Mr P Dismisses Calls for Retirement, Says There Is No Retirement in Music
Nigerian singer Peter Okoye, popularly known as Mr P, has pushed back against recent calls for him to retire from music, insisting that age should not determine an artist’s relevance or ability to continue performing.
The former member of the now-defunct P-Square music duo addressed the criticism during a recent interview with The Beat FM Lagos, where he responded to comments from some fans who argued that the 44-year-old should step away from the Afrobeats scene.
Mr P described such opinions as attempts to discourage artists and undermine their careers, stressing that the music industry does not operate with a retirement age.
“We should be careful of how people try to put others down. There’s no retirement in music. I don’t know why some people think there’s retirement in music,” he said.
The singer pointed to global music icon Michael Jackson as an example, noting that the late entertainer remained active in the industry well into his later years and was preparing for another major tour before his death.
“Michael Jackson was over 50 and was still planning a world tour before he died. It’s only in Nigeria that somebody would just wake up and start calling on musicians yo retire. I have seen some people do the same thing to Wizkid,” Mr P remarked.
His comments come amid ongoing discussions about longevity in the music industry and whether artists should step aside as younger talents emerge.
Mr P, who continues to release music and perform as a solo artist following the breakup of P-Square, maintained that creativity and passion for music are not limited by age, adding that musicians should be free to continue their careers for as long as they remain capable and inspired.
