Veteran rapper, Jude Abaga, better known as M.I Abaga, has opened up about marriage, music and politics, describing his wife, Eniola Mafe, as both his first investor and his most honest critic.
Speaking on The Podcast Network’s “Outside The Box”, the 43-year-old said his wife backed his creative agency, TASCK, at the earliest stage with a personal cheque before any external investor did.
“The very first cheque that came in was from her. She has been the most supportive person in my life,” he said.
According to the rapper, Eniola’s role in his career is not just financial. He revealed that she regularly films his shows, reviews his designs and even writes long analyses of his music.
“She’ll sometimes give me a ten-page exposé before I have even finished processing an idea. Her presence in my life is a gift. She shows up at events, she sits in meetings, she does all this while chasing her career,” he added.
On marriage, Abaga described his union as a turning point, saying it rescued him from loneliness and gave him a renewed sense of balance.
“Getting married has been a huge shift for me. For the first time, I don’t feel like I’m carrying everything alone,” he admitted.
The rapper, often hailed as a pioneer of modern Nigerian hip-hop, also reflected on his music journey, recalling that his hit African Rapper No.1 was one of the most difficult songs he ever wrote despite its simple sound.
He further touched on his past involvement in politics, saying he once supported the All Progressives Congress in 2015 out of hope for change, but later realised he had underestimated the country’s complex realities. In the 2023 elections, he disclosed, he voted differently, backing Labour Party’s Peter Obi for president, PDP for Senate, and Banky W for House of Representatives.
M.I. said his current focus is on advocacy and legacy, through TASCK and nonprofit work for the creative industry.
“The war continues. Our job is to leave more than we take,” he concluded.
The rapper and Eniola tied the knot in September 2022, a union he says continues to shape his life and work.
The PUNCH
