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Portable Opens Up on Losing His Mother at 13 and the Struggles That Shaped His Life
Controversial Nigerian singer Portable has spoken candidly about one of the most painful moments of his childhood, revealing that the death of his mother at the age of 13 forced him to fend for himself and changed the direction of his life forever.
The Zazu crooner made the emotional revelation during an appearance on The Honest Bunch Podcast, where he reflected on growing up without his mother’s care and the hardships that followed.
According to Portable, while relatives and other people were around after her passing, none could replace the love, guidance and support he received from his mother.
“I lost my mother when I was 13. There were people around me, but they could not take care of me the way my mother would have,” he said.
The singer explained that his mother had always made sure he had food and spending money, but everything changed after she passed away. Faced with the reality of surviving on his own, he turned to petty trading to earn a living.
“My mother used to give me food and pocket money. After she died, I began selling pure water to take care of myself,” he said.
Looking back, Portable said those early struggles became the foundation of his resilience. He believes the lessons he learned while navigating life on the streets taught him the value of hard work, survival and determination in ways that formal education could never have offered.
Today, the singer credits those experiences with shaping both his outlook on life and the relentless drive that has fueled his rise in Nigeria’s music industry.