Zlatan Ibile Reflects on How Fatherhood Transformed His Life
Nigerian rapper Zlatan Ibile has spoken candidly about how becoming a father at 25 reshaped his life, priorities, and outlook on responsibility.
In a recent episode of the podcast Is This A Safe Space?, the Zanku hitmaker reflected on the challenges and personal growth that came with welcoming his son five years ago. According to Zlatan, fatherhood forced him to re-evaluate his lifestyle and finances, especially after relocating to London.
“The birth of my son changed me. It made me realise that life was getting more serious. I wasn’t prepared. I started paying house rent in London at 25,” he said. “I was scared I might not be able to keep up with the bills because some people were saying I might not be relevant in the music industry for more than three years.”
The rapper admitted that those fears pushed him to become more disciplined with money, cut down on unnecessary spending, and start saving diligently – even joking that he began “saving for diapers.”
Zlatan also revealed that fatherhood inspired him to let go of certain habits and reflect deeply on past decisions. “I regret some of the things I did before my son was born,” he said. “His arrival really changed my mindset and made me more focused.”
Since rising to fame with his energetic street anthems, Zlatan has become one of Nigeria’s most influential contemporary artists – but, as he now admits, nothing has shaped him quite like being a dad.
