Nigerian rapper, MI Abaga, recently spoke out against “broke-shaming.” He described it as a widespread social pressure. This pressure, he noted, often pushes many into financial difficulty.
Abaga shared his conscious decision to resist this pressure. He understood that letting fear of judgment control one’s actions gives others immense power. “They would have exceeding power over you,” he stated.
The 44-year-old artist admitted it took time. He needed to build the mental strength to remain unaffected by such criticism.
Abaga elaborated on his journey. He acknowledged the prevalence of broke-shaming in Nigeria. “I had to make a decision,” he explained, “on whether I wanted that to have power over me.” He warned that failing to address this pressure grants others significant control.
He further explained the consequences. “If you are not comfortable with people trying to shame you,” he said. “Then you will keep adjusting to their expectations.” He linked this behavior directly to financial ruin. “That is how you go broke,” he declared. “You go broke trying to just prove a point to people.”
Abaga highlighted a key Nigerian trait: concern for perception. This is especially challenging, he noted, because “statistically, most people do not have money.” He emphasized his personal struggle. “It took me time to mentally prepare myself,” he revealed. He learned to accept potential judgment. “I can be somewhere, people can broke-shame me, everybody can laugh,” he reflected. He concluded that it’s “not personal to you. It is just how life is.”
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