A father-daughter relationship can change with time, but some bonds only grow deeper. What begins with a parent guiding a child eventually becomes a friendship built on trust, honesty and shared memories.

For Joy Ohon and her father, Donald Ohon, their relationship has remained anchored on one thing: creating a family where love, faith and open conversations are at the centre.

In a candid father-daughter conversation, the two reflected on childhood memories, intentional parenting, raising children in the public eye and the values that continue to define their family.

Being a father is something I was looking forward to

For Donald, fatherhood was never an unexpected chapter; it was something he had always desired. “I was looking forward to becoming a father. I was looking forward to getting married and being a father,” he shares.

When asked whether becoming a father changed his dreams, his answer was simple: fatherhood was already part of the dream. “It is everything. Everything revolves around me being a father,” he says.

For Joy, some of her fondest childhood memories are the small moments that made home feel like home, especially the names her father gave her and her siblings. “My dad always used to have nicknames for all of us. There was Tuli Duli, Baby Baby, Munchkins… Every time he came home and called us those names, you knew that was home,” she recalls.

Come, my daughter, let us reason together

Beyond the playful memories, Joy says one of the greatest gifts her father gave her was the freedom to express herself. “You never put down our opinions. You would always listen to us. You would always reason with us,” she says.

She explains that unlike some children who grew up feeling that a parent’s word could not be questioned, she always felt heard. “Growing up, I found out that my friends really didn’t have that liberty. Once their dad or mum said something, that was law. But with us, it was always a conversation,” she says.

Donald says this approach was intentional. “The way God says, ‘Come, let us reason together,’ that is how I approached my children. It was, ‘Come, my daughter, let us reason together,’” he explains.

A family built on faith

Faith has been the foundation of the Ohon family. When Joy started acting at a young age, Donald says he was not consumed by fear because he trusted the values they had planted in her. “We were always praying for you. I knew because of what we had deposited in you, God was guiding every step of your life,” he says. Even with Joy being recognised publicly through acting, Donald says they were intentional about keeping her grounded.

Joy remembers a moment when her parents reminded her that fame did not make her different. “I remember when I fought with my sisters and you guys said to me, ‘Do you think you’re a celebrity?’ I was never allowed to do that,” she laughs. For Donald, raising a child in the public eye required the same principles as raising any child. “We had to always show you the right way,” he says.

You’re my girl

As Joy grew older, their relationship evolved from one of parent and child to one of friendship. “Our relationship has always been the same. You’re my homie,” Joy says. Donald says the openness they built when she was younger is something he hopes continues into adulthood. “When you want to date, you’ll tell me, ‘Daddy, I want to date. I have this man in my life. What’s your take?’ I want us to maintain the same kind of relationship we have always had,” he says.

Although Joy jokes that her father is still overly protective, she acknowledges that his concern comes from love.“You’ve always been too protective,” she tells him. Donald laughs but stands by his role as a father. “When you are a father, and you have daughters…” he says, explaining that protecting his children has always been part of his responsibility.

God has given me the grace for girls

Donald says he never prayed for a son. Instead, he trusted God’s plan for his family. “I never, even one single day, prayed, ‘God, I want a son.’ I used to tell God, ‘Give me your choice,’” he shares. Today, he says raising daughters has been a blessing. “I don’t see a missing link. God has given me the grace for girls, so I appreciate it,” he says.

Joy says one of the things she admires most about her father is how he loves her mother. “You are very selfless. You love with all your heart. Anything Mum needs, Daddy is there, running to the rescue,” she says. For her, watching her parents’ marriage taught her about the kind of love she hopes to experience. “It’s like the Bible says, love is kind, love is patient. Love does not hurt,” she says.

Seeing himself in his daughter

Donald says one of the things that makes him proud is seeing qualities of himself reflected in Joy. “You’re a go-getter. When you set your eyes on doing something, you go an extra mile and push yourself beyond limits to achieve it,” he says. Joy also believes she inherited one important quality from her father. “I think I’m one of the nicest people on earth, and I think my dad is. I look at myself and say, ‘I am a good person,’ and my dad is a great person,” she says.

Passing on the legacy

When asked what lesson he hopes his children carry from watching his life, Donald returns to the foundation of their family. “The foundation of our family is God. If there’s one thing you guys have really learned and impressed me with, it is the godly aspect even in your life and your dealings,” he says.

For Joy, if she becomes a parent one day, she already knows what she wants to carry forward. “The same openness. God, number one, of course. I want my kids to be able to come and talk to me the way I have always been able to come and talk to you,” she says.

Their story is a reminder that some of the strongest family bonds are not built on perfection, but on presence, showing up, listening, reasoning together and creating a safe space where children know they are loved. A home where, as Joy puts it, her father is not just a parent, but also “her homie.”

For more, click HERE to join our WhatsApp channel!