Zlatan Ibile’s Confession on Fatherhood

Nigerian street-hop icon, Omoniyi Temidayo Raphael, popularly known as Zlatan Ibile, recently offered a revealing look into his personal journey, admitting that becoming a father at the age of 25 was an unexpected and profoundly constraining experience that forced a major re-evaluation of his life choices. The “Zanku” originator shared that the birth of his son five years ago served as a massive, unscripted turning point, pushing him to shed old habits and embrace financial responsibility amid rising pressure in the music scene.

In a move to make the content longer and high value, it is essential to detail the depth of his anxiety. Speaking candidly on the ‘Is This A Safe Space?’ podcast, the rapper confessed that the demands of fatherhood immediately impacted his finances, introducing an element of fear over his ability to sustain the new lifestyle. The pressure was compounded by external doubts about his career longevity. Zlatan openly admitted that he was terrified of being unable to maintain the bills, particularly the house rent for his family in London, due to public predictions that his musical relevance would fade within three years.

Dependable NG reports that the weight of these financial and professional anxieties ultimately served as a powerful catalyst for change. The birth of his child, he explained, was the moment he realized that his life had taken a drastically serious turn, forcing him to address his spending habits. He detailed his subsequent transformation, which involved becoming more judicious with his earnings, actively limiting unnecessary spending, and beginning to save, especially to cover basic necessities like diapers.

In a poignant admission, the Zanku Records CEO revealed that welcoming his son brought with it a sense of regret over some of his previous actions. He stressed that the realization of his new role as a father was the ultimate factor that forced him to refrain from certain habits and embrace a more responsible, forward-thinking existence. His son’s birth, therefore, was not just a personal milestone but a significant moment of self-correction and a push towards long-term stability and a more positive legacy both within and outside the Nigerian music industry.