Prophetess Funmilayo Kolawole has endured pain that most mothers cannot imagine. In this interview with Grace Edema, she recounts the heartbreak of losing five children, the anguish of being misunderstood, false accusations from loved ones while grieving, and moments when she nearly gave up on life
Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I am a person who loves God and has always had a passion for dance. Dancing is my passion. While my parents wanted me to study photography, I chose hairdressing instead. Tragically, two weeks before my graduation, my boss passed away.
I have engaged in various trades to survive, but through it all, God has preserved me. I believe that without spiritual awakening, people may struggle to succeed.
You mentioned in a viral video that you lost some children. Can you clarify?
I have lost five children over the years. For the first three who passed, we made a lot of efforts to save their lives, but nothing could save them.
I am in my 60s. I gave birth to my first three children in a place of worship called Church of the Lord. My firstborn arrived in the 1980s, and I was told never to cut his hair. But when lice appeared, I decided to trim it. As his hair grew back, one night he went to sleep and never woke up.
Another child, Ramota, died after I travelled in search of my husband. At the time, he had stopped coming home, and I couldn’t reach him. I was advised to find him, not knowing he was involved with a vigilante’s wife, which had caused threats and quarrels. Ramota, already unwell, died during this period. We were living in Iyana Yesi then.
Another child passed away while receiving treatment at a traditional healer’s place in Igboeyin, Epe. The healer refused to release the body to me. Yet another child died, and I had to carry his body out of the hospital myself.
At one point, I was told that my children kept dying because I had an evil spirit. My fourth child was born on Friday, May 14, 1993. On August 3, 1999, I gave birth to twins. Tragically, one of them, Maria, died after falling and hitting her head on the floor.
There are experiences too painful to share publicly. During my trials, both my family and my in-laws abandoned me. I moved from one marriage to another in search of help, but today I have a husband, and God has shown me mercy.
My three-year-old son was abducted while playing football – Father
What do you think caused the deaths of your children?
Bad marriages. My mother and my aunt were involved in the circumstances that contributed to my suffering. At the time, I had not yet found a good husband or a true helper. I endured hard physical labour and deep suffering with no one to support me. I was surrounded by poverty, sorrow, deprivation, and a profound sense of purposelessness. At the height of my ordeal, I even attempted suicide.
What lessons have you learned through all of this?
One major lesson is the importance of raising children to know God. Looking back, I feel my children were not rooted enough in Christ. It is not about money; what truly matters is one’s relationship with God.
I used to place too much trust in people, and by the time I realised not everyone is worthy of that trust, I had already endured many painful experiences. Reflecting on how my children came into my life, I now recognise a foundational issue, which may have spiritual roots.
I pray that every Christian stands firm and refrains from deceit or manipulation, especially under the guise of being a prophet. I have endured deep afflictions, and I hope my experiences serve as a guide.
Today, I have children I can call my own. You know, in Yorubaland, you are not allowed to count your children. They are all seen as a blessing. If God chooses for them to be the ones to help me, to lift me, so be it. I continue to hold firmly on to God.
What advice do you have for women?
I want to tell young women: do not rush into marriage or desperately search for a husband. Focus on proper training, building your morals, and growing in wisdom. My troubles began when my mother forcibly married me off.
I had no supportive husband and suffered alone. No one cared for me, not my mother, brother, sister, or uncle. Some women lack good character, and that is why they struggle in marriage and cannot keep a home. Women should be submissive to their husbands.
Hold on to God, don’t rush into marriage, and prioritise finding God first. Be empathetic and wise in every decision.