Izaak Theo Adu is the son of British soul icon Sade Adu who has lived a life of privilege and also faced challenges. Born into a world of music, creativity, and fame, Izaak has spoken openly about his journey of self-discovery as a transgender man. His story of courage, resilience, and authenticity inspires many around the world to be true to their selves.
Early Life
Izaak Theo Adu was born on 21 July, 1996, to British-Nigerian singer-songwriter Sade Adu and Jamaican music producer Bob Morgan. Raised in a creative and culturally rich environment from a young age, Izaak was exposed to music and artistic influences. His mother, Sade, is known for her unique sound and soulful voice that ruled the 1980s and ’90s with hits like “Smooth Operator” and “No Ordinary Love.” Despite her level of fame, Sade leads a private life, and Izaak’s childhood was largelyshielded from the public eye.
Izaak grew up as the child of a celebrity, but he also had internal struggles with his identity as he navigated feelings of being different. Though given the gender of female at birth and raised as Mickailia “Ila” Adu, Izaak always felt uncomfortable with his assigned gender. Not until later in life would he fully identify as a transgender man.
Embracing His True Identity
In 2016, Izaak made public his transition from female to male. That marked the beginning of an extremely personal journey. But he had family support, especially his mother Sade, during the process. Izaak has acknowledged the emotional and physical pain of transitioning, including gender-confirmation surgery.
Through being transparent on social media, particularly on Instagram, he met other people going through the same thing. For those struggling with their own identities, Izaak preached acceptance and self-love. Posts and updates about his transition described the highs and lows of his experience, gender dysphoria, and self-acceptance.
A Close Bond with His Mother
Izaak has said that his mother Sade was there for him through his transition. They bonded even more during his recovery from surgery in 2019 when Sade took time off from her career to care for him. In emotional tributes on social media, Izaak has often called her his “queen” and “guiding light.” Sade is a private person but has always been a pillar of support for Izaak, highlighting the close bond that they share.
Life after Transition and Personal Growth
After completing his physical transition, Izaak felt more at ease and at peace with himself, allowing him be be his real self. He has since pushed for transgender rights and mental health awareness and spread messages of positivity and acceptance. His willingness to share his experience has helped many, especially in the LGBTQ+ community, where his visibility as a trans man of color has helped.
Today Izaak is a happy man who lives a life filled with joy, creativity, and purpose. He keeps a relatively private life, much like his mother, but he continues to engage openly with his followers on social media. Izaak’s journey teaches us that self-discovery and living your truth can be challenging but worthwhile.
