Stella Damasus Reveals Family Surname ‘Ojukwu’ Was Changed During Biafran War

Nollywood actress Stella Damasus shares a personal story, revealing that her family’s surname, ‘Ojukwu,’ was altered for safety during the Biafran War, shedding light on the war’s impact on families.

Stella Damasus, a well-known Nollywood actress, revealed that her family’s original surname was Ojukwu prior to the Nigerian civil war.

She mentioned this while being interviewed by the well-known media personality, Ebuka Obi Uchendu.

In response to the frequent mispronunciation of her last name, ‘Damasus,’ she shared that her grandfather’s original surname, ‘Ojukwu,’ was altered during the civil war as a precautionary measure to avoid being targeted.

The actress mentioned that her family’s name was often thought to be connected to the late Biafran war general, Ojukwu.

Ebuka remarked, “It’s fascinating how many people didn’t realize your surname was different from what they thought. Many were surprised by the revelation—were you just as surprised?”

Stella replied, “Damasus is my granddaughter’s first name. It’s a Greek name. My original last name was Ojukwu, but it changed during the Biafran War when my people were attacked in Asaba because they assumed we were related to that particular Ojukwu.”

“I was born in Damasus, and when I asked for a reason why, that was the explanation they offered me.”