Who is Alesha Dixon’s estranged partner Azuka Ononye - Inside their romance amid 'split'
Alesha Dixon has reportedly split from her long-term partner Azuka Ononye after 18 years together, with reports circulating that the pair's relationship has turned to a friendship. But who is Azuka, and how did they first meet?
Eighteen years ago, Alesha’s team hired Azuka as a dancer for her tour and the two became friends straight away. In a previous interview, Alesha confessed that she was “playing hard to get for about a year” but shared that they eventually bonded over, of all things, her broken foot.
“I couldn’t walk,” she said, “and he was literally sleeping on the floor looking after me every day.” The singer joked that it was only then that she realised he was “a keeper.”
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The pair’s relationship moved quickly and, just a year after they first met, they welcomed their first child, a daughter named Azura. Alesha shared the happy news on her 35th birthday, writing: “Thank you for all the lovely birthday messages! I’ve had the best present in the world… my baby girl Azura Sienna was born last week!!!”
Seven years later, in 2019, the couple welcomed their second child, a daughter named Anaya. The pair announced the happy news once again on Alesha Dixon’s birthday - this time her 41st.
Alesha shared that she felt like the “luckiest girl in the world as I celebrate my birthday today”, and confirmed that she had welcomed baby Anaya seven weeks previous. Speaking on Giovanna Fletcher’s podcast back in 2017, Alesha shared that Azuka is the only man that she could imagine having children with. “I knew we could have children together because of our values, our morals, our thinking aligned,” the singer said, before explaining that she was “frightened” to raise children in a toxic environment.
Alesha had previously been married to brit rapper MC Harvey from So Solid Crew, who she tied the knot with back in 2005. However, the romance was doomed and it was reported that he was unfaithful to her with fellow popstar and his then co-star on the West End Javine Hylton.
While it appeared she had found her Happily Ever After in Azuka, a source told The Sun this weekend that things were over for the couple.
Alesha hasn't been snapped with Azuka since March, and word has it she's been saying they're now 'more like friends' as their spark seems to have dimmed. A source said to the newspaper: "Alesha's been quietly telling people close to her that she believes their relationship is over and they're going to separate." They added, "She and Azuka have been together almost two decades but their relationship has become more like a friendship." The source also noted, "They're devoted parents to their girls, who are 11 and six, and want to focus on keeping their relationship as amicable as possible for their sake."
