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Birth Name: Jidenna Theodore Mobisson
Place of Birth: Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, U.S.
Date of Birth: May 4, 1985
Ethnicity: * father – Igbo Nigerian * mother – English, German, Scottish, Irish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Welsh, Dutch
Jidenna is a Nigerian-American rapper and singer.
Jidenna is the son of Tama, an accountant, and Oliver Mobisson (Oliver Udemmadu Ogbonna Mobisson), a scientist, professor, activist, and entrepreneur. His father was born in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, of Igbo descent. His mother, who is American, has English, German, Dutch, and possibly other, ancestry. Jidenna grew up in Nigeria for the first years of his life, and moved back to the U.S., living in Norwood and Milton, Massachusetts, at age six. His sister, Nneka Mobisson, is a medical doctor and entrepreneur.
Jidenna’s paternal grandfather was a palm wine tapper.
Jidenna’s maternal grandfather was Groff Collett (the son of William Barrow Collett, Jr. and Vera Francis Groff). Groff was born in Atchison, Kansas. William was born in Atchison, the son of Robert William Barrow Collett, who was born in Liverpool, England, to an English father and to an Irish mother; and of Annie Heermance. Jidenna’s great-grandmother Vera was born in Nortonville, Jefferson, Kansas, the daughter of William Downing Groff and Florence Lacy Webb.
Jidenna’s maternal grandmother was Lila Wiggin (the daughter of Parker Elloit Wiggin and Gladys Florence Wegele). Lila was born in Pennsylvania. Parker was born in Ellsworth, Kansas, the son of Richard Durant Wiggin, whose father was born in Staffordshire, England; and of Clara May Parker, whose maternal grandparents were from Wexford, Ireland. Jidenna’s great-grandmother Gladys was born in Pittsburgh, Allegheny Cty, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Charles Wegele, whose father was from Baden, Germany; and of Lila Grace Glenn.
Sources: Jidenna’s mother on the 1950 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Genealogy of Jidenna’s maternal grandfather, Groff Collett – https://www.familysearch.org
Obituary of Jidenna’s maternal grandfather, Groff Collett – https://www.ryanfh.com
Jidenna’s maternal grandmother, Lila Wiggin, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Genealogies of Jidenna’s maternal great-grandparents, Parker Elloit Wiggin and Gladys Florence Wegele – https://www.familysearch.org