Veteran rapper M.I Abaga has opened up on how he deals with broke-shaming from fans, saying he refuses to compromise his financial health just to impress others.
“When I understood that people in Nigeria tend to broke shame people, I had to make a decision if I want to let that have power over me,” he said.
He explained that trying to meet fans’ unrealistic expectations can be dangerous. “If you are not comfortable with the fact that some fans can broke shame you if they see you driving a car they consider below your level, then you are going to continue adjusting to their expectations. And that is how you go broke. You go broke trying to adjust to people’s expectations,” he added.
M.I also highlighted how perception drives behavior in Nigeria. “One of the things that Nigerians are concerned about is their perceptions. And statistically, we are a country where most people don’t have money,” he said.
For him, accepting criticism for his lifestyle was a necessary step toward long-term financial health. “All our celebrities who were flying private jets 20 years ago are no longer affluent,” he noted.
His wife, Eniola Mafe, has also been a key support in his business ventures, including early investments in his company, TASCK.
Musically, M.I remains a titan of Nigerian hip-hop, with his 2014 album The Chairman still regarded as a landmark project.
