Abel Tesfaye—the man the world knows as The Weeknd—has built an entire aesthetic out of being a loner. He’s the guy wandering through the neon-soaked streets of Las Vegas with a bloodied nose, or the one losing his mind in a hall of mirrors at the Super Bowl. But behind the "Starboy" persona is a very real, very grounded immigrant story. If you want to understand why his music feels so haunted and yet so resilient, you have to look at The Weeknd parents, Samra Tesfaye and Makkonen Tesfaye.
They didn't have it easy.
Back in the late 1980s, Samra and Makkonen fled Ethiopia during a period of massive political upheaval and civil unrest. They landed in Toronto, Canada, looking for a fresh start. Abel was born in 1990, but the family unit didn't stay intact for long. By the time he was a toddler, his father was gone.
The Father Figure Who Wasn't There
People always ask if the "lonely" vibe in Abel's music is an act. It’s not. It’s rooted in the fact that Makkonen Tesfaye was essentially a ghost for most of Abel's life. He wasn't around to see the rise of the XO empire.
Abel has been pretty blunt about this in his rare interviews. He told Rolling Stone years ago that he saw his father maybe once when he was six, and then again briefly when he was 11 or 12. He didn't harbor a deep, burning hatred for the man, though. It was more of a "he’s just a stranger" kind of feeling. He even mentioned that his father had a new family and kids, and that he didn't judge him—he just wasn't part of his world.
It's a heavy thing to carry.
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Growing up in Scarborough, a district of Toronto known for being a multicultural melting pot, Abel was raised primarily by his mother and his grandmother. If you've ever wondered why he speaks Amharic so fluently or why his vocal runs sound like they were pulled straight from an Ethiopian Orthodox church service, that's why.
Samra Tesfaye: The Backbone of the Brand
While his father was absent, his mother, Samra, was doing the work of three people. Imagine being an immigrant in a cold, unfamiliar city, working multiple jobs just to keep the lights on. She worked as a nurse and a caterer. She did whatever it took.
She was also the one who had to deal with Abel’s rebellious phase.
Abel wasn't exactly a "model kid." He dropped out of high school on a weekend (hence the name) and basically vanished into the parkdale neighborhood of Toronto to pursue a lifestyle that most parents would lose sleep over. He has admitted that when he left home at 17, it was the "worst thing ever" for his mother. She looked at him with a specific kind of disappointment that only an immigrant parent who has sacrificed everything can give.
She saw him throwing away the "Canadian Dream" she had worked so hard to build for him.
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But here is the thing: Samra's influence is all over his music. The Ethiopian scales that define songs like "The Hills" or the bridge in "False Alarm" are a direct result of the music she played in the house. She raised him on a diet of Aster Aweke and Mulatu Astatke. Without Samra, there is no "Blinding Lights." There is no unique sonic profile that separates The Weeknd from every other R&B singer on the radio.
The Grandmother’s Role
Because Samra was always working, Abel spent a massive amount of time with his grandmother. She was the one who actually taught him Amharic. In many ways, his grandmother was his primary link to his Ethiopian heritage. This is a common thread in many diaspora households where the parents are busy chasing economic stability. The elders become the keepers of the culture.
Did they ever reconcile?
The relationship between The Weeknd and his father is still a bit of a question mark. Makkonen has surfaced in some tabloid reports over the years, expressing pride in his son’s success, but Abel hasn't exactly been seen out at dinner with him.
His relationship with Samra, however, did a total 180.
Once the "House of Balloons" era kicked off and the money started rolling in, Abel made sure his mother was taken care of. He often posts her on his Instagram now—she’s seen backstage at his shows or at his massive birthday parties. He even brought her to the Billboard Music Awards. It’s a classic redemption arc. The kid who "ran away" ended up becoming the biggest pop star on the planet, and he brought his mom along for the ride.
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Why this matters for his fans
Understanding The Weeknd parents helps peel back the layers of his discography.
- The Vocal Style: The "quiver" in his voice is a staple of Ethiopian music called "tezeta." It’s a feeling of nostalgia and longing.
- The Lyrics: When he sings about loneliness or searching for connection, it’s not just about a breakup. It’s about a childhood spent feeling like an outsider, even within his own family structure.
- The Work Ethic: You don’t get to his level of fame without a certain kind of "immigrant hustle." He saw his mother work herself to the bone, and he applied that same intensity to his art.
He’s not just a guy from Toronto. He’s the son of Samra and Makkonen, a product of the Ethiopian diaspora, and a man who turned his family’s fragmented history into a global phenomenon.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Researchers
- Listen to the Roots: If you want to hear the music that influenced his mother, look up Aster Aweke on Spotify. You will immediately hear the DNA of The Weeknd’s vocal runs.
- Contextualize the Name: Remember that "The Weeknd" represents the moment he left his mother’s house. It is a tribute to his rebellion and his independence.
- Watch the Visuals: In his music videos, particularly from the After Hours era, look for the subtle nods to loneliness and parental absence. It’s a recurring theme that adds a lot of depth to the "villain" persona he often plays.
The Weeknd’s story is a reminder that even if a family tree is missing a few branches, the roots can still be incredibly deep. His parents, for better or worse, are the reason he is who he is today.