Popular Nigerian rapper Jude Abaga, better known as MI Abaga, has advised young artistes to focus on preparing for their lives beyond their music careers.
In a recent interview, MI shared deep insights about the challenges of the entertainment industry and the importance of long-term planning. He emphasized that while a music career lasts for a period, life continues beyond it, and artistes must be ready for that transition.
“If you know you’re going to be an artist for a period but you’re going to be alive for your whole life, then you need to prepare for your life more than you need to prepare for your career,” he said.
He encouraged artistes to believe in their ability to reinvent themselves. According to him, if they were able to write their first song, they can also find success in new areas after their music careers.
“When the next phase of your life comes and you ask yourself, ‘Can I be successful?’, the answer is yes. You already achieved success in something you once didn’t know how to do,” he explained.
MI also spoke about how tough the entertainment industry can be, comparing the struggles of artistes to those of startup founders. He noted that while startup founders often receive support from their industry when they fail, failed artistes are usually overlooked.
“In the tech world, when a founder’s startup doesn’t succeed, the community supports them because they understand how close success and failure can be. But in the entertainment industry, we often look down on artistes who are no longer at the top, instead of recognizing their experience and potential to do even greater things,” he said.
He urged artistes to build resilience and look beyond their time in the spotlight, stressing that success is not limited to just their music careers.
