteran Nollywood actress Chinyere Wilfred has shared candid reflections on the declining stability of marriages and the evolving challenges of modern-day parenting, attributing many of these issues to the influence of Gen Z culture and a departure from traditional family values.
In an exclusive interview with The Nation, the Sands of Time star expressed concern over the high rate of broken homes and fleeting marriages among today’s youth.
“Parents of this generation are Gen Z parents,” Wilfred said. “Back in the day, our parents wouldn’t do most of the things we see today.
Look at what is happening to marriages now — you buy aso ebi and before you blink, they’ve broken up. We were not like that before. I’ve been married for over 30 years and I’m still happily married.”
‘Sands of Time’ Helped Me Re-evaluate My Parenting – Wilfred
Wilfred, who plays the character Mama Bomboy in the hit TV series Sands of Time, revealed that her role significantly impacted how she now approaches parenting. She admitted that watching her performance on playback made her realize she had been overly strict with her children.
“While shooting, I saw myself in that character. I realised I was overreacting with my children,” she shared. “When I got home, I calmed down with my son, I won’t lie. Even now, at this time they say Gen Z this and that, he still can’t sleep out—even though he is a graduate.”
Wilfred confessed that her intentions were rooted in love, but that she now recognizes she may have crossed the line into overprotection.
“I thought I was protecting them, but I was overprotecting them.”
Message to African Mothers
The Living in Bondage actress believes that Sands of Time delivers a crucial message to African parents, especially mothers who may confuse control with care.
“The series will teach mothers to listen more and loosen up,” she said. “It’s not every time you shout or impose rules. We need to understand our children and not just raise them the way we were raised.”
Final Thoughts
Chinyere Wilfred, who remains one of Nollywood’s most respected figures, has not only sustained a successful acting career spanning decades but has also managed to maintain a thriving 30-year marriage — a rarity in today’s world of fast-changing relationships.
Her voice adds weight to the conversation around modern marriage, parenting values, and the importance of generational understanding in family life.
