Comedian and TV host Teju Babyface has opened up about his initial regrets after relocating to the United States.
In a video shared on his YouTube page, Teju revealed that the first few years abroad were filled with uncertainty and emotional turmoil.
“When we were leaving Nigeria, I knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that it was the necessary next step in my career evolution – for us as a family, as a unit. But when we got here and the challenges started, especially when you consider that COVID-19 started a few months after we arrived, I was convinced I had made the biggest mistake of my life,” he said.
Teju explained that for about three years, he felt lost, unsure of where his life was heading. He likened the experience to the sentiment in a song by Nigerian music legend King Sunny Ade.
“I had a phrase for it. I was convinced that I had taken a ruinous risk. The kind of risk that leads to ruin. Because I was completely lost and had no idea where my life was going. For the first time, I could understand what King Sunny Ade meant when he sang. I never understood what he meant in that song, and I’d been singing that song all of my life. But for the first time, I understood his sentiment,” Teju added.
Despite the initial hardship, the comedian emphasised that the move eventually led to personal growth and resilience.
In a previous interview with QEDng, Teju revealed that his relocation to the U.S. was not planned. He had intended to holiday for a couple of months, but the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic kept him abroad longer than expected. He mentioned that he might not have started his podcast, The Teju Babyface Deep Dive Podcast, had he remained in Nigeria, stating, “We’re in the era of podcasting… I might not be podcasting if I hadn’t left Nigeria.”
Teju Babyface, is a Nigerian standup comedian, talk show host, producer and writer.
