-
“I Felt Left Behind Watching My Mates Raise Teenagers” – MI Abaga Opens Up on Delayed Marriage
Veteran Nigerian rapper MI Abaga has opened up about his journey to finding love and settling down, revealing how he once grappled with feelings of inadequacy and regret over not marrying earlier in life.
In a heartfelt conversation on the Jay On Air Podcast, the celebrated hip-hop icon reflected on the internal battles he faced while observing his peers build families in their twenties.
“I felt a little bad about being unmarried when I was 37 because my friend who got married at 25, 26 now have 14-year-old kids. I have friends whose children are heading to college now. Even those who didn’t marry early had kids—Jesse has a 21-year-old child, and I don’t have any kids yet. So you miss out on some of that,” he admitted.
Despite those earlier thoughts, MI, whose real name is Jude Abaga, shared that he no longer feels regretful. He credits divine timing for leading him to his now-wife just a year after a major breakup.
“No complaints because I got the opportunity to meet this beautiful woman who I’m married to now, and I really see some providence in that. At the end of the day, when you’re not ready, you’re not ready. Everybody’s timeline is different, and that’s something lost in humanity today.”
View this post on Instagram
The rapper revealed that he met his wife shortly after turning 40, and she was present at his milestone birthday celebration. He proposed soon after, and the couple tied the knot when he turned 41.
Speaking candidly about his past, MI also admitted to having been emotionally immature and stubborn in earlier relationships.
“I have sadness when I think about how I was in my former relationships. I met a lot of kind women who were supportive, but I just wasn’t mature. I was stubborn.”
MI’s reflections have resonated with many fans online, sparking conversations around timing, emotional growth, and the pressure to meet societal expectations on relationships and family life.